Vancouver International Black Film Festival runs December 11 to 15 at Vancity Theatre and VIFF Studio Theatre
The sixth Vancouver International Black Film Festival screens 42 films at two downtown venues from December 11 to 15, with free industry events on December 12.
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The sixth Vancouver International Black Film Festival screens 42 films at Vancity Theatre and VIFF Studio Theatre from December 11 to 15, 2026. Free industry events run on December 12 and tickets for individual screenings start at $12.
What is showing
The Georgia Straight reports that the festival screens 42 films over five days. Programming covers features, documentaries, and short films from Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada.
The opening film on December 11 at 8 pm is Laundry (Uhlanjululo), directed by Zamo Mkhwanazi. The festival's site describes it as a drama set in 1968 apartheid South Africa, following a young jazz musician deciding between his career and his family's laundry business.
The festival's documentary program includes The Eyes of Ghana, directed by Ben Proudfoot. The Canadian Spotlight section carries 14 films, among them Coaching While Black, Cypher, Wave Rider, and The Night Watches Us (Profilage nocturne).
A short-film series called Being Black in Canada shows works by 30 emerging Black Canadian filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 30. The festival's site describes it as part of a broader national mentorship program running in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Halifax, and Ottawa.
The free December 12 events
The festival's Black Market industry series on December 12 is listed as free, both in person at VIFF Studio Theatre and online. The December 12 program includes a documentary production workshop with CBC executives, a Vancouver Black Filmmaker Spotlight hosted by Dean Redman, and a networking session. The website lists those events as free for in-person and online attendees.
Tickets and passes
Individual tickets start at $12, according to the festival's site. An in-person pass, which covers regular seat access across the festival, is $55. An online pass is $60. Tickets and passes are available at vancouverblackfilmfest.com/tickets-passes/.
Venues
Vancity Theatre and VIFF Studio Theatre are both operated by the Vancouver International Film Festival Centre in downtown Vancouver. The opening night screening and main feature screenings are at Vancity Theatre. The December 12 industry day events are at VIFF Studio Theatre.
Questions this story answers
When is the Vancouver International Black Film Festival in 2026?
The sixth Vancouver International Black Film Festival runs from December 11 to 15, 2026. The opening night screening is on December 11 at 8 pm at Vancity Theatre. Industry events take place on December 12 at VIFF Studio Theatre. Some programming continues online through December 15.
Where does the Vancouver International Black Film Festival take place?
The in-person screenings are at Vancity Theatre and VIFF Studio Theatre, both operated by the Vancouver International Film Festival Centre in downtown Vancouver. The opening night film on December 11 and the main screenings are at Vancity Theatre. The December 12 industry day events are at VIFF Studio Theatre. Some programming is also available online through the festival website.
How much do tickets cost for the Vancouver International Black Film Festival?
According to the festival's official site, individual tickets start at $12. An in-person pass that covers regular seat access across the festival is $55. An online pass, which provides access to online screenings, is $60. Tickets and passes are available at vancouverblackfilmfest.com/tickets-passes/.
Are any events at the Vancouver International Black Film Festival free?
Yes. The festival's Black Market industry series on December 12 is listed as free, both in person at VIFF Studio Theatre and online. The December 12 program includes the Vancouver Black Filmmaker Spotlight hosted by Dean Redman and a networking session. The free events do not require a pass, according to the festival website.
What film opens the Vancouver International Black Film Festival?
The opening film is Laundry (Uhlanjululo), directed by Zamo Mkhwanazi. According to the festival's site, the film is set in 1968 apartheid South Africa and follows a young jazz musician who must choose between his music and his family's business. The opening night screening is on December 11 at 8 pm at Vancity Theatre.
How many films does the Vancouver International Black Film Festival screen?
The Georgia Straight reports that the 2026 festival screens 42 films over the five days. The programming includes features, documentaries, and short films from Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada. The Canadian Spotlight section includes 14 films. A short-film series called Being Black in Canada features works by 30 emerging Black Canadian filmmakers aged 18 to 30.
What is the Being Black in Canada program at the festival?
Being Black in Canada is a short-film series at the festival featuring works by 30 emerging Black Canadian filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 30. According to the festival's site, it is part of a broader mentorship program with groups in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Halifax, and Ottawa. Screenings of the Being Black in Canada short films are part of the December 12 program at VIFF Studio Theatre.
Who organizes the Vancouver International Black Film Festival?
The festival is organized by the Vancouver International Black Film Festival, which runs the event at its sixth edition in 2026. Its official site is vancouverblackfilmfest.com. The Georgia Straight article about the festival was written by Vicki Duong. The December 12 Vancouver Black Filmmaker Spotlight is hosted by Dean Redman, as named on the festival website.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Georgia Straight: VIBFF preview by Vicki Duongstraight.com
- Vancouver International Black Film Festival official sitevancouverblackfilmfest.com
- VIBFF tickets and passesvancouverblackfilmfest.com
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