Vancouver Short Film Festival 2024

Program One: The Past is Now [Virtual Screening]

Expired June 10, 2024 6:45 AM
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8 films in package
Old Dragon Man
“Old Dragon Man” is a heartfelt short film that follows the introspective journey of an elderly artist as he paints a majestic dragon. As he brings the creature to life on his canvas, he is overcome with nostalgia, reflecting on the hardships and sacrifices he endured in pursuit of his artistic passion.
Closed captions available
NIGIQTUQ ᓂᒋᖅᑐᖅ (The South Wind)
Having left Nunavut with her mother Kumaa’naaq (koo-MAT-na) in 1938, young Marguerite must negotiate the unspoken pressures of being Inuk in her new life in the South. When an extraordinary letter arrives from home, Marguerite discovers what’s really expected of her. Based on a true story.
Closed captions available
The Poem We Sang
The Poem We Sang is a 20-minute, black and white and color, experimental documentary that meditates on love and longing - the love of one's family and the longing for one's home, contemplated through overcoming the trauma of loss of family home and of forced migration, transforming lifelong regrets into a healing journey of creative catharsis and bearing witness.
Meditation 4 Black Women
Four Black women, with seemingly unrelated lives, meditate on race and the tension in their private lives setting off a mystical event that allows them to breathe again.
Closed captions available
What Good Canadians Do
“What Good Canadians Do” is a captivating short film featuring a poem written and performed by Mi’kmaw writer Rebecca Thomas, brought to life through the illustrations of Indigenous artist Phyllis Grant, and animated by Andrea Dorfman.
Closed captions available
Braiding Knowledge through Breath, Language, and Movement
"Braiding Knowledge through Breath, Language, and Movement" is a short documentary that delves into a transformative community wellness initiative in Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw territory, where Indigenous and South Asian yoga practitioners unite. Through yoga and language reclamation, they explore and heal from intergenerational traumas, celebrating their reconnections to their bodies, communities, and the land.
Closed captions available
The Dog - A Rapidly Condensed Guide to Treading Water
An underwriter recounts his career in body part insurance sales in an attempt to affirm his life choices.
Closed captions available
The Steak
A birthday ceremony preparation gets upside down as something horrible takes place.
Protected ContentThis content can only be viewed in authorized regions: Canada.

Welcome to Program One: The Past is Now [Virtual Screening]! This is a virtual-only screening, taking place online via Eventive Virtual.

This Program includes:


Old Dragon Man Directed by Douglas Cook

NIGIQTUG ᓂᒋᖅᑐᖅ (The South Wind) Directed by Lindsay McIntyre

The Poem We Sang Directed by Annie Sakkab

Meditation 4 Black Women Directed by Rukiya Bernard

What Good Canadians Do Directed by Stephanie Joline

Braiding Knowledge through Breath, Language and Movement Directed by Jessica Barudin

The Dog - A Rapidly Condensed Guide to Treading Water Directed by Michael Makaroff

The Steak Directed by Kiarash Dadgar


This Program can be viewed with purchase of a Virtual Screening Ticket. Once purchased, please follow the prompts in your Order Confirmation Email from Eventive, and click Watch Now to be taken to the online screening. Click “Unlock” on the screening to view the content.


From “Unlock”, you have until the end of the Programme’s availability window to view the content (the availability window is 10 days from the Programme’s premiere date and time). 

Once you have “pressed play” on the content, you have 24 hours to complete your viewing.


Looking for the In-Person screening of this Program? Check out our Event and Screening Schedule.


Enjoy the show!


All Virtual Programs are geo-locked and are available Canada-wide.


Closing Captioning will be available for all virtual screenings.

The Poem We Sang is a 20-minute, black and white and color, experimental documentary that meditates on love and longing - the love of one's family and the longing for one's home, contemplated through overcoming the trauma of loss of family home and of forced migration, transforming lifelong regrets into a healing journey of creative catharsis and bearing witness.

  • Year
    2024
  • Runtime
    20:31
  • Language
    Arabic
  • Country
    Canada
  • Genre
    Documentary, Experimental
  • Social Media
  • Director
    Annie Sakkab
  • Screenwriter
    Annie Sakkab, Paul Lee
  • Producer
    Annie Sakkab, Paul Lee
  • Cast
    Celine Sakkab, Hanna Sakkab, Annie Sakkab
  • Cinematographer
    Annie Sakkab
  • Editor
    Annie Sakkab
  • Animator
    Annie Sakkab
  • Composer
    Tareq Jundi
  • Sound Design
    Scott McCrorie
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