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Filipino films take the spotlight as Vancouver Asian Film Festival celebrates 30 years
ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 05, 2026
Photo courtesy: VAFF
From stories of Filipino heritage to a historical thriller, VAFF30 brings Asian storytelling to Vancouver audiences this November.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Filipino stories, emerging Asian filmmakers and international cinema are taking the spotlight as the Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) celebrates its 30th anniversary with a lineup of screenings exploring identity, heritage, resilience and human connection.
Running from November 5 to 15, 2026, VAFF30 marks three decades of championing Asian Canadian voices and bringing stories from diverse Asian communities to the big screen.
As Canada’s longest-running Asian film festival, VAFF continues to provide a platform for independent filmmakers, established directors and emerging storytellers whose work reflects the richness of Asian experiences.
This year’s celebration includes three notable programs highlighting Filipino and Asian filmmaking, culminating in the Canadian premiere of Sisa, a historical revenge thriller directed by acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Jun Robles Lana.
Filipino and Japanese films share the spotlight
The festival’s International Spotlight: Japan & Philippines program brings together two films, Return to Bloom and Manongs, on Sunday, November 8.
The double feature celebrates Japanese and Filipino storytelling, with one production making its world premiere and the other marking its Canadian debut, according to the festival’s promotional announcement.
The screening is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas, Auditorium 9, in Vancouver.
The program offers audiences an opportunity to discover international productions and experience stories from two distinct Asian filmmaking traditions.
Southeast Asian stories explore identity and change
Another featured screening, West Coast Tales + South East Asia Spotlight, takes place on Saturday, November 14, at noon.
Program 18 brings together three films examining relationships, cultural traditions and personal transformation.
The Chicken & The Egg, an 11-minute short directed by Louriza Tronco and Kevin Ang, follows a podcast conversation between a host and a self-help author that takes an unexpectedly awkward turn. The film is scheduled for its world premiere.
Tarian Tresna (Dance of Love), a 15-minute short by Sidartha Murjani, follows a young girl in rural Bali as she navigates expectations and seeks her place within local traditions. The film will make its Canadian premiere.
The program also features Her Second Act, an 88-minute film directed by Malaysian filmmaker Joey Lee Choi Kin. The story centers on a mother whose unexpected cycling victory brings long-suppressed ambitions and tensions within her marriage to the surface.
The film will make its North American premiere.
The three-film program will screen at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver, Auditorium 4.
Sisa brings Philippine history to closing night
One of the festival’s major Filipino highlights is Sisa, which is featured in Program 22 as the closing night film on Saturday, November 14.
Directed by Jun Robles Lana, the 115-minute historical revenge and espionage thriller is set in 1902, during the Philippine-American War.
The film follows Sisa, a woman believed to have lost her sanity after witnessing the brutal killing of her family.
However, beneath her troubled appearance lies a secret: she survived the attack and is working as a spy for Filipino revolutionaries, determined to seek revenge against those responsible for her family’s deaths.
As she moves through a world of betrayal, violence and shifting loyalties, the story explores the psychological toll of war and the struggle for survival.
The film also features veteran Filipina actress Hilda Koronel.
Sisa is scheduled for its Canadian premiere at 8:45 p.m. at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver, Auditorium 4, according to the festival’s promotional schedule.
The screening gives Canadian audiences an opportunity to experience a story rooted in Philippine history, resistance and the human cost of conflict.
Celebrating three decades of Asian storytelling
VAFF30 marks a milestone for a festival that has spent 30 years supporting Asian filmmakers and expanding representation in Canadian cinema.
Beyond film screenings, the anniversary celebration includes industry events, discussions and opportunities for filmmakers to connect with audiences.
The festival’s in-person screenings take place from November 5 to 8 and on November 14, while its virtual film program runs from November 9 to 14 and is accessible across Canada.
The celebration concludes with the VAFF OVAsian Awards Ceremony on November 15.
For Filipino Canadians and other film enthusiasts, VAFF30 offers an opportunity to discover emerging talent, revisit shared histories and experience stories that connect Asian communities across generations.
Tickets and festival information are available through the official VAFF30 festival website.
For specific programs, audiences may also visit:
VAFF requires in-theatre attendees to be at least 18 years old and hold festival membership, which is included with individual screening tickets.
