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A Nerd’s Guide to the 2026 Victoria Film Festival

The 2026 Victoria Film Festival leans into ghosts, grief, food, memory, and absurdity. From haunted vacuum cleaners to intimate documentaries, this year’s lineup proves smaller festivals still take the biggest creative risks.

No new introduction is necessary for 2026 Victoria Film Festival as it continues to treat locals to a curated selection of films from around the world. Although the genre plate is not often full, there’s usually something curious worth checking out. This year, the focus is on tales of terror.

And padding out this list are other works of interest that should satisfy even a foodie. For those unable to make it to this corner of the world, keep an eye on your local arts theatres, many of these films are likely to travel. If I had to select only one must-see, it’s A Useful Ghost. Not for the romantic comedy angle or its Valentine’s Day slot, but because it sounds so absurd it demands to be witnessed.

The links below lead to additional information, spoilers possible, and ticket pages for those attending.

A Magnificent Life

The Vic / 12-Feb / 3:00 PM

Sylvain Chomet is a filmmaker who loves paying tribute, not just to people, but to entire creative worlds. From his affectionate portrait of Jacques Tati in The Illusionist to his fascination with artistic spaces, his films often feel like handwritten letters set in motion.

Here, Chomet turns his attention to Marcel Pagnol. Outside France, Pagnol may not be a household name, but his influence across literature and cinema is immense. There’s a question hovering over the film, does this echo It’s a Wonderful Life in spirit? Whether that lands will depend on how modern audiences connect with a figure so deeply rooted in French cultural memory.

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A Nerd’s Guide to the 2025 Victoria Film Festival

Runs Feb 7 to 17, 2025

After celebrating their thirtieth last year, the Victoria Film Festival is still going strong. Although this local event has changed somewhat over time, some choices are for the better, and others–it’s honestly hard to judge. Back when virtual reality was the hottest thing to change cinema, I noticed that after an attempt one year to showcase its potential, nothing has done ever since.

Although some trends are just that, I see a potential with this alternate movie telling format. And while it’s tough to create a choose-your-own-adventure style cinematic experience, that’s because the technology is not advanced enough, and storytellers have to get back to basics to learn what hyper-fiction is. I believe that until home entertainment fully adopts this medium, advancements will stall. But I digress.

This year, I offer my selection of the top ten films to check out. There’s three I’ve already looked at, and highly recommend. This includes movie review links and the interview with the filmmaker(s) where possible, as they made their debut earlier last year.

I offer this selection of films to check out if you are visiting the Garden City. Tickets can be purchased by clicking on the title and for those who just want to see this movie, please check with your local film festival or art house theatre to see if these works will play there too.

The Penguin Lessons

The Penguin Lessons Based on a true story, Steve Coogan plays Tom Michell, an English professor who arrives in Buenos Aires to teach at a private school on the eve of the coup d’état that plunged Argentina into turmoil in 1976. Tom is cynical, sarcastic and disillusioned, and the circumstances of his employment and the situation around him does nothing to improve his attitude. Jonathan Pryce, as the admonishing headmaster advising all to keep out of the chaos, is on point.

During a brief escape to Uruguay, Tom rescues a penguin from an oil slick to impress a woman he has just met. Tom tries to convince the penguin to return to the ocean, but the penguin has other ideas and insists on staying close to his rescuer. And so begins the relationship between Tom and the charmingly named Juan Salvador.

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Top Genre Picks at the 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival!

There’s lots to see at this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival, and we offer our list of what must be seen during this year’s event!

Music Box Theatre
Chicago, IL
May 5-11, 2023

The Chicago Critics Film Festival offers a selection of well-loved and upcoming works that will no doubt amaze. What’s offered to showcases the best of the best. Not only is this event recognizing the art of cinema and film criticism, but also they celebrate milestones too! For example, The Right Stuff is getting an anniversary screening!

What I present here are my top picks. Reviews will be posted in the coming days of some of these. And for more information, please follow the CFCA and the festival on Twitter at @chicagocritics or Facebook.

A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE

Anyone who has wondered why a certain Star Wars Holiday Special was made way back when it will get some answers in this documentary by Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak. There’s no advance spoilers to mention here, as I’m just as curious as to who is truly responsible. It did set a tradition for the entire canon though, and Life Day is hugely celebrated in this galaxy far, far, away.

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Three Dark Horse Comics Must Reads for Halloween 2022

Instead of offering the traditional top ten, since some fun at All Hallow’s Eve Night is needed, I have three Dark Horse Comics must reads that I’ll be brooding over.

Dark Horse Comics must reads include Leonide — Available on ComiXology

As All Hallow’s Eve Night nears, I have three Dark Horse Comics must reads for the season. When I first looked at them, I was entranced until my window shutter blasted open, a bird flew in, and cawed, “Nevermore! Nevermore!” I screamed, threw the book up in the air, and hid under the bed covers.

Okay, that didn’t happen, but with plenty of seasonal offerings happening nearly one atop another, it’s easy to not finish reading in one night. The vibes from Leonide the Vampyr, Miracle at the Crow’s Head certainly got my imagination running wild. This work, written by Mike Mignola, certainly takes a few cues from Bram Stoker’s seminal Dracula if I’m to assume he’s paying tribute to more than one source material.

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Thirteen Movies to Feast Your Eyes Upon For Halloween 2022!

I have thirteen movies on my radar for this year and they range from family friendly works to all out terrifying!

Thirteen Movies for Halloween 2022 Fans of horror films will find the upcoming All Hallows Eve season promising. I have thirteen movies on my radar for this year and they range from family friendly works to all out terrifying! Plus, I’m glad I can get my viewing on now rather than wait for the official start of the Autumn season.

Usually, these films are reserved for late Sept release, but it’s already begun. I’m just sad one of the films doesn’t have an American release since it got yanked at the last minute. Hopefully it’s just an oversight and will find a place in home video or streaming closer to the date. The first film on my list fits into the spooky tradition quite well.

Presented in chronological order are (to note, not every movie has an official poster):

Dark Harvest

This movie was originally planned for an early September release but was pulled. Thankfully, if the information from filmrating.com is correct, the September 22 date suggests one part of the world can see it. People living in Argentina have a chance and sadly, I feel not giving this film a wide release is an injustice since the story is perfect for the upcoming season.

From the IMDB, “A legendary monster called October Boy terrorizes residents in a small Midwestern town when he rises from the cornfields every Halloween with his butcher knife and makes his way toward those who are brave enough to confront him.”

Thankfully, we do have this teaser trailer to keep fans sated until a new date is offered for those living in North America or other countries.

Thankfully, we have other movies with confirmed release dates and they are:

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At Fantasia 2022, There’s More Than Five Must See Animated Picks

Trying to boil the list of nine animated feature films listed in Fantasia 2022’s Film Festival’s guide down to five top picks is tough!

Fantasia Film Festival

Trying to boil the list of nine animated feature films listed in Fantasia 2022’s Film Festival’s guide down to five top picks is tough! Honestly, since there are two weeks to enjoy this event, I’d say go see them all. But that would be cheating.

Even more importantly, this year has a Korean Animated Film Spotlight! The short films and special documentaries offered makes this list count seven items instead of the typical top five. Plus, the folklore from this region is unique, and to see these tales get animated will not doubt be phantasmagorical. I suggest checking out the dedicated website page to see what’ll be offered.

One film not on the list because I’ve already seen it is Girl From the Other Side. I saw it at another event, and reviewed it already. It doesn’t mean people should skip it. Instead, I highly recommend it.

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