Both in terms of admissions and number of films screened (142,425 and 360 respectively in 2008) VIFF is among the five largest film festivals in North America. We screen films from over 70 countries on 10 screens. The international line-up includes, in addition to many undiscovered gems, the pick of the world's top film fests.

Three main programming platforms make our festival unique: we screen the largest selection of East Asian films outside of that region, we are one of the biggest showcases of Canadian film in the world and we have a large and important nonfiction program (over one third of films last year were docs).

Attracting a large, attentive and enthusiastic audience of film lovers, the festival remains accessible, friendly and culturally diverse. As the critics say, VIFF is very much a festival "designed for the benefit of people who love films and people who make them."

2009 stats (at press time)

• 377 films
• 217 feature-length1 films, 20 mid-length, 140 shorts (90 international shorts, 50 Canadian shorts)
• 70+ countries
• 640 screenings
• 89 Canadian films:

o 33 features (20 dramatic features, 13 non-fiction features), five mid-lengths, 50 shorts; selected

from 641 submissions

• 104 documentaries (92 feature-length, 11 mid-length, 1 short)
• 150,000 admissions estimated
• 700 volunteers
• 10 screens at four theatres:

o Empire Granville 7 Cinemas

o Pacific Cinémathèque

o Ridge Theatre

o Vancity Theatre at the Vancouver International Film Centre

• 500 accredited industry guests
• 1,200 Film and Television Forum delegates

Gala Films

Opening Gala, October 1: A SHINE OF RAINBOWS - Vic Sarin, Dir (Canada/Ireland)

Canadian Images Gala, October 2: EXCITED - Bruce Sweeney, Dir (Canada)

Dragons & Tigers Awards Gala, October 8: TOAD'S OIL - Yakusho Koji, Dir (Japan)

Anniversary Gala, October 10: AN EDUCATION - Lone Scherfig, Dir (UK)

Closing Gala, October 16: QUEEN TO PLAY - October 16 Caroline Bottaro, Dir (France)

Programming Strands

• Galas and Special Presentations
• The Way of Nature: Ecological films
• Follow the Money (new)
• Nonfiction Features of 2009
• Nonfiction Features: Arts and Letters
• Dragons and Tigers: The Cinemas of East Asia
• Canadian Images
• Cinema of Our Time
• Spotlight on France
• Festival Favourites (new)