Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF)

Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) 2026: VAFF at 30

The Vancouver Asian Film Festival comes full circle for its 30th anniversary, running November 5 to 15, 2026. Canada’s longest-running Asian film festival, and the longest-running pan-Asian diaspora film festival in the country, brings more than 100 films to Vancouver, with features, documentaries, shorts, and animation, plus filmmaker talks, industry panels, and gala events. This year’s theme, “VAFF at 30,” celebrates the festival’s milestone legacy and the power of storytelling.

• When: Thursday, November 5 – Sunday, November 15, 2026 | In-person screenings over five days in Vancouver | Virtual program November 9 – 14
• Where: Cineplex Cinemas International Village, 3rd floor, 88 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, plus additional venues
• Cost: Ticketed; individual screenings and passes. See the festival website for pricing
• Hosted by: Vancouver Asian Film Festival
• Website: Vancouver Asian Film Festival 2026

Opening Night: Shopping for Fangs

Thursday, November 5, 6:30 PM | Auditorium 9, Cineplex Cinemas International Village
Shopping for Fangs returns after three decades as the festival’s opening night program, in the Canadian premiere of the film’s 30th-anniversary edition. Directed by Quentin Lee and Justin Lin, the film is a story of friendship between a lesbian server (Jeanne Chinn) and her gay customer (John Cho), full of North American Asian characters who aren’t engaged in any stereotypical activities. It was nominated for Best Canadian Feature Film and the People’s Choice Award for Best Film at the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival, and it opened the very first Vancouver Asian Film Festival the same year.

VAFF at 30

The festival’s 30th-anniversary presentation celebrates its legacy and the storytelling that has defined it since it was founded in 1995 and debuted in 1997. Tens of thousands of film lovers have experienced Asian, North American, and international films here, in English and other languages. VAFF’s mission is to be the go-to forum for the public and the film industry to engage in and elevate Asian representation in film and media.

VAFF Industry Week

November 7 – 14
VAFF Industry Week connects filmmakers and industry professionals through five in-person and four virtual events, including filmmaker talks and industry insight panels.

A Hybrid Festival

VAFF runs on a hybrid model: in-person screenings and presentations in Vancouver for five days, and a virtual program streaming Canada-wide from November 9 to 14, with one day merging virtual and in-person events. That means film lovers across the country can take part.

Venues

• Cineplex Cinemas International Village: 88 West Pender Street, 3rd floor, Vancouver, the main screening venue
• Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver: 900 Burrard Street, 4th floor, an additional festival venue

Know Before You Go

• Check the festival website for the full program, showtimes, and passes
• The festival includes a gala and awards celebration, with passes sold separately
• Program details and venues may change, so check the website for the latest information