2023 SELECTIONS
Accepted Films: 62
International Films: 18
U.S. Films: 44
Narrative Features
Mother of Color (U.S.) Directed by Dawn Jones Redstone
Unpacking (U.S.) Directed by Alexandra Clayton, Michal Sinnott
International Narrative Shorts
112 (Spain) Directed by Mireia Boté
Forgotten Song (Poland) Directed by Monika Grzybowska
Luz (Spain) Directed by Cristina Urgel
Made of Flesh (France) Directed by Florence Rochat, Séréna Robin
No Clickbait (Spain) Directed by Carla Gobe
Popcorn (Spain) Directed by Monica Dolado
Pregnant (Iran) Directed by Golnaz Jamsheed
Put Away (U.K.) Directed by A.D. Cooper
Roads Not Taken (Austria) Directed by Kat Rohrer
The Gladiators (Iran) Directed by Maryam Rahimi
Titi (Iran) Directed by Marzieh Fakhar
Trapped (Australia) Directed by Sheri Van Geest
U.S. Narrative Shorts
Beach Day (U.S.) Directed by Robin Johnson
Birdhouse (U.S.) Directed by Jessica Prudencio
Dark Energy (U.S.) Directed by Christy Summerhays
Fish Out of Water (U.S.) Directed by Sasha Nelson
Fortune Teller (U.S.) Directed by Julia Tutko-Balena
Guidance (U.S.) Directed by Julia Tutko-Balena
I Think It's Broken (U.S.) Directed by Kimberlee Peterson
Impression (U.S.) Directed by Dinah Rokhinson
Kickstart My Heart (U.S.) Directed by Kelsey Bollig
Letter of Truth (U.S.) Directed by Brittany Severance
MissUnderstood Monster (U.S.) Directed by Lindsay Serrano
Opprobrium (U.S.) Directed by Missy Bell
Shadowed Reflections (U.S.) Directed by Emma Mackenzie
Shut The Box (U.S.) Directed by Brittany Benedict
Subscribed (U.S.) Directed by Diana Porter
Tell Me About Orange (U.S.) Directed by Robin Noonan-Price
The Aftermath (U.S.) Directed by LaChelle Joy Hunt
Student Films
La Colectiva: Immigrant Diaries (U.S.) Directed by Leigh-Anna Nielsen
Max & Taco (Get Their Shit Together) (U.S.) Directed by Caitlin Ferrell
Places That Are Mine (U.S.) Directed by Johanna Ziegler
The Color Grey (U.S.) Directed by Bella C. Sonen
Your Move (U.S.) Directed by May Suri
WNY Shorts
Alone Directed by Kristen Skeet
Billy Must Live Directed by Taylor Martin
Give the Gate Directed by Taylor Martin
Infatuation Directed by Kristen Skeet
Resurrection Day Directed by Sabrina Peña Young
Rusalka Directed by Victoria Hutton
Simulacrum Directed by Taylor Martin
Sister Kelly's Glass Journey Directed by Gayle Petri
The Last Option Directed by Victoria Hutton
Turning The Pages Directed by Sami Carol
Documentary Features
A Woman on the Outside (U.S.) Directed by Lisa Riordan Seville & Zara Katz
Las Abogadas: Attorneys on the Front Lines of the Migrant Crisis (U.S.) Directed by Victoria Bruce
The Photographer of the Volcano (Portugal) Directed by Mar Navarro Llombart
Documentary Shorts
A Better Place (U.K.) Directed by Jennifer Fearnley
All in the Water (U.S.) Directed by Judy Larson
CityTREES (U.S.) Directed by Kristin Reiber Harris
Ekai (Spain) Directed by Arantza Ibarra Basañez
Nerea's Way/El Camino de Nerea (Spain) Directed by Mercedes Aranguren
The Dark Horse of Suffragettes (U.K.) Directed by Nina Bhalla & Swati Chugh
The Gnardashians (U.S.) Directed by Julieana Rusnak
True Believers At The Insurrection: Road to the Capitol (U.S.) Directed by Sandi Bachom
Women On a Roll (Netherlands) Directed by Alma Tabernero
Experimental Shorts
A Psychogeography of Mourning (U.S.) Directed by Shayna Connelly
Illuminated (U.S.) Directed by Brittany Severance
Night Owls (U.S.) Directed by Gabrielle Rosson
You Don't Have to Take Orders From The Moon (U.S.) Directed by Jaina Cipriano
VIFF 2023 AWARD NOMINEES & WINNERS
Nominees
Best International Documentary Short
Nerea’s Way Directed by Mercedes Aranguren
Ekai Directed by Arantza Ibarra Basañez
The Dark Horse of Suffragettes Directed by Nina Bhalla and Swati Chugh
A Better Place Directed by Jennifer Fearnley
Women on a Roll Directed by Alma Tabernero
Best Experimental Short
You Don’t Have to Take Orders from the Moon Directed by Jaina Cipriano
Resurrection Day Directed by Sabrina Peña Young
A Psychogeography of Mourning Directed by Shayna Connelly
The Aftermath Directed by LaChelle Joy Hunt
Best Student Film
La Colectiva: Immigrant Diaries Directed by Leigh-Anna Nielsen
The Color Grey Directed by Bella C. Sonen
