The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) has announced a new intitiative, the Institute for the Moving Image, a major new year-round training and educational initiative.
Launching in 2026, the Institute will expand “VIFF’s commitment to artist development and industry leadership beyond the annual fall festival” and “transform VIFF’s longstanding festival-intensive development programs into a year-round model for creative growth, mentorship, professional training, creative business education, and international connection,” the festival said.
The shift to an Institute structure aims to address a gap in British Columbia’s filmmaking landscape: a space for filmmaker development focused on creative authorship and artistic practice, according to VIFF.
“While British Columbia remains one of Canada’s most active service production centers, many emerging filmmakers, particularly those facing systemic barriers, lack access to sustained mentorship opportunities, professional training, and access to industry pathways needed to support long-term creative growth,” it explained.
While most of VIFF’s current artist training programs are oriented towards emerging talent, the expansion to a broader Institute framework will allow for a full slate of artist development offerings, from the newly established to the active professional.
The Institute for the Moving Image will have two primary focuses, helping to strengthen the quality of work being made, not just the quantity; and leveraging VIFF’s role as an international film festival to provide attending filmmakers with access to a global platform and connections with peer programs worldwide.
“By shifting from festival-centric development to the creative Institute model, VIFF aims to become a far more valuable resource to filmmakers from British Columbia and across Canada,” said VIFF executive director Kyle Fostner.
“We’re passionate about the caliber of filmmaking talent we see in Canada, and we feel VIFF has a responsibility to be a keystone partner in their future success. This new Institute model will allow us to radically expand our artistic development programs, and to significantly deepen our impact on the careers and artistic practices of future Canadian and Indigenous filmmakers.”
Ana Belén Asfura will head the Institute for the Moving Image.
VIFF
Ana Belén Asfura, VIFF’s director of artist and industry programs, will head the Institute for the Moving Image. A Chilean-Palestinian film producer, Asfura has extensive experience in talent development, positioning strategies and international circulation, the festival said.
“Ana brings new vision, purpose and global industry insight to the VIFF team, drawing from a career that spans consultancy in distribution and marketing as well as service on selection and evaluation committees for international film funds.”
“Cinema speaks across borders and cultures,” Asfura said. “It is a universal language — not of sameness, but of connection across difference. In a world that often feels fragmented and dehumanized, reclaiming this universality is an ethical act.
“The Institute for the Moving Image is built on this belief: a space where voices converge and coexist, where disciplines and cultures meet not in hierarchy but in collaboration. A place where ideas, experiences, and emotions flow freely, where artists are nurtured, challenged, and empowered to claim authorship of their own narratives.
“For us, creating space for these voices is not optional; it is essential. It is how we restore shared humanity, ignite global dialogue, and forge a more inclusive, vibrant future for cinema,” she added.
The Institute is designed to support emerging equity-deserving filmmakers and screen creatives across British Columbia and Canada. It will offer cohort-based programs led by local and international artists, industry activities, market access and community engagement, nurturing sustainable careers, strengthening British Columbia’s independent film ecosystem, and connecting creators directly with the festival’s international network.
The Institute is launching with three initial programs, or Institute cohorts: animation, documentary and creative business.
The Animation Cohort is designed for independent animators exploring author-driven storytelling and distinctive visual languages. It supports artists working outside commercial pipelines, with a focus on experimentation, personal expression and narrative risk.
The Documentary Cohort is designed for filmmakers expanding the boundaries of nonfiction storytelling. It supports artists exploring bold, hybrid and socially engaged approaches to nonfiction.
Aimed at “filmmakers building sustainable careers without compromising creative ambition,” the Creative Business Cohort supports producers and creative leads with the tools, strategies, and industry knowledge needed to sustain long-term creative practice.
The application process is now open for all three inaugural cohorts and closes April 19.
Speaking to Variety, Asfura underscored the province’s vibrant and diverse communities and rich potential they offered.
“The talent that we have in British Columbia is huge. We have the Indigenous communities; we have a huge Latin American and Middle Eastern communities. It is so diverse and there are so many stories to tell.”
The Institute and its 2026 pilot programs are supported by the Canada Media Fund. In the coming years, VIFF envisions expanding into additional training streams for key creative roles, alongside new initiatives such as artist residencies, year-round labs and the potential to become a source for development funding.
Applications for other programs, including Catalyst, Composer Filmmaker Accelerator, VIFF Amp, Co-Production Forum and Work In Progress, will be announced soon.
Application information is available at viff.org/institute/applications, with full program details and eligibility at viff.org/institute.
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