VIFF: FEMALE FILM FESTIVAL

Our mission is to build an annual gathering that shines a spotlight on films created by women, and to advance the cause of women in film. VIFF is an event where female artists support each other's work. We present awards but don't view our festival as a competition.

VIFF showcases films directed by women of all backgrounds. We chose "Valkyrie International Film Festival" as our name because the Valkyries of Norse mythology were fierce warriors who symbolized strength and empowerment. We view every female director as a Valkyrie, and every woman as a Valkyrie: a force to be reckoned with that refuses to be silenced.

VIFF seeks impactful films in all genres. If a woman directed it, we want to see it! VIFF screens animated, documentary, experimental and narrative shorts and features. Every film selected for screening must have been directed by a woman (any co-directors must also be female).

All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway. Films completed from 2023 to the present are eligible. We have no premiere status requirements because we want to show the best films available. However, local films must not be screened a month before or two weeks after our festival shows them. We do not grant waivers.

VIFF was founded by Tamar Gonzalez Lamberson and her daughter, Kaelin Marie Lamberson.

Tamar Lamberson on the set of Widow's Point.

Tamar Gonzalez Lamberson has produced four internationally distributed feature films (Johnny Gruesome, Widow's Point, Guns of Eden, and Frenzy Moon). She has extensive experience dealing with the New York State Film Production Tax Credit and has assisted the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival for a decade. She's currently the festival organizer for Amazing Fantasy Fest and Empire State Film Festival. Raised in New York City, she's a strong Latina with a vision for supporting women in the film industry.

Kaelin Marie Lamberson is a Buffalo-born feminist raised on film sets; she acted opposite Craig Sheffer in the feature film Widow’s Point. Kaelin has a passion for singing, a penchant for reading, a zest for learning, an eagerness to write, and enjoys helping others. She is in the class of 2028 at Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences. She is majoring in literatures in English and minoring in Latina/o studies and Spanish. She's also the president of Cornell's salsa club, Salsa Pa'lante, and a recipient of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Addison's disease, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, she lets nothing stand in her way.

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