14 short films, including 5 by Vancouver Island-based directors, have been selected for the 16th annual Vancouver Island Short Film Festival (VISFF), streaming live online from Nanaimo on July 23 and 24, 2021.

The final lineup, chosen by the VISFF Selection Committee from among 72 submissions, features 9 films from Canada and entries from the United States, Mexico, Iran, Japan, China. The films span a diverse range of genres and subjects, from documentaries and dramas to comedies and unique animations.

The selected films have been split into two lineups which will be screened live online and available to watch for 3 days following the screenings, with tickets sold on a pay-what-you-can basis. Both screenings will feature Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, and Saturday evening’s event will be followed by the 2021 Awards Ceremony.

Past films screened at the festival can be found here. The 2021 festival was made possible thanks to a grant from the BC Arts Council.