Vancouver Asian Film Festival turns 30: centrepiece 'Isle Child' gets Western Canada premiere tonight

The Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) is celebrating its 30th edition, running from November 5 to 15, 2026. Tonight, Saturday, November 7, at 6:30pm, the festival presents its centrepiece screening, Thomas Percy Kim's “Isle Child,” in a Western Canada premiere at Cineplex Odeon International Village on the edge of Chinatown.

Opening film revisits a 30-year-old title; tonight's centrepiece is new

The festival opened on Thursday, November 5, at 6:30pm with “Shopping for Fangs,” the Quentin Lee and Justin Lin feature the festival is presenting as the Canadian premiere of its 30th anniversary edition. Friday, November 6, brought the 30th anniversary special presentation, Barbara Lee's “Sing My Song,” also a Western Canada premiere. Tonight's “Isle Child” completes the opening weekend's trio of evening programs, all in the same auditorium.

Tickets and passes

Single tickets are $20 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors. Festivalgoers can also buy passes: a $200 in-theatre pass covers 24 programs on November 5 to 8 and November 14; a $350 premier pass adds virtual screenings, industry talks and special events; and a $40 e-pass covers the virtual films available across Canada from November 9 to 14.

(Source: Vancouver Asian Film Festival programme.)