2025 – VLAFF https://vlaff.org Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:40:34 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://vlaff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/cropped-Logo-VLAFF-Isotipo-Mariposa-1-32x32.png 2025 – VLAFF https://vlaff.org 32 32 Thank You to Our VLAFF Volunteers https://vlaff.org/thank-you-to-our-vlaff-volunteers/ Sat, 07 Feb 2026 03:04:14 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?p=32462 VLAFF is built by community, and volunteers are central to it!

In 2025, 129 volunteers generously shared their time, energy, and care to support screenings, events, guests, and audiences at the 23rd Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. From front-of-house and box office support to hospitality and videography, their contributions made it possible for VLAFF to run smoothly and remain a welcoming space for filmmakers, artists, and festival goers.

We extend our deepest gratitude to every volunteer who was part of this year’s festival. Below, we are honoured to recognize the volunteers who opted to have their names shared publicly.

  • Cristina Afonso
  • Antonia Angueira
  • Sara Aristizabal
  • Maria Elena Avila
  • Valeria Bautista
  • Pablo Betancourt
  • Eliezer Blanco
  • Maria Blanco
  • Yas Botelho
  • Steve Bottomley
  • Claudia Bulaievsky
  • Ericka Chemko
  • Constanza Chiang
  • Maria Victoria Collazos Cortes
  • Craig Davidson 
  • Mary de Bruyn
  • Manuela Diaz 
  • Tracy Dixon 
  • Emilia Dominguez
  • Barbara Dos Santos da Silva 
  • Mariana Echavarría Vega
  • Isabella Fernandez
  • Liliana Figueroa
  • Silvana Fuentes
  • Abhiroop Gill 
  • Katherine Godfrey
  • Isabel Gonzales 
  • Sofia Gonzalez-Bonnett 
  • Annabelle Handy 
  • Denisse Iglesias
  • Sonny Joyce
  • Beatriz Jurkewicz
  • Denise Labelle 
  • Lucia Leon-Valdez 
  • Jesus Lopez 
  • Daniel (Dani) Loyola Molina
  • Veronica Madore 
  • lavender (lavanda) mendez
  • Tom Nesbit 
  • Paola Pinto Vidal
  • Shiraz Ramji 
  • Sharare Rezai 
  • Daniela Rodriguez 
  • Javier Romero 
  • Solcamila Illary Ruiz Valdez 
  • Barb Ryeburn 
  • Nicolas Salamanca 
  • Tierney Schutz 
  • saki serizawa
  • Richard Siegenthaler
  • Ana Silva 
  • Jazmin Torres
  • Thais Torres Pires 
  • Daniel Vasquez 
  • Daniela Vásquez 
  • Cora Whiting 
  • Sharron Wilson 
  • Graham Wong 
  • Lois Zhang 

VLAFF would not be possible without this collective effort. Thank you for being part of our festival and for helping bring Latin American cinema, stories, and gatherings to life in the city! We can’t wait to see you again for VLAFF 2026, where we’ll continue celebrating film, music, and community together.

Thank you! ¡Gracias! Obrigadx!


The VLAFF Team

VOLUNTEER AT VLAFF

Photos by: Mariana Echavarría, Bruno Martin del Campo, and Frida Guill

]]> VLAFF 2025 Year in Review https://vlaff.org/vlaff-2025-year-in-review/ Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:04:36 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?p=32437

From packed screenings to courtyard concerts, from unforgettable dance floors to workshops that sparked new ideas, VLAFF brought Latin American, Latin Canadian, and Indigenous stories to life across Vancouver!

VLAFF 2025 in review:

  • 5,127 attendees across screenings, concerts, parties, workshops, and community gatherings
  • 709 film submissions from 37 countries, with an Official Line Up featuring 150+ artists and 10 special guests
  • Over 70 films presented from 15 countries in 9 languages, all with English subtitles
  • 10 free concerts and courtyard events, plus 2 parties with live music and dance
  • 68 local artists, musicians, drag performers, voguers, and DJs collaborated with us
  • 129 volunteers powering the festival behind the scenes
  • Supported by 17 sponsors, 20 community partners, 6 consulate partners, and 2 media partners
  • For the second year, we hosted the hottest party of the summer with Vancouver Queer Film Festival: Fuego Fogo!

