2SLGBTQiA+ Works Lead Local Lineup at the Vancouver International Film Festival
The 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival features compelling 2SLGBTQiA+ stories rooted in British Columbia, connecting regional filmmakers directly with international audiences. There are a total of 27 films that appear when I search by 2SLGBTQiA+ and you can view them all here. We’ve listed a few below -
TICKETS & INFO
Local BC Filmmakers & Regional Stories
Seventeen (Northern Lights): Directed by 2SLGBTQiA+ Indigenous filmmaker Justin Ducharme, this drama centers on three Indigenous sex workers in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside navigating survival, grief, and solidarity.
Reclaim My Skin (Galas & Special Presentations): Director Marie Clements examines matriarchal, Two-Spirit, and trans community structures in Indigenous cultures, documenting how historical European patriarchy disrupted these traditions.
Send the Rain (BC Spotlight): Co-directed by Vancouver filmmakers Hayley Gray and Kaayla Whachell, this feature addresses generational family ties and memory during an evacuation in rural BC.
Short Forum 8: Queer Magic (Short Forum): The festival's dedicated short film stream includes curated multi-film blocks, such as Short Forum 8: Queer Magic, which gathers short-form works from regional and international directors:
Buddies: Directed by Canadian filmmaker Fraser Wolfe, following two friends on a ski weekend.
Dance of the Sun On the Water: Directed by Ming Wong.
Going Nowhere Fast: Directed by Dylan Paffe.
Already Happened: Directed by Hao Zhou.
International Feature Highlights
Jaripeo (VIFF Spectrum): Directors Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig examine the annual rodeo in Penjamillo, Michoacán, framing this arena of traditional Mexican culture as a setting where 2SLGBTQiA+ desire intersects with public masculinity.
Jim Queen (Altered States): A narrative satire addressing body standards and political conservatism as a gay media figure forms an alliance with a follower.
A Long Winter (Special Presentations): Directed by Andrew Haigh and shot in Western Canada, this 1950s period drama examines family dynamics, isolation, and identity.
Short Film Streams & Curated Blocks
MODES 1 & MODES 3: Experimental short collections that pull from archives and landscape footage to preserve community histories and alternative perspectives.
Narrative Features
Sweet Milk Lake (Panorama): A darkly comic thriller following a trans man who is mistaken for his cisgender twin brother.
Elephants in the Fog (Panorama): A feature narrative addressing identity and community dynamics, programmed within VIFF's international panorama stream.
Screenings and Festival Info
Dates: October 1–11, 2026
Locations: The Rio Theatre, VIFF Centre, The Park Theatre, International Village, and The Cinematheque.
Ticketing: Individual tickets and passes are available directly through the Vancouver International Film Festival. Accessibility specifications, including closed captioning and hearing assistance, are listed per title on the festival schedule.