Arts & Culture

Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s documentary film festival, KDocsFF, is returning from Feb. 22 to 26.

Photo courtesy Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Kwantlen documentary film festival returns

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 1:34 PST, Tue January 10, 2023

Last Updated: 3:36 PST, Mon January 30, 2023

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s documentary film festival, KDocsFF, is returning to an in-person format for the first time since 2020 with its biggest festival to date. The festival is Metro Vancouver’s premier social justice film festival.

“It feels wonderful to be back in theatre. We have missed our audience, speakers, exhibitors, and partners so much,” says Janice Morris, founder and festival director. “While the last two years were a unique challenge and much was learned, going back to an in-person event is re-energizing.”

KDocsFF will screen 25 films from Feb. 22 to 26 at the Vancouver International Film Centre (Vancity Theatre) in Vancouver. The five-day span makes it the longest in-person KDocsFF to date.

“Our last face-to-face festival in 2020 featured 12 films over four days. Even our virtual festivals capped out at 20 films,” says Morris.

After undergoing a renovation in 2020, Vancity Theatre now has the capacity to feature more than one film at a time. In addition, this year, there will be double-feature presentations as well as joint panel discussions.

The theme of the 2023 KDocsFF is People. Places. Power.

“Many people ask me if I choose the films first or the theme. Every year, it's the films first, and the theme somehow finds a way to emerge all on its own. There is so much synergy amongst this year's official selections, in fact, that it led to the idea for the double features and joint panel discussions and Q&As,” adds Morris.

Some notable double features this year include:

Alice Street and Jean Swanson: We Need a New Map are both features that will return this year after much success last year. The films brought together the film subjects and have lead to joint projects in the Downtown Eastside and the Vancouver Mural Festival.

“This film combo is one that simply must be viewed in person. Furthermore, while we had a successful screening of these films last year, the story didn't end there. As our audience knows, KDocsFF exists to do much more than be an excellent film festival. We are proud of being an outstanding film festival, but that has never been the end goal. The end goal has always been creating awareness, engagement, and community solution-building,” says Morris.

Some notable figures are scheduled to attend this year’s festival: Carol Todd, the mother of teen Amanda Todd who lost her life due to bullying; Phyllis Jack-Webstad, the creator of Orange Shirt Day; and Dewayne Lee Johnson, who is the subject of one of the films and a successful plaintiff against Monsanto.

Farhana Yamin, international lawyer and the subject of Rebellion, is a keynote speaker at the festival. Alex Winter, the director of The YouTube Effect, will also attend. The former actor turned award-winning documentarian is best known for starring in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

Tickets start at $5 a film and are on sale now. Find the full schedule here.