Third Annual Vashon Film Festival

Vashon Film Institute (VFI), the non-profit organization dedicated to fostering independent filmmaking in the Pacific Northwest, has announced the film slate for its third annual Vashon Island Film Festival (VIFF), which launches today, and goes until August 11th. VIFF will screen twelve features and ten shorts that have distinguished themselves on the festival circuit, in addition to three local projects in the newly minted Local Spotlights category.

"Griffin in Summer"Photo byCourtesy, Vashion Film Festival

This year’s slate of twelve features, ten shorts and three local projects is the fest’s best-ever, with festival jury and award winners, topped by Un Certain Regard topper "Black Dog."

Founded by VFI President Mark Mathias Sayre, who also serves as the CEO of motion picture distributor and sales entity The Forge, VIFF will screen an array of features and shorts curated by Sayre and the VFI programming team. A selection of local highlights round out the program. All screenings are slated to take place in person.

"Resynator"Photo byVashon Film Festival

“I don’t envy our jury’s job,” said Sayre. “Our line-up is as strong as it’s ever been—it truly is the best of the best from this year’s festival season. Even our patrons will have a difficult time choosing which films to watch, which is a good problem to have.”

The festival not only is a beautiful celebration of movies, but also serves as a fantastic reason to explore Vashon Island. Vashon is a cozy indie film festival, located just a short ferry ride from Seattle or Point Defiance (Tacoma), The area is considered one of Washington State’s greatest treasures, a laid-back, bucolic hideaway replete with culture, magnificent scenery and some of the best food in the Pacific Northwest.

VIFF will also feature a selection of other events for patrons to experience, including the Red Bicycle Awards Ceremony, hosted on Sunday, August 11, atthe Vashon Theatre and its outdoor pavilion The Backlot, which is a newly renovated and family-operated cultural landmark on the island.

What to Watch

In addition, VIFF will screen seven narrative and five documentary features (all Pacific Northwest premieres unless otherwise noted). The narrative features include: director Vincent Grashaw’s "Bang Bang," fresh off its World Premiere at Tribeca 2024; director Guan Hu’s Black Dog (North American Premiere), Un Certain Regard Award and Palm Dog Grand Jury Prize Winner at Cannes 2024; director Brendan Gabriel Murphy’s "Fluxx," Grand Jury Prize Award Winner for Best Feature Film at Malibu Film Festival 2024; director Jane Schoenbrun’s "I Saw the TV Glow, " Audience Award Winner for Best American Feature Film at Champs-Élysées Film Festival 2024 and Seattle Film Critics Society Feature Film Award Winner at Seattle International Film Festival 2024; director Nicholas Colia’s "Griffin in Summer," which swept the Tribeca Film Festival in June; directors Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez’ Sujo, Grand Jury Prize Winner for Dramatic World Cinema at Sundance 2024; and director Bartek Bala’s "Swarm" (Rój), which had its U.S. premiere at Cinequest 2023.

"Swarm"Photo byVashon Film Festival

“Our commitment at VIFF remains to quality, which I feel confident our program reflects," said Sayre. " In this way, we are able to mirror the experience offered at major festivals. The difference is we do it in shorts and sweatpants instead of black tie attire—what you might call ‘island casual.’ On second thought, our commitment remains to quality and comfort.”

The documentary features include: director Paul Levatino’s "Bastards of Soul," which had its World Premiere at Sun Valley Film Festival 2024; director Silje Evensmo Jacobsen’s "A New Kind of Wilderness," Grand Jury Prize Winner for Documentary World Cinema at Sundance 2024 and Documentary Competition Award Winner at Seattle International Film Festival 2024; directors Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev’s "Porcelain War"— Grand Jury Prize Winner for Documentary at Sundance 2024; Golden Space Needle Award Winner for Best Documentary at Seattle International Film Festival 2024; director Alison Tavel’s "Resynator," Audience Award Winner for Documentary Feature at SXSW 2024; and director Contessa Gayles’ Songs from the Hole, Audience Award Winner for Visions at SXSW 2024.