“The juxtaposition between the personal and the collective in My Father’s Shadow is essential.”

The Vancouver International Film Festival has arrived, and while there are plenty of big names getting some deserved attention, there are also dozens of lesser known titles that may have flown under your radar heading into the festival. With that said, here are a handful of titles worth checking out as VIFF gets under way!

“Watching these characters navigate their dynamics with each other is why I am eager to return to this movie over and over again.”

“Through [Dwayne Johnson’s] performance, you believe in more than just his strength - you believe in his vulnerability.“

“Be prepared to laugh and cry and everything in between…”

“The film was not made with mainstream appeal in mind. Early knows his audience and plays hard for them.”

“Panahi employs few, if any, flashy camera moves or tricks, instead relying on long takes with a relatively stationary camera. This allows most of the focus to remain on the characters, who have differing proposals on how to escape their quagmire.”

“‘Noviembre’ is an astonishing work of filmmaking, and one of the best not just of TIFF, but of the year so far.”

“It’s a swan song as much as it is a victory lap, and the duo makes the most of their 100-minute runtime. It’s sweeter than it is bitter, but it’s also the end of an era for two of Toronto’s finest.”

“…[Oliver] Laxe lulls you into a trance thanks to composer Kangding Ray’s electro-heavy score that feels like having your brain flossed.”