VIFF Live 2026 Brings Film, Music, and Performance Together for Vancouver International Film Festival’s 45th Edition
The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is expanding its live programming with VIFF Live 2026, a lineup of 10 events combining cinema, music, performance, and audiovisual art.
Running alongside the 45th edition of VIFF from October 1–11, 2026, the program will feature Canadian and North American premieres, artist appearances, live performances, and collaborations with cultural organizations.
VIFF Live Explores New Connections Between Film and Sound
Curated by Jarrett Martineau, the 2026 VIFF Live program follows the theme of “reworlding”, focusing on artists who create new relationships between moving images, sound, and live performance.
The lineup moves across electronic music, Indigenous futurism, experimental work, orchestral film music, and digital art.
This year also marks VIFF’s first collaboration with MUTEK, bringing together artists from Vancouver, Montreal, and beyond for a program focused on electronic sound and audiovisual performance.
2026 VIFF Live Program Highlights
The Last Angel of History: 30th Anniversary Screening
- Time: Friday, October 2 | 5 PM
- Venue: VIFF Centre
- Tickets: $35
VIFF presents a special anniversary screening of The Last Angel of History, exploring Afrofuturism, technology, and the connection between music and imagined futures.
The screening will include a live performance from Speaker Music, followed by a conversation featuring DeForrest Brown Jr., Kodwo Eshun, and Anjalika Sagar from The Otolith Group.
MUTEK x VIFF Live
- Time: Friday, October 2 | 9:30 PM
- Venue: SFU Fei & Milton Wong Theatre
- Tickets: Early Bird $50 / Regular $60
VIFF and MUTEK join forces for an evening featuring electronic music and audiovisual performances.
The program includes Detroit electronic duo Dopplereffekt, Montreal artist Honeydrip, and Vancouver-based artist MIIIA with visual artist MELT.
The KLF: 23 Seconds to Eternity
- Time: Saturday, October 3 | 5 PM
- Venue: VIFF Centre
- Tickets: $35
The North American premiere of The KLF: 23 Seconds to Eternity brings together the electronic group’s complete film and video archive.
The screening will be preceded by a live audiovisual set from Vancouver duo CHXMERAS.
TAKKUUK with Tarrak + Silla
- Time: Saturday, October 3 | 8:30 PM
- Venue: SFU Fei & Milton Wong Theatre
- Tickets: Early Bird $40 / Regular $50
Meaning “look closely” in Inuktitut, TAKKUUK brings together Arctic imagery and Indigenous artistic voices.
The presentation includes live performances from Inuit throat-singing duo Silla and Greenlandic rapper Tarrak.
Kelly Moran with Bahar Khazei + XEL
- Time: Sunday, October 4 | 8 PM
- Venue: SFU Fei & Milton Wong Theatre
- Tickets: Early Bird $45 / Regular $50
Composer and pianist Kelly Moran will present a live audiovisual performance featuring music from her album Don’t Trust Mirrors.
The evening also includes Vancouver musician Bahar Khazei with visual artist XEL.
An Evening with Cristóbal Tapia de Veer
- Time: Monday, October 5 | 5:30 PM
- Venue: VIFF Centre
- Tickets: $35
Supported by SOCAN, this masterclass and Q&A features composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer.
Known for his work on Black Mirror, The White Lotus, and Smile, Tapia de Veer will discuss his creative process and approach to screen music.
Los Thuthanaka
- Time: Monday, October 5 | 8:30 PM
- Venue: The Pearl
- Tickets: $48
The American-Bolivian experimental duo Los Thuthanaka will make their Canadian debut at VIFF Live.
Formed by siblings Chuquimamani Condori and Joshu Chuquimia Crampton, the duo combines electronic sounds with influences from Aymara and Pakajaqi heritage.
ERASERHEAD XIU XIU
- Time: Tuesday, October 6 | 8:30 PM
- Venue: The Rio
- Tickets: $48
Experimental rock band Xiu Xiu presents a live interpretation of David Lynch’s Eraserhead.
The performance combines sound design, electronic elements, field recordings, and live instrumentation to create a new presentation of Lynch’s film.
Derrick Gee’s Radio Hour
- Time: Wednesday, October 7 | 8 PM
- Venue: Granville Island Stage
- Tickets: $54
After sold-out performances across Europe and Australia, Derrick Gee’s Radio Hour arrives in North America.
The stage program combines music, guest appearances, conversations, and audience interaction while drawing inspiration from traditional radio formats.
Jóhann Jóhannsson’s Cinematic Suites: The Denis Villeneuve Scores
- Time: Friday, October 9 | 7:30 PM
- Venue: Chan Centre
- Tickets: $30–$129
The North American premiere of Jóhann Jóhannsson’s Cinematic Suites brings the composer’s film scores to the concert stage with a full orchestra.
The program features music from Denis Villeneuve films including Prisoners, Sicario, and Arrival, along with selections from The Theory of Everything and The Mercy.
Tickets and Festival Information
Tickets for VIFF Live 2026 are currently available, with Early Bird pricing offered for select events until August 26.
The full Vancouver International Film Festival lineup will be announced later in August ahead of the October festival dates.
For tickets and updates, visit Here
