Film Fest Announces Dynamic Lineup of Performers for VIFF Live Dates

ByJohn Goodman August 16, 2024September 25, 2024

Elisapie Chan Centre — Elisapie presents the West Coast premiere of her multimedia show, “Uvattini,” at UBC’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m. as part of the VIFF Live series. Photo: Leeor Wild

The Vancouver International Film Festival announced this week the lineup of artists performing in this year’s VIFF Live series. The four shows, guest-curated by Indigenous scholar and media maker Jarrett Martineau, will run alongside the film screenings.

Canadian Inuk musician Elisapie unveils her immersive multimedia show, “Uvattini” at UBC’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m. “Uvattini,” which means “home” in the Inuktitut language, features music, narration, video and performance elements.

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Eiko Ishibashi, performs a live soundtrack to accompany the Canadian Premiere of “Gift” — a new silent film directed by filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi at the Rio Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. Ishibashi also wrote the soundtrack for Hamaguchi’s 2021 film “Drive My Car.” The following night, Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. the Rio Theatre hosts another VIFF Live event with experimental composer William Basinski presenting the Canadian premiere of “Arcadia Archive” — a live performance combining Basinski’s extensive archive of tape loops with a new video work by artist-filmmaker James Elaine.

Wolastoq tenor and composer Jeremy Dutcher joins forces with Abenaki filmmaker and musician Alanis Obomsawin for an evening of story and song at the Chan Centre on Friday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. Dutcher will perform with his trio while Obomsawin will give a rare live performance of songs from “Bush Lady,” her only full-length album, originally released in 1988.

VIFF will announce the complete lineup of films screening at this year’s festival on Aug. 28.

John Goodman

John Goodman finds the creative energy of journalism constantly inspiring. He's covered the Vancouver arts scene as a reporter, editor, and designer for many years. As a longtime North Shore resident he's always keen to explore all that Metro Vancouver has to offer.