Did you know that the Vancouver International Film Festival is the fifth largest in North America? With well over 300 films and 150,000 reasonably-priced tickets available, VIFF caters mostly to you - the audience! If you haven't yet, check out the incredible selection of films represented at this year's festival HERE.
On Thursday night the festival kicked off its opening night with some words from Mayor Gregor Robertson and others, followed by a screening of director Richard J. Lewis' (Whale Music) film Barney's Version. Based on the novel by Mordecai Richler, the film centers around the life of Montreal mensch Barney Panofsky, pitch-perfectly played by Paul Giamatti. The film also stars Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike, Scott Speedman, Mark Addy, and Minnie Driver. (Twilight 's Rachelle Lefevre has a small part here - it's the film that ultimately led to her being let go from the vampire saga.)
VIFF's opening film Barney's Version (Canada).
Mayor Robertson speaking with press from around the world. CityTV's Breakfast Television hosts Dawn Chubai and Riaz Meghji addressing the audience.
After the screening the gala commenced and hundreds of people got down to the business of celebrating VIFF at the Rocky Mountaineer Station. Fresh oysters, gold-covered chocolate, vodka-infused-gazpacho-oyster shooters (I had several - they were like the best cold soup ever), fantastic live music, a troupe of people dressed like French enlightenment zombies moving as a slow-mo ensemble throughout and the amazing (live!) digital artistry of one Aaron Geeraert ...
Aaron Geeraert made this incredible digital art on the spot ... very cool.
