First off, let me just say how completely exhausted I am from covering this event! Sean and I were like two freshly baked newbies thrown into a jungle of ravenous beasts. OK, so I exaggerate. But nonetheless, it was quite the experience for the both of us who have never covered an event like this before (let alone any event!)

The night got off to a slow start. We arrived around 8:30 and the party didn't start until around 10 because the Ping Pong Playa screening started just a wee bit late. So we wandered around a bit talking to the people who were already there and did end up talking to a few interesting people. One such memorable meeting was with a very sweet girl of 12 named Amanda who is an aspiring singer with a pop album coming out in a couple of weeks. Watch out for her, she may be Canada's next Miley Cyrus!
 


Once people started filing into Kentizen lounge, the bar was the most happening place so we situated ourselves over there to get some primo shots of party-goers. Have you ever said something and wish it hadn't come out of your mouth? One of those foibles like asking what someone's name is but you've actually known them for like 10 years? Well, that kind of happened to me. Twice even! The first such happening went something like this:

Rita: Hi, Can I take your (a lady and a man) photo? We're from Schema Magazine...etc.
Two people: Sure!
Rita (to the lady): So... are you involved in tonight's films?
Lady: Yes! I'm the founder!
Rita: O_O


Barbara Lee with Andy Chu of Arc2Intertainment

Thank goodness Barbara Lee (THE founder of VAFF!) is super nice! I knew I had seen her somewhere before... Hahaha. I need to get my eyes checked. She was in a great mood and was happy to say that she's proud of the direction of VAFF and that she feels her vision has been seen out. She also said something very poignant during her speech for the night, that VAFF allows us to "open our minds to the stories we have in ourselves... (we want to) see films with people who look like us, who grew up like us, who grew up in Canada with a cultural perspective....spread the word!" That really hit it home for me. I don't make films, but when I watch the films presented here, I really do feel like the stories help me recreate the experiences that I have in my mind. And I do want to see people like me in films. The world isn't just one or two colours. So yes, tell all your friends, tell your mom and dad, and your boss all about VAFF and what it's about- spread the word, yo.


Selwyn Jacob (Producer NFB and VAFF judge) with Jenny Li


Gregor Robertson makes an appearance