Movie lovers, film buffs and anyone looking to be swept away in the cinema can attend the Victoria Film Festival starting Friday.

The 10-day festival will see 86 feature films and about 20 shorts screened across the city, both in-person and online, from Feb. 4 to 13.

B次元官网网址淲atching in the theatre sets up this kind of magical escape,B次元官网网址� said Kathy Kay, the festivalB次元官网网址檚 director. B次元官网网址淚t takes you into another world and I think it takes you away from some of your worries and concerns.B次元官网网址�

The Danish film Wild Man, where middle-aged Martin leaves civilization to live as a Viking in the woods, will open the festival Friday evening.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 compassion but thereB次元官网网址檚 just so much acknowledgement of what society is like,B次元官网网址� Kay said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just so funny, I just love it to death.B次元官网网址�

Even though theatres are limited to half capacity, the festival gets to return to in-person screenings this year after the pandemic forced the entire event online last year.

B次元官网网址淲e feel thatB次元官网网址檚 an important piece of feeling like youB次元官网网址檙e at a film festival, to experience the movies in-person at a theatre,B次元官网网址� Kay said. B次元官网网址淲e wanted to get back to that.B次元官网网址�

Victoria Film Festival organizers realize some people might not be comfortable with in-person events, so most of the films can also be streamed online.

On Sunday, a live talk with Emmy-winner Tom Skerritt will precede a showing of East Of The Mountains. The film follows Skerrit, the lead, playing a retired heart surgeon who decides against telling his daughter about his terminal cancer diagnosis and opts instead to make one last journey to his childhood stomping grounds in Washington State.

READ:

From Feb. 7 to 10, a section called Cinema Onboard will show a series of short films from a whale-watching boat, located at 812 Wharf St. The Inner-Harbour location will also host a talk on augmented reality aboard the boat on Feb. 9.

Ticket sales have been a little quiet so far, but Kay is hopeful as she spoke with counterparts from the Vancouver International Film Festival who said they experienced the same thing recently, but the festival popped off once the event got underway.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e always hoping people will love the cinema as much as we do,B次元官网网址� Kay said.

One of her favourites in the lineup this year is the documentary Twinkle Dammit!

B次元官网网址滻f youB次元官网网址檙e down in the dumps, this is the film for you,B次元官网网址� the festival director said.

The wide array of Canadian and foreign works represent every genre, but Kay said they all give a B次元官网网址渨onderful insight into the world.B次元官网网址�

More information and show tickets can be found .

READ: