VIFF Live announces 2026 program of film screenings, immersive concerts, and “reworlding”
Series includes appearances by Canadian and international artists, including throat-singing duo Silla, composer Kelly Moran, and experimental rock act Xiu Xiu
(Left to right) Kelly Moran; Silla
The VIFF Live program takes place at various venues during the Vancouver International Film Festival, running from October 1 to 11
THE THEME OF the 2026 VIFF Live program, announced by the Vancouver International Film Festival this week, is “reworlding”. And if you’re wondering exactly what that means, the official announcement describes it as “inviting audiences into imaginative new ways of experiencing image and sound through artists who challenge conventions and push creative boundaries”.
According to curator Jarrett Martineau, “VIFF Live is stretching the boundaries of time, space, form, and genre to make room for daring, unconventional, and singular creative voices who boldly challenge formal limits and histories. From avant electronica and Indigenous psychedelia to next-generation digital tastemakers and lavish orchestral film scores, this year's program offers a wide-ranging series of unique events and experiences, including several notable Canadian and North American premieres.”
If you still don’t understand what “reworlding” is, even after that, maybe the concept will become clearer when you attend one or more (or, heck, even all) of the events. Here’s what’s on tap:
The Last Angel of History
VIFF Centre, October 2 at 5 pm
A 30th-anniversary screening of the Black Audio Collective’s The Last Angel of History, which explores the evolution of Afrofuturism through music, from the transatlantic slave trade to techno and jungle. The screening is preceded by a live performance from Speaker Music and followed by a conversation with DeForrest Brown Jr. and Otolith Group founders Kodwo Eshun and Anjalika Sagar.
MIIIA
MUTEK x VIFF Live
SFU Fei & Milton Wong Theatre, October 2 at 9:30 pm
MUTEK and VIFF present an evening of live audiovisual performance and electronic music featuring Detroit electro duo Dopplereffekt, Montreal DJ and producer Honeydrip, and Vancouver artist MIIIA with visual artist MELT.
The KLF: 23 Seconds to Eternity
VIFF Centre, October 3 at 5 pm
A North American premiere showcasing 23 Seconds to Eternity, the first compilation of The KLF's films and music videos. The screening is preceded by a live audiovisual performance by Vancouver electronic duo CHXMERAS.
TAKKUUK
SFU Fei & Milton Wong Theatre, October 3 at 8:30 pm
Cocreated with Indigenous collaborators from Greenland and Sápmi, TAKKUUK uses infrared cinematography and a score by BICEP to examine culture, colonialism, and environmental change in the Arctic. The screening is preceded by performances from Inuit throat-singing duo Silla and Greenlandic rapper Tarrak.
Kelly Moran
SFU Fei & Milton Wong Theatre, October 4 at 8 pm
Pianist, producer, and composer Kelly Moran performs music from her 2025 album Don’t Trust Mirrors in a live audiovisual concert. Vancouver electronic musician Bahar Khazei opens the evening with visuals by XEL.
An Evening with Cristóbal Tapia de Veer
VIFF Centre, October 5 at 5:30 pm
Composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer discusses his creative process and the scores behind projects including Black Mirror, The White Lotus, and Smile in a masterclass and Q&A.
Los Thuthanaka
The Pearl, October 5 at 8:30 pm
American-Bolivian experimental duo Los Thuthanaka make their Canadian debut with a live audiovisual performance drawing on Aymara and Pakajaqi musical traditions alongside electronic and psychedelic influences.
Xiu Xiu
ERASERHEAD XIU XIU
The Rio, October 6 at 8:30 pm
The Canadian premiere of Xiu Xiu’s live audiovisual interpretation of David Lynch’s Eraserhead, combining field recordings, homemade instruments, modular synths, vocals, and musique concrète.
Derrick Gee’s Radio Hour
Granville Island Stage, October 7 at 8 pm
Making its North American debut, Derrick Gee’s Radio Hour combines live music, guest appearances, audience participation, and conversation in a show inspired by classic radio broadcasts.
Jóhann Jóhannsson’s Cinematic Suites: The Denis Villeneuve Scores
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, October 9 at 7:30 pm
The North American premiere of Jóhann Jóhannsson’s Cinematic Suites features orchestral performances of music from Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners, Sicario, and Arrival, along with selections from James Marsh’s The Theory of Everything and The Mercy.
Tickets for VIFF Live events are on sale now, with early-bird pricing available for select events through August 26 on the VIFF website. 
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