Vancouver International Film Festival announces 45th edition lineup

The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) has announced the lineup for its 45th edition, scheduled for October 1–11, 2026. The festival expects to host approximately 110,000 attendees and will showcase a diverse program including 162 feature films, 91 short films, and two episodic series from 76 different countries.

The festival will open with Jesse Eisenberg’s comedy ‘The Debut’, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. The closing film will be Martin McDonagh’s ‘Wild Horse Nine’, featuring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. The 2026 program includes 12 world premieres, 15 North American premieres, and 49 Canadian premieres.

In addition to film screenings, VIFF is expanding its ‘Live’ program and introducing new initiatives through the recently established Institute for the Moving Image. The expanded live lineup includes a performance by composer Mark Mothersbaugh. Executive Director Kyle Fostner stated that the festival is evolving into an ‘ecosystem of creativity, curiosity, and humanist art’ focused on talent discovery and innovation.