VIFF rules!

46 films in 16 days. I laughed. I cried. I related. Walked out of four. And so closes another year at VIFF (Vancouver International Film Festival, no. 25). I met lots of film buffs in the daily ticket allotment line-up, some of who'd flown in from San Diego and as far away as Connecticut. Those folk easily absorbed five films a day, every day. One woman had already surpassed her 100th film mark by the 10th day! Films from around the world, many including their directors and makers in tow. I met a handful of Japanese actors, their director and Art Director one evening. Chatted with them via their interpreter. Some had films making their international premiere here in Vancouver. As a first-time volunteer, I signed on early to accept about 25 hours of work at our local Ridge Theatre. Over and over, I'd meet those friendly folk with a (paid) film pass, commenting about the films they'd seen and ones they'd be seeing on that day. It was truly a world in itself outside busy downtown Vancouver. Enjoyed the chance to do this, especially after having lived eight years in The Netherlands and not once attending the Rotterdam Film Festival.