The B.C. films not to be missed at this year’s VIFF

Blue Heron by Victoria-born Sophy Romvari will showcase this year's at VIFF. (VIFF)

With 170 feature films and 100 shorts combining commercial hits, international offerings and debuts from budding filmmakers, determining what to carve out time for during this year’s edition of the sprawling Vancouver International Film Festival can prove to be a difficult task.

Those looking for a place to start can look close to home, with twelve feature films and six shorts on the schedule this year boasting B.C. connections.

Many showcase the melting-pot nature of the province, and highlight the stories that delve into the diverse history and culture of its ever-growing population.

While all are captivating in their own right, should it come to only having the time for a select few, here are six that are certainly not to be missed.

Blue Heron

The woman behind the Canadian Screen Award-nominated and Mubi-released film Still Processing, Victoria-born director Sophy Romvari, has returned four years on with feature debut Blue Heron. The film follows a Hungarian immigrant family who relocates to a new home on Vancouver Island in the late 1990s. As the oldest child becomes increasingly withdrawn and erratic, the family’s first, cheerful summer unravels into something much darker.

On Oct. 4 at The Cinematheque and Oct. 5 at Fifth Avenue Cinema

Clan of the Painted Lady

B.C. director Jennifer Chiu delves into her own family history in Clan of the Painted Lady, a personal documentary exploring and celebrating the language, people and culture of the Chinese subgroup Hakka. Chiu dives deep into Hakka’s rich history, particularly the nomadic drift from China to India, Mauritius, Jamaica, and her home country of Canada.

On Oct. 6 at Fifth Avenue Cinema, and Oct. 9 at VIFF Centre

The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes

Eighteen years after his death and E.J. Hughes is applauded still for his captivating paintings of serene British Columbia landscapes, yet little is known about the artist himself. Documentary filmmaker Jenn Strom worked with biographer Robert Amos, drawing from recorded tape interviews, in this film that reveals the life of a solitary man with a fascinating path to success.

On Oct. 5 at SFU Woodwards and Oct. 7 at Granville Island Stage

In the Room

Writer-director Brishkay Ahmed bravely shares her own experience as an Afghan expat, detailing how a rejection of her own heritage morphed over time into something more celebratory. and embracing. Ahmed’s personal experience is bolstered by intimate and compelling interviews with others, to make a powerful piece that applauds the heroism of Afghan women.

On Oct. 7 at SFU Woodwards, and Oct. 10 at International Village

The Track

Film festivals typically include a breakout film that centres around resilience in the face of adversity, and a hot contender for this year’s comes from B.C. filmmaker Ryan Sidhoo. His coming of age documentary follows three teenage boys in Sarajevo who dream of competing in Olympic-level luge, restoring and training at a bullet-ridden track once abandoned in the forests above the city.

On Oct. 3 at SFU Woodwards, and Oct. 5 at Granville Island Stage

Treasure of the Rice Terraces

With a 107-year-old master artist as his guide, Filipino-Canadian filmmaker Kent Donguines travels back to a secluded mountain community in the Philippines to learn about the resurgence of Indigenous Kalinga tattoos. Across the 75-minute piece viewers travel with the B.C. filmmaker as he reconnects with his roots, exploring a revival of a tradition that preserves culture and strengthens identity.

On Oct. 5 at International Village, and Oct. 6 at Granville Island Stage