Max & Taco (Get Their Sh*t Together) Directed by Caitlin Ferrell
Your Move Directed by May Suri
Fish Out of Water Directed by Sasha Nelson
Best Narrative Feature
Unpacking Directed by Alexandra Clayton and Michal Sinnott
Mother of Color Directed Dawn Jones Redstone
Best WNY Short
Simulacrum Directed by Taylor Martin
The Last Option Directed by Victoria Hutton
Infatuation Directed by Kristen Skeet
Give the Gate Directed by Taylor Martin
Resurrection Day Directed by Sabrina Peña Young
Best Documentary Short
All in the Water Directed by Judy Larson
The Gnardashians Directed by Julieana Rusnak
True Believers at the Insurrection: Road to the Capitol Directed by Sandi Bachom
Best Documentary Feature
A Woman on the Outside Directed by Lisa Riordan Seville and Zara Katz
Las Abogadas: Attorneys on the Front Lines of the Migrant Crisis Directed by Victoria Bruce
The Photographer of the Volcano Directed by Mar Navarro Llombart
Best Horror Short
Kickstart My Heart Directed by Kelsey Bollig
MissUnderstood Monster Directed by Lindsay Serrano
Billy Must Live Directed by Taylor Martin
You Don't Have to Take Orders from the Moon Directed by Jaina Cipriano
Best Drama Short
I Think It’s Broken Directed by Kimberlee Peterson
Shadowed Reflections Directed by Emma Mackenzie
The Aftermath Directed by LaChelle Joy Hunt
Shut the Box Directed by Brittany Benedict
Fortune Teller Directed by Julia Tutko-Balena
Best International Horror Short
112 Directed by Mireia Bote
Popcorn Directed by Monica Dolado
No Clickbait Directed by Carla Gobe
Social Impact Award
Mother of Color Directed by Dawn Jones Redstone
Tell Me About Orange Directed by Robin Noonan-Price
Opprobrium Directed by Missy Bell
I Think It’s Broken Directed by Kimberlee Peterson
La Colectiva: Immigrant Diaries Directed by Leigh-Anna Nielsen
Las Abogadas: Attorneys on the Front Lines of the Migrant Crisis Directed by Victoria Bruce
Global Awareness Award
Luz Directed by Cristina Urgel
A Better Place Directed by Jennifer Fearnley
Ekai Directed by Arantza Ibarra Basañez
Forgotten Song Directed by Monika Grzybowska
Titi Directed by Marzieh Fakhar
Best Comedy Short
MissUnderstood Monster Directed by Lindsay Serrano
Dark Energy Directed by Christy Summerhays
Impression Directed by Dinah Rokhinson
Best International Short
The Gladiators Directed by Maryam Rahimi
Put Away Directed by A.D. Cooper
Pregnant Directed by Golnaz Jamsheed
Trapped Directed by Sheri Van Geest
Made of Flesh Directed by Florence Rochat and Serena Robin
Best of the Fest
Las Abogadas: Attorneys on the Front Lines of the Migrant Crisis Directed by Victoria Bruce
A Woman on the Outside Directed by Lisa Riordan Seville and Zara Katz
Mother of Color Directed by Dawn Jones Redstone
Unpacking Directed by Alexandra Clayton and Michal Sinnott
The Gnardashians Directed by Julieana Rusnak
Winners
Best International Documentary Short
Nerea’s Way Directed by Mercedes Aranguren
Best Experimental Short
You Don’t Have to Take Orders from the Moon Directed by Jaina Cipriano
Best Student Film
La Colectiva: Immigrant Diaries Directed by Leigh-Anna Nielsen
Best Narrative Feature
Unpacking Directed by Alexandra Clayton and Michal Sinnott
Best WNY Short
Simulacrum Directed by Taylor Martin
Best Documentary Short
All in the Water Directed by Judy Larson
Best Documentary Feature
A Woman on the Outside Directed by Lisa Riordan Seville and Zara Katz
Best Horror Short
Kickstart My Heart Directed by Kelsey Bollig
Best Drama Short
Shadowed Reflections Directed by Emma Mackenzie
Best International Horror Short
112 Directed by Mireia Boté
Social Impact Award
Mother of Color Directed by Dawn Jones Redstone
Global Awareness Award
Luz Directed by Cristina Urgel
Best Comedy Short
Impression Directed by Dinah Rokhinson
Best International Short
The Gladiators Directed by Maryam Rahimi
Best of the Fest
Las Abogadas: Attorneys on the Front Lines of the Migrant Crisis Directed by Victoria Bruce
Valkyrie Spirit Award
True Believers at the Insurrection: Road to the Capitol Directed by Sandi Bachom
Best Horror-Comedy
MissUnderstood Monster Directed by Lindsay Serrano
Empowerment Award
Opprobrium Directed by Missy Bell