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Alan Franey, VIFF festival director; and Helen Yagi, VIFF Dragons & Tigers publicist.

Alan Franey, VIFF festival director; and Helen Yagi, VIFF Dragons & Tigers publicist

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson; and Shawn Williamson, Brightlight Pictures chair.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson; and Shawn Williamson, Brightlight Pictures chair

Festival favourite film <em>Leap 4 Your Life</em> actresses Nicole Oliver and April Telek.

Festival favourite film Leap 4 Your Life actresses Nicole Oliver and April Telek

Festival actor John Cassini; and Michael Eklund, <em>Bates Motel</em> TV series actor.

Festival actor John Cassini; and Michael Eklund, Bates Motel TV series actor

Esther Cohen, Carriere Talent agent, photobombs festival actors John Cassini and Alexandra Staseson.

Esther Cohen, Carriere Talent agent, photobombs festival actors John Cassini and Alexandra Staseson.
Alan Franey, VIFF festival director; and Helen Yagi, VIFF Dragons & Tigers publicist.

Joshua McVeity, photographer; and Fred Lee, CBC personality.

Joshua McVeity, photographer; and Fred Lee, CBC personality

Paul Armstrong, producer of <em>Lawrence & Holloman</em>; Daniel Arnold, actor; and Matthew Kowalchuk, director of the film.

Paul Armstrong, producer of Lawrence & Holloman; Daniel Arnold, actor; and Matthew Kowalchuk, director of the film

Janice and Scott Murphy, co-owners of Celtic Daughters Artisans.

Janice and Scott Murphy, co-owners of Celtic Daughters Artisans

Shauna Hardy Mishaw, Whistler Film Festival Society executive director; Lindsay Nahmiache, Jive Communications partner; and Angie Nolan, Whistler Film Festival programming manager.

Shauna Hardy Mishaw, Whistler Film Festival Society executive director; Lindsay Nahmiache, Jive Communications partner; and Angie Nolan, Whistler Film Festival programming manager

Colleen Hardwick, PlaceSpeak founder and CEO; Tracey Mack, Urban Safari Entertainment producer; and Siobhan McCarthy, Red Trike Media founder and CEO.

Colleen Hardwick, PlaceSpeak founder and CEO; Tracey Mack, Urban Safari Entertainment producer; and Siobhan McCarthy, Red Trike Media founder and CEO

Colleen Hardwick, PlaceSpeak founder and CEO; and Gary Chalk, actor from <em>Leap 4 Your Life</em>.

Colleen Hardwick, PlaceSpeak founder and CEO; and Gary Chalk, actor from Leap 4 Your Life

Tamara Robinson, <em>Georgia Straight</em> accounting supervisor; and Crystal Huba, writer/comedian.

Tamara Robinson, Georgia Straight accounting supervisor; and Crystal Huba, writer/comedian

Nicholas Lea, actor; Jennifer MacLean-Angus, actress; and festival actor John Cassini.

Nicholas Lea, actor; Jennifer MacLean-Angus, actress; and festival actor John Cassini

Sophie Jarvis, VIFF guest coordinator; and Ann Marie Fleming, <em>Big Trees</em> writer/director.

Sophie Jarvis, VIFF guest coordinator; and Ann Marie Fleming, Big Trees writer/director

Mackenzie Gray, actor/writer/director for <em>Under the Bridge of Fear</em>; and Will Forte, <em>Nebraska</em> actor and <em>Saturday Night Live</em> alumn.

Mackenzie Gray, actor/writer/director for Under the Bridge of Fear; and Will Forte, Nebraska actor and Saturday Night Live alum

From <em>For the Birds</em>, Tara Atashgah, director; Nazlik Lou, actress; and Chervine Namani, actor.

From For the Birds, Tara Atashgah, director; Nazlik Lou, actress; and Chervine Namani, actor

Helen Yagi, VIFF Dragons & Tigers publicist; and Gordon Rischanek, Intune Property Development CEO.

Helen Yagi, VIFF Dragons & Tigers publicist; and Gordon Rischanek, Intune Property Development CEO

Terry Miles, Cinemanovels writer/director/producer; and Robyn Wiener, Synergy Cinema founder and <em>Lawrence & Holloman</em> co-producer.

Terry Miles, Cinemanovels writer/director/producer; and Robyn Wiener, Synergy Cinema founder and Lawrence & Holloman co-producer

Nicola Fairweather, LinkedIn Training at Route Three Marketing business development manager; and Brady Dahmer, Projecting Change Film Festival founder.

Nicola Fairweather, LinkedIn Training at Route Three Marketing business development manager; and Brady Dahmer, Projecting Change Film Festival founder

Kevin Leeson, Lighthouse Pictures partner; and Jamie Goehring, Lighthouse Pictures partner.

Kevin Leeson, Lighthouse Pictures partner; and Jamie Goehring, Lighthouse Pictures partner

The cast and crew from festival movie <em>Down River</em>: Colleen Rennison, actress; Gabrielle Miller, actress; Ben Ratner, writer/director; and Jennifer Spence, actress.

The cast and crew from festival movie Down River: Colleen Rennison, actress; Gabrielle Miller, actress; Ben Ratner, writer/director; and Jennifer Spence, actress

Eliza Smith, singer; and Terry Chen, <em>Continuum</em> and <em>The 100 TY</em> series actor.

Eliza Smith, singer; and Terry Chen, Continuum and The 100 TY series actor

Rob Heimbecker and Paul Armstrong, <em>Anxious Oswald Green</em> executive producers.

Rob Heimbecker and Paul Armstrong, Anxious Oswald Green executive producers

Alex Kennedy, VIFF volunteer; Maya Beckersmith, <em>Georgia Straight</em> newspaper sales and promotions; and Julie Boswell, occupational therapist.

Alex Kennedy, VIFF volunteer; Maya Beckersmith, Georgia Straight newspaper sales and promotions; and Julie Boswell, occupational therapist

<em>Breaking Bad</em> creator Vince Gilligan is interviewed by <em>Lost</em> show runner Damon Lindelof in front of a sold-out crowd at The Centre for Performing Arts.

Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan is interviewed by Lost show runner Damon Lindelof in front of a sold-out crowd at The Centre for Performing Arts

Vancouver International Film Festival

Brightlight Pictures Red Carpet Party, CinCin Ristorante, September 26
VIFF Opening Gala, The Vancouver Club, September 26
Lighthouse Pictures Party, Shangri-La Hotel, September 27


The Vancouver International Film Festival marked its kickoff weekend with a lineup of red-carpet parties and galas. The festival began with the 12th annual Brightlight Pictures Red Carpet Party, hosted by Shawn Williamson at CinCin Ristorante. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson was among the actors, directors and producers walking the red carpet.

On the other side of town, the gala screening of Nebraska at the Centre for Performing Arts had movie star and Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte in attendance. Following the screening, guests celebrated at the VIFF opening gala at The Vancouver Club.

The following evening Lighthouse Pictures had its annual party at the Shangri-La Hotel, featuring Entertainment Tonight Canada's Rick Campanelli as the host of the red carpet festivities.