From September 14th –18th, Vancouver will unroll the red carpet to welcome an array of films and documentaries from around the world during the second edition of the Vancouver International Hip Hop Film Festival (VIHF).
The Hip Hop Film genre, though very much representative of global social, economical, political and artistic realities, is still struggling to find podiums. VIHF’s objective is to give these film jewels, a niche in Canada as they have found in such cities as Sydney, Melbourne, New York and Atlanta
where International Hip Hop Film festivals are also held.
This year, films & documentaries from Japan, Cuba, the United States and Israel, amongst others, will go beyond the music and use Hip Hop Culture as the vehicle for messages & points of views.
Canada will be represented with such documentaries as “4Real:Kenya“ by Vancouver’s Sol Guy.
The 30 minute documentary follows fellow Canadian K’Naan on a return trip to Africa.
Other goodies at this year’s Event include the presence of film directors Lisandro PeresRey (from Cuba’s "La Fabri_K"), Sharmin MacKay (from South Africa’s "Definition of Freedom") & Kevin Fitzgerald (from the USA’s Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme)
The VIHF Organizers are also responsible for the Montréal edition of the festival. Last May’s “International du Cinéma Hip Hop de Montréal” had its first edition and also presented the critically acclaimed accompanying compilation album, featuring an all-Canadian guest list of Hip Hop influenced
musical artists, merging the genre to Latin, Electro, Rap and R n’ b beats. The album, already available in stores, will also be for sale at the Vancouver Festival site.
All screenings will be held at VideoMonster, 36 Powell Street. Tickets will be available on site and at Vinyl Records, 319 West Hasting.
A complete list of films & documentaries as well as info for members of the media can be found on the Festival’s website: www.vihf.com