This year's Vancouver Island Short Film Festival takes place Friday April 21 and Saturday April 22 at VIU's Malaspina Theatre. (VISFF)

By Ian Holmes

CENTRE STAGE

Popular Vancouver Island Short Film Festival returns for in-person event

Apr 20, 2023 | 4:16 PM

NANAIMO — Following a pair of virtual-only showings, the annual Vancouver Island Short Film Festival (VISFF) returns for in-person showings.

VIU’s Malaspina Theatre hosts the 18^th annual VISFF on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and films will be shown at 7 p.m. both nights.

Festival director Zoey Heath said their largest viewership ever is expected with film fans able to watch online or in person, something they haven’t done before.

“This allows us to keep that growth going, in order to allow audiences worldwide to tune in and grow this festival beyond our borders here.”

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Artists from Vancouver Island, across Canada and around the world are featured at this year’s festival, a long-standing non-profit undertaking.

Heath said their selection committee choses films from a diverse cross-section of talent, expanding from those strictly from a film background.

“We have a lot of different films from a lot of different mediums, so we want people to be curious and open-minded.”

Heath said the VISFF has long been known as a place for talent who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to share their work in a festival setting.

“That’s what I love about short film is that it gives space to voices that maybe don’t always get the play in a feature event because of budget and time.”

The format of films of 15 minutes or less often yields creative, unexpected art forms, Heath stated.

A majority of their artists will be in attendance at the theatre for question and answer sessions with the audience.

Awards in various categories will be announced following the Saturday night show.

Ten films will be shown each night.

More information on this year’s VISFF, including details on the various films and buying tickets in advance can be found here on the organization’s website.

Tickets can also be purchased at the door, Heath said.

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On Twitter: @reporterholmes