OFF-VIFF 2026: Vancouver’s Underground Film Festival Spotlights Queer and Trans Cinema
Vancouver’s grassroots film scene is taking center stage as OFF-VIFF returns for its 2026 edition. Originally launched as a DIY, community-driven alternative to the Vancouver International Film Festival, OFF-VIFF has expanded into a multi-venue showcase for underground cinema.
Co-founded by local filmmaker Arran Shearing and the team at STUPID CO, the festival was born out of a desire to create a "for the people, by the people" platform. Unsurprisingly, that rebellious spirit has made OFF-VIFF a natural home for queer, trans, and non-binary filmmakers pushing boundaries outside the mainstream festival circuit.
From trans-led feature films to queer short film blocks, here is a look at the LGBTQ+ highlights you can catch across Vancouver venues like The Rio Theatre, Cineworks, and the Little Free Cinema.
Feature Highlights: Queer & Trans Voices at the Forefront
Castration Movie Chapter III: Junior Ghosts—Premorphic Drift
Director: Louise Weard
Venue: The Rio Theatre
A major highlight of this year’s festival is the West Coast premiere from acclaimed trans underground auteur Louise Weard. Known for her uncompromising, visceral approach to cinema, Weard’s latest installment in her Castration Movie series continues her exploration of body politics, trans identity, and subterranean horror-art aesthetics. It’s a must-watch for fans of underground genre cinema.
King Baby
Directors: Kit Redstone & Arran Shearing
Co-directed by trans writer and director Kit Redstone alongside OFF-VIFF co-founder Arran Shearing, King Baby serves as a cornerstone of the festival's identity. Centering on themes of masculinity, power dynamics, and performance, the feature originally helped launch the inaugural OFF-VIFF and remains an anchor piece in the festival's ongoing legacy.
Short Film Selections: 2SLGBTQIA+ Shorts to Watch
OFF-VIFF’s short film programming at Cineworks features a rich mix of local and international talent, including several prominent queer and non-binary filmmakers from the Pacific Northwest:
Dougie, girl! (Vancouver) – Directed by local queer/trans filmmaker M.J. Connolly, offering a fresh, intimate lens on gender performance and identity.
Excerpts from a Study of Women Who Have Mothered Monsters (Vancouver) – Directed by Kimberly Ho (何文蔚), a multidisciplinary queer Asian artist whose works frequently dissect gender performance, mythology, and heritage.
A Fistful of Love (Toronto / USA) – A tender, narrative short centering on queer connection, intimacy, and romance.
Event Details & Venues
OFF-VIFF 2026 runs across multiple independent spaces in East Vancouver:
Cineworks (October 7): Host to Shorts Block One and Shorts Block Two.
Little Free Cinema (October 7–12): Free outdoor/micro-screenings featuring an international lineup of experimental shorts.
The Rio Theatre: Primary venue for feature premieres and special showcase events.
For full schedule details, tickets, and venue links, visit offviff.com.