February 15, 2018 –

After 10 days of abuzz crowds flowing into 7 of Victoria’s best cinemas, the 2018 Victoria Film Festival has rolled up its beloved pink carpet for another year.

The Festival kicked off at the Victoria Conference Centre with the premiere of the film Waterboys directed by Robert Jan Westdijk, who was in attendance. After the screening 300 guests were led by bagpipe to the Bay Centre to celebrate at the festival’s Opening Gala Party. Fog, a herd of handcrafted sheep and live music, provided by a Ceilidh Band transformed the Bay Centre into the Highlands of Scotland. Patrons enjoyed mini golf, whiskey tasting, and even a had a rare sighting of the mysterious Loch Ness monster.

This year’s Festival showcased over 100 films from almost 30 countries. The festival saw over 24,000 attendees, with over 40 film sellouts and hosted 70 special guests.  A highlight film was the only North American premiere Pickups. Directed by Jamie Thraves, it was co-written and starred Game of Thrones actor Aiden Gillen. Both Thraves and Gillen attended their screenings and interacted with excited fans and answered audience questions.

At the closing ceremonies, held at 10 Acres Commons on Sunday, the VFF announced award winners and recognized the outstanding films and filmmakers featured at the 24th edition of the festival. Among the awards was the prestigious Cineplex Entertainment Audience Favourite Award. It is selected by festival attendees alone and was taken home this year by the moving drama Indian Horse directed by Stephen Campanelli.

Other awards winners include:

Cultural Currents Award –  $1000 prize

Maker of Monsters: The Extraordinary Life of Beau Dick by Natalie Boll, LaTiesha Fazakas

Best Short Animation

Weekends by Trevor Jimenez

Best Documentary

Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me by Samuel D. Pollard

Best Canadian First Feature  – 1000 prize:

Kayak to Klemtu by Zoe Hopkins

Canadian Feature

Rebels on Pointe by Bobbi Jo Hart

Best Feature Film

Tulipani: Love, Honour and a Bicycle by Mike van Diem

Audience Favourite Short Film – $500 prize:

Wishing Jar by Denver Jackson

Audience Favourite Feature Film

Indian Horse by Stephen Campanelli

About the Victoria Film Festival

The Victoria Film Festival is Vancouver Island’s largest and longest-running film festival, currently celebrating 24 years. The Victoria Film Festival screens more than 110 films over 10 days. Creating unique events year-round, the Festival is responsible for Feast: Food + Film, Free-B Film Festival, Art of the Cocktail, Movies Under the Maltworks and The Vic Theatre.

Media Contact: Kinga Binkowska | Communications Coordinator | 250 389-0444 |

communications@victoriafilmfestival.com