Vancouver Turkish Film Festival

The Vancouver Turkish Film Festival runs towards the end of November. It features an opening gala reception and a number of film screenings.

Films at the festival are in Turkish, but with English subtitles, so everyone can enjoy them. The movies are for audiences ages 19 and older. Events like the opening gala and panel discussions are all in English.

This article includes the following information about the festival:

When and Where? | Thursday Night Opening Gala Reception | Friday Screenings | Saturday and Sunday Film Screenings | Other Information

The Annual Vancouver Turkish Film Festival

The Vancouver Turkish Film Festival (VTFF) celebrates its 13th anniversary in 2026. The festival is typically presented by the Turkish Canadian Society and SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs.

Turkish Film Festival at Vancity Theatre

When and Where?

Last year’s Turkish Film Festival took place from Thursday, November 27th, to Sunday, November 30th. The festival usually opens with a gala reception and feature screening at the VIFF Centre. The centre is located at 1181 Seymour Street.

Incidentally, the VIFF Centre is also home to the Vancouver International Film Festival (hence the VIFF name).

Most films from November 28th to 30th last year screened at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts at 149 West Hastings Street. There were also select screenings at Cineworks, located at 1131 Howe Street.

Individual film screenings in 2025 cost between $10 and $15. A Festival Pass gave access to all films from November 28th to 30th, although it didn’t include the gala event on November 27th. The festival pass cost around $49.

Below are more details about the happenings on each day of the festival last year.

Vancity Theatre on Seymour Street — Vancity Theatre (VIFF Centre)

Thursday Night Opening Gala Reception

The Gala at VIFF starts at 6:00 pm. Beginning with a reception that has Turkish food catered by Lokanta Vancouver. It’s a good opportunity for guests to connect with other community members.

At 7:30 pm last year, there was a live mini-concert by Molly and Taylor, blending Canadian and Turkish music and influences. Then at 8:30 pm, the gala screening begins. The film last year was The Things You Kill. The film is Canada’s official submission for the 98th Academy Awards (to be held on March 15th, 2026) in the International Feature Film category.

The gala event requires a separate ticket. It is not included with the festival pass. Gala tickets cost around $65 per person.

Visit vtff.ca for the festival’s official website.

Vancouver Turkish Film Festival — Film Festival Opening Reception

Friday Screenings

The first Friday screening last year took place at Cineworks, located at 1131 Howe Street.

2:00 pm – Documentary Selection – Session 1: A curated collection of Turkish documentaries that explored themes of identity, family, community, and personal history.
6:00 pm – Documentary Selection: Same program as above.

The screenings below took place last year at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts.

5:00 pm – Canadian Short Film Selection: A selection of Canadian-made short films.
7:00 pm – Confidante: A drama about secrecy, relationships and betrayal.
8:55 pm – Amrum: A feature film with themes of isolation and identity crisis.

All screenings were in Turkish with English subtitles and were suitable for adults ages 19+. Individual film tickets cost $10 to $15 and could be bought in advance online.

Saturday and Sunday Film Screenings

A number of feature films were shown on Saturday and Sunday, November 29th and 30th last year. Films were shown at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts and Cineworks. All times were subject to change.

Films on Saturday, November 29th, 2025

The films listed below were shown at the SFU Goldcorp Centre, unless otherwise stated.

10:00 am – Short Film Selection: A set of short narrative films by Turkish and Turkish-Canadian filmmakers.
1:00 pm – Edge of Night: A heightened drama set in a world shaped by political pressure and personal conflict.
2:00 pm – Documentary Selection – Session 2 (Cineworks): The second half of the festival’s documentary program.
3:00 pm – The Playroom: This film explored childhood memories and the shadows they cast in adulthood.
5:15 pm – Fidan (with Q&A with director Aycil Yeltan): A feature film about resilience, womanhood, and the strength found within intergenerational stories. There was a Q&A session with the director following the screening.
6:00 pm – Short Film Selection (Cineworks)
Ten short films by emerging Turkish and Turkish-Canadian filmmakers screened at 1131 Howe Street. The films included experimental and documentary shorts, ranging between six and 25 minutes long.
8:00 pm – One of Those Days When Hemme Dies: A surreal and moody style film in which reality bended and emotional truths caome to the surface.

Visit vtff.ca for the festival’s official website.

Films on Sunday, November 30th, 2025

1:00 pm – Hysteria: A psychological film that explored trauma, perception, and the boundaries of sanity.
6:00 pm – Unfruitful Times: A slow-burning type of film that was about loss, longing, and unspoken history, and how that affected current relationships.