Arts & Entertainment
Renton Traveler: Vancouver Film Festival Provides Rare Chance To See Great Films
Did you love SIFF when it came to Renton? Get more exposure to international films at VIFF.
In the next two weeks, Renton residents can combine their passion for travel, movies and culture, with a trip to the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), running September 29th -October 14th.
Now in its 30th year, VIFF' features span the globe and include films in Spanish, Russian, Farsi, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, Hindi, Dari, Pashto, Portuguese, Hebrew, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish and other languages.
The festival includes events for families, children, adults, and teens. It all takes place at 5 different theatres within a few blocks of each other, making it possible to walk from one venue to the next. One can buy a single ticket, group tickets, or festival passes.
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Some people living in Renton wouldn’t think of missing this event. Yet others in the area may have never heard of it. To find out what makes the festival so special, the Patch asked a few local experienced moviegoers why they feel it’s worth the journey.
“If you love movies, it’s a wonderful affordable little vacation,” says Keith Beesley of South Renton, “yet it’s a shame so few people around here seem to know much about it.”
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“The great thing about this festival is a sense of surprise,” he adds. “You don’t really have to decide what’s good. Choose a language or type of movie, and just go. I’d say 9 out of 10 films are absolutely great, and the other one is just very good. It’s hard to go wrong.”
“I like the no driving aspect,” says Ira David of Earlington. “We take the bus up, walk to theatres. Everything is located within a few blocks. In between movies, we stroll the streets, have coffee, and take in the atmosphere.”
“It’s great, but extra special if your first language is not English,” notes Sara Lopez of Fairwood. “For me, it’s nice to go see good new movies from Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile; these films are precious gems I may never get to see again.”
Family programs at VIFF include their Films for Youth and High School Program film series. Other programs include documentaries, Canadian features, international award winners, an East Asian series, environmental film series, and a focus on French cinema.
A special and new series this year, is “Highlight from Cannes”; 16 selected films from the Cannes Film Festival. Details and previews of these films can be found online.
Lodging options include staying in hotels right in Vancouver, or staying in nearby areas such as Richmond B.C., and taking the Skytrain into downtown. Transportation choices include car, bus, or train.
For complete information about the 2011 Vancouver International Film Festival (including film and program descriptions, schedules, ticket prices and purchasing, hotels and dining), visit the festival web site: www.viff.org.
*Don't forget about Renton's own arts and film scene: Check back soon for details on the upcoming .