Our most-watched film of 2025 🎬

THE BEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD, a stunning Brazilian story by Anna Muylaert that touched hearts and marked an unforgettable start to the 23rd VLAFF.
The best mother in the world STILL.

We raised $20,444 CAD!

Your participation and financial support is critical to VLAFF’s success. GRACIAS, OBRIGADX, THANKS

Every contribution, at any level, matters.

All donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt (meaning you get money taken off your taxes!)

If you’re in a position to give, we invite you to support VLAFF today. You can donate online through CanadaHelps, or send a cheque to:

Vancouver Latin American Film Festival

420 – 111 W Hastings St

Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4

And if another method works better for you (cash, or otherwise) please reach out to info@vlaff.org. We’re happy to connect!

Thanks for an amazing 2025!

Photos by Bruno Martin del Campo

]]> Shorts Program: FROM NOW ON https://vlaff.org/event/shorts-program-from-now-on/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 23:15:00 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=32080 This collection of shorts delves into the spectrum of emotions that can overcome us from certain life-altering events—longing, fear, uncertainty, pain, shame—and our fundamental instinct to persevere. From the frustration of navigating the immigration system to the deep struggle of overcoming personal trauma, each film underscores the transformative power of filmmaking. Through diverse stories, voices, and styles from both emerging and more established filmmakers, these works illuminate the journey of becoming oneself, revealing the profound value of art in navigating life’s complexities and finding pathways to healing and self-discovery.

Running time: 80 min
Content warning: Flashing lights. Descriptions of violence and sexual assault.
Free Admission | Guests in attendance
 
Girls and Boys My Age
Les filles et les garçons de mon âge
Director Giovanni Princigalli, Canada/Italy, 2024, French and Spanish with English subtitles, 19.08 min

Hector, a 14-year-old Cuban-Canadian, spends his last weekend in Montreal before moving to California with his close circle of friends. Hector is deeply attached to the housing cooperative where he grew up and is anxious about leaving his familiar world. This significant journey coincides with a first kiss and the transition from childhood to adolescence.

1(888) 242-2100
Director Eliana Aleman Reategui, Canada, 2025, English and Spanish with English subtitles, 3.26 min

A brief and highly relatable account of navigating the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Client Support Centre services.

Ruptura
Director Camila Novais, Canada/Brazil, English and Portuguese with English subtitles, 21 min

When she was thirteen, Caroline Ribeiro asked her father for a lift to a friend’s party. What should have been a simple request turned into a nightmare. She and her father were the victims of an attempted car theft that went tragically wrong. Caroline grew up wracked by guilt, anxiety, and shame. Ruptura recounts the 30-year journey Caroline embarked on after that horrific event to break with the sorrows of the past and find a way forward.

Where Light Bends
Dónde se dobla la luz
Directors Marcela Echevarría & Ximena Baeza, Mexico/Canada, 2025, Spanish, 8:31 min

Two friends journey through unfamiliar paths, lost in their own imaginaries. As they face moments of uncertainty and quiet revelation, their bond deepens through memory, imagination, and shared silence.

The Worst Kind of Aftertaste
Director/Writer/Animator Sam Chang Bravo, Canada, English, 8.20 min

The Worst Kind of Aftertaste is an evocative animated short that delves into the life of Elliot, a film student and aspiring actor. As he navigates a seemingly carefree night out with friends, the cracks of his hidden trauma begin to surface. With a delicate yet unflinching lens, the film explores the weight of PTSD and sexual assault.

Only the Tusk Remains
Solo nos queda el colmillo
Director Steve Ortiz, Costa Rica/Canada, 2025, Spanish with English subtitles, 20.14 min

23-year-old Osvaldo lives in a remote, rural town on the outskirts of San José, Costa Rica’s capital city. Tired of facing a destiny that seemingly cannot be changed, he decides to confront the world that has turned its back on him. Feeling discouraged by the limitations of his surroundings, he chooses to carve out a place for his work in his own way.

