Entertainment
Vancouver International Film Festival reveals 2026 lineup featuring 162 feature films
The 45th edition of the festival will open with Jesse Eisenberg's "The Debut" and highlight themes of economic uncertainty and Indigenous storytelling.
The short version
- The 45th Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) will run starting October 1, featuring 162 feature films, 91 shorts, and two episodic series representing 76 countries.
- The festival will open with Jesse Eisenberg's comedy "The Debut" and close with Martin McDonagh's black comedy "Wild Horse Nine."
- With over 50 nonfiction features, this year's lineup positions VIFF as Canada's second-largest documentary festival.
Key facts
- The 45th VIFF lineup includes 12 world premieres, six international debuts, 15 North American bows, and 49 Canadian premieres.[Variety]
- Jesse Eisenberg's community theater comedy 'The Debut,' starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, will open the festival on October 1.[Variety]
- Martin McDonagh's 'Wild Horse Nine,' a black comedy set before the 1973 Chilean coup, will serve as the closing night film.[Variety]
- Programming Director Curtis Woloschuk stated that the film selections organically reflect themes of housing and economic uncertainty, gentrification, and labor-class perspectives.[Variety]
- The festival's newly established Institute for the Moving Image will launch three new artist development programs focusing on animation, documentary, and creative business.[Variety]