We’re already a few days into VIFF 2025 — my tenth and Chloe’s second — and we’re kicking things off with our expectations, early impressions, and a few exciting sneak peeks leading into opening day.
In this episode, I share my thoughts on a diverse lineup of films:
- Deathstalker (2025), the gory, nostalgic sword-and-sorcery reboot from Steven Kostanski (creator of Psycho Goreman) with Slash as executive producer.
- Orphan (2025), László Nemes’ haunting coming-of-age drama about a boy in 1957 Budapest confronting his family history.
- Our Hero, Balthazar (2025), Oscar Boyson’s dark satirical drama following a wealthy NYC teen whose social media activism spirals into a tense confrontation with an online troll in Texas.
- Mile End Kicks (2025), Chandler Levack’s coming-of-age rom-com set in Montreal’s indie music scene, which I called the benchmark for Canadian films this year, praising its authentic portrayal of young artists navigating love, ambition, and self-discovery.
Chloe weighs in on two standout films:
- Factory (2025), a powerful documentary by Hao Zhou that offers an unflinching look at life inside a Lenovo factory in Wuhan during and after the COVID-19 outbreak, examining the human cost of modern manufacturing.
- Blue Heron (2025), Sophy Romvari’s poignant semi-autobiographical drama about a young immigrant family in British Columbia, exploring childhood, memory, and trauma with emotional depth and artistic nuance.
🎥 Join us as we kick off our cinematic journey through our favorite time of the year — the Vancouver International Film Festival! Stay tuned for fresh reviews, interviews, and festival highlights all season long.
Steve Stebbing 