Female sexuality, a men’s synchronized swim team, and a New York photographer’s Quebec: highlights of this year’s Rendez-vous French Film Festival

Le grand bain, one of the most popular films in France last year, screens as part of this year’s Rendez-vous French Film Festival.

Beginning on Feb. 1, the Rendez-vous French Film Festival will screen over 50 films. The festival, dedicated to bringing the best of Quebec and Francophone culture to B.C., is now in its 25th year.

This year’s line-up includes the movie selected as the Canadian entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, the winner of this year’s Best Canadian Film Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the winner of the Best Canadian Film Award at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma.

The first batch of films screens at Jules-Verne Auditorium (5445 Baillie St,) from Feb.1-3; the second screens at SFU Woodward’s (149 W. Hastings St.) Feb.5-10. The festival also features visiting directors, actors, producers and academics. See below for some highlights.

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Female sexuality, a men’s synchronized swim team, and a New York photographer’s Quebec: highlights of this year’s Rendez-vous French Film Festival

The Man Who Bought the Moon and other Italian (Film Festival) delights

The animated classic Allegro non troppo screens as part of the 2019 Italian Film Festival.

North American premieres, tributes to classic films and filmmakers, and even a Vancouver-set documentary are among the many reasons to check out this year’s edition of the Italian Film Festival.

A co-presentation of Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre, the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Toronto, the festival runs from Jan. 4-13, 2019. All films are screening at Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour St. Here are a few we think you should see.

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The Man Who Bought the Moon and other Italian (Film Festival) delights

Mind-blowing Japanese zombie movie and other highlights at this weekend’s Rio Grind Film Festival

A scene from Piercing.

Locally-lensed productions, the latest from one of filmdom’s most controversial directors, and a Japanese zombie movie that will blow your mind are some of the highlights of this year’s Rio Grind Film Festival.

An annual celebration of genre, exploitation, and indie films, the festival is presented by local moviehouse the Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway, at Broadway & Commercial). The four-day event kicks off this evening (Nov. 22) and runs until this Sunday, Nov. 25. Check out some of the highlights.

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Mind-blowing Japanese zombie movie and other highlights at this weekend’s Rio Grind Film Festival

Six flicks to see at this year’s European Film Festival

A scene from the 2017 Austrian film Mademoiselle Paradis (Licht).

The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St.) presents its 21st Annual European Film Festival (Nov. 23 – Dec. 4). In this year’s fest, 26 EU members countries contribute one of their best films from recent years. Selections range from dramas to comedies to documentaries, and include award winners, official Oscar submissions, and many Vancouver premieres.

We’ve gone through the selections and chosen six that look like best bets, including a thriller from Slovakia, a time-travel comedy from Portugal, and a drama from Ireland. See below for details.

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Six flicks to see at this year’s European Film Festival

Six films you need to see at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival

A scene from Gaspar Noe’s Climax.

As always, there’s a ton to see and do at the Vancouver International Film Festival. But before you get too overwhelmed, here are six films we think are worth checking out. They include the 2018 Cannes Palme d’Or winner, the latest from provocateur Gaspar Noe, and a film based on an unconventional Western novel written by Vancouver Island-born Patrick deWitt.

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Six films you need to see at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival

Badass welcomes Badsville at film fest this weekend

Director April Mullen’s feature Badsville screens at the Rio Theatre as part of this year’s BadAss Film Festival.

The Fourth Annual International Vancouver Badass Film Festival is the biggest edition of the annual festival in its four-year history.

Running Feb. 23-25 at the Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway), the event includes six feature-length films (including four premieres), shorts, special guests and a circus performance. Visit vbaff.com for details.

One of those feature-length films is April Mullen’s violent gang film Badsville (screening at 10 p.m. Feb. 24). We talked to the director, who splits her time between Toronto, L.A. and other locales, about Badsville, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and being part of a festival like Badass.

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Badass welcomes Badsville at film fest this weekend

Cult classic sequel and lots more at the first ever JFL NorthWest Film Festival

Be among the first to see clips from Super Troopers 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2001 cult film screening at the JFL NorthWest Film Festival (March 1-10).

A long-awaited sequel to a comedy cult classic, special live events, short films and panels are part of the Vancouver Just For Laughs Film Festival.

This year marks the debut of the film component of the festival. The inaugural edition of the JFL NorthWest Film Festival runs concurrently with the comedy festival itself, March 1-10. Below, we look at some of the highlights from among eight features (including B.C. premieres and a world premiere), 23 shorts, three panels and three special events. Many of the events take place at the Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway), the Vogue Theatre (918 Granville St.), Vancity Theatre (1181 Seyour St.) and the Sutton Place Hotel (845 Burrard St.).

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Cult classic sequel and lots more at the first ever JFL NorthWest Film Festival