BUY TICKETS HERE:

 

]]> Short Films, Competition Program 1 https://vlaff.org/event/shorts-program-1/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=32065 TURNING POINTS, The dark side and the echo that remains after the lightning strike. Seven short films where darkness seeps into the characters’ lives. Their paths are redirected by moments that will mark them forever. Because sometimes it only takes an instant to change everything.

Curated by Ana Tonso & Dani Rodríguez

TICKETS

  

]]> Colectivo SUR https://vlaff.org/event/collective-sur/ Mon, 15 Sep 2025 02:45:00 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=32031 Colectivo SUR is an ever-evolving and dynamic group that embraces the richness and diversity of Latin American musical traditions. Rooted in collaboration and cultural exchange, the collective is constantly reimagining itself through a rotating lineup of artists—each performance shaped by the unique voices and backgrounds of its current members.
No two performances are the same. With each iteration, Colectivo SUR brings a fresh perspective to Latin American music, blending traditional sounds with contemporary approaches and cross-cultural influences. Together, they create a vibrant, borderless musical experience—an ever-changing soundscape that celebrates the collective spirit of Latin America.”

]]> Diana Mulata https://vlaff.org/event/diana-mulata/ Sun, 14 Sep 2025 02:45:00 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=32029 Diana Mulata is a vinyl collector and selector from Cali, specializing in salsa, cumbia, and boogaloo. Her selections explore Afro-Caribbean heritage and Latin sounds across borders, creating dance floors that hold memory, joy, and resistance. Based in Canada, she brings the pulse of the South to every groove.

]]> Wasakaka https://vlaff.org/event/wasakaka/ Sat, 13 Sep 2025 02:45:00 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=32027 Formed in 2016, Wasakaka All-Stars, the dynamic Latin Music ensemble from Vancouver, is dedicated to showcasing authentic rhythms and upholding cultural heritage. Having enthralled audiences at premier festivals like Richmond World Fest and Carnaval del Sol, we’ve also twice shared stages with Salsa sensation Maelo Ruiz, most recently on June 2nd, 2023.

]]> Fiat Lux 5000 https://vlaff.org/event/fiat-lux-5000/ Sat, 06 Sep 2025 01:15:00 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=31989 Director Daniel Eduvijes Carrera, Mexico/USA, 2025, English & Spanish with English subtitles, 13 min

Devoted gay son Manuel Espinoza tests an experimental brain modulation device––the Fiat Lux 5000––to reconnect with his dementia-afflicted father, triggering a violent family legacy.

Screens with Lost Chapters.

Buy Tickets HERE.

]]> ¡Así Devoran! Drag Show https://vlaff.org/event/asi-devoran-drag-show/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 02:45:00 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=31956 ¡Así Devoran! Drag Show with M.Y.A. Mya is a Brazilian drag queen who is taking over Vancouver’s drag scene with her emotional ballads and her Brazilian musicality. She has been a finalist in most multi week competition she has entered and she takes pride in representing the Latin excellence we have in this city.

]]> Gaia Lacandona https://vlaff.org/event/gaia-lacandona/ Mon, 08 Sep 2025 02:45:00 +0000 https://vlaff.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=31949 Gaia Lacandona (it/that) is a nonbinary Mestizx drag educator from Mexico and a UBC Public Scholar whose doctoral research supports educators recognizing the relationships between sexuality, gender, racialization, and settler colonialism. For the past fifteen years, they have worked in educational leadership and curriculum with a passion and commitment to decolonization, social justice and Indigenous resurgence. Gaia Lacandona is a drag mutant looking to end the monarchy of queens and kings and embrace a pod of monsters, creatures and things. Through the art of drag, Gaia cultivates a place where Two-Spirit, trans and queer youth can imagine otherwise.

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