
Gender Equity in Media Festival
The 20th annual international Gender Equity in Media film festival will take place
March 5-9, 2025.
GEMS Vancouver's signature event, GEMFest, is the only film festival dedicated to women and gender-diverse people in Western Canada, and one of just three international film festivals for women and gender-diverse people in Canada.
Now in its 20th year, GEMFest continues to provide a platform for challenging gender inequity and the lack of diversity in the screen-based media industry through a combination of film screenings, discussions, professional development and networking opportunities.
Program

Opening Night
One Must Wash Eyes
Sepideh Yadegar I Canada I 2023 I 1:28:23 I English and Persian with English Subtitles
Sahar, an Iranian international student in Vancouver, embodies the courage and resilience of a generation. Torn between her academic dreams and her yearning for justice, she secretly writes feminist blogs exposing Iran’s oppressive laws. When Mahsa Amini’s death sparks global outrage, Sahar joins a Women, Life, Freedom protest, igniting a chain of events that upends her life.
One Must Wash Eyes is a powerful testament to the universal fight for freedom, justice, and identity; a reminder that even in the darkest moments, courage can inspire change and hope for a brighter future.

NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film
Jules A. Koostachin I Canada I 2024 I 1:10:16 I English
NiiMisSak weaves shared truths with the raw personal experiences of being an IsKweWak storyteller in the film/documentary industry, specifically in British Columbia. Now is the time to share these important stories of resiliency and power because we are experiencing a revolutionary shift in Indigenous cinema in Canada. Iskwewak (Indigenous women) are taking control of their own STORIES, more so than in any other time in film herstory.

Village Keeper
Karen Chapman I Canada I 2024 I 01:21:38 I English
Village Keeper follows a family grappling with secrets that uphold domestic abuse and unresolved rage. After life's precarious scale tips her fortune back into poverty, Jean relocates her children with their grandmother to the community housing project where she grew up. Jean lives in constant fear of everything that could go wrong, going to great lengths to shelter her children, so when a spree of violence comes to her doorstep, she secretly cleans an abandoned crime scene, which unknowingly leads her on a path that exposes generational chains of silence, self-discovery and finally putting herself first.

Singing Back the Buffalo
Tasha Hubbard I Canada I 2024 I 01:38:30 I English
In a time of immense environmental degradation and global uncertainty, the buffalo can lead us to a better tomorrow. After a dark recent history, the buffalo herds of North America are awaiting their return, aided by dedicated Indigenous activists, leaders and communities, including award-winning Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard (nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up). Together with Blackfoot Elder Leroy Little Bear, Hubbard weaves an intimate story of humanity’s connections to buffalo and eloquently reveals how their return to the Great Plains can indeed usher in a new era of sustainability and balance. On her journey, Hubbard explores the challenges faced by buffalo allies and shares the positive steps already taken towards the ultimate - but uncertain - goal of buffalo rematriation. Richly visualised and deeply uplifting, Singing Back the Buffalo is an epic reimagining of North America through the lens of buffalo consciousness and a potent dream of what is within our grasp.

Closing Night
Seeds
Kaniehtiio Horn I Canada I 2024 I 01:23:57 I English & Kanien’kéha
Ziggy receives her first internet influencer job offer to promote the seed and fertilizer company Nature's Oath. When her cousin calls her back to the reservation, she is compelled to fight to preserve the history of her people and discovers her strength in the process.
Shorts Program: Hatch
📆 March 6, 1:00 PM
📍 VIFF Centre

Lovin' Her
day I Canada/USA I 2024 I 14:58 I English
The breadth of a trans woman’s life is shown as she navigates the complexities of a fading memory. Blending the past and present, glimpses of her struggles with love and her evolving gender identity showcase a heartfelt portrait of humanity.

Saigon Kiss
Hồng Anh Nguyễn I Vietnam I 2024 I 22:00 I Vietnamese
Mơ roams through the rush hour traffic to avoid an unwanted phone call. When she meets Vicky by the side of the street with her broken motorbike, a visceral chance encounter unfolds between the two young queer women on the loud streets of Saigon.

Unibrow
Nedda Sarshar I Canada I 2023 I 14:17 I English and Persian with English Subtitles
Unibrow follows Leyla, a second-generation Irani-Canadian girl striving for the perfect brows, as she befriends a new student from Iran, Sahar, who introduces her to the cultural significance of eyebrows.
Shorts Program: Lift
📆 March 6, 3:00 PM
📍 VIFF Centre

Henderson
Lori Watt I Canada I 2024 I 11:06 I English
A weekend holiday in Vegas turns sour for Ally when she wakes up in a hotel room in Henderson with no recollection of how she got there. With no phone, no memory and not a familiar face in sight, will she make it back in time for her friend's wedding on the Vegas strip?

Nooj Goji/Anywhere
Evelyn Pakinewatik I Canada I 2024 I 20:13 I English
The global pandemic rages on as authorities loosen regulations, leaving two immunocompromised Anishinaabe lovers vulnerable to a world that wants to abandon them. George lives with his Gokmis on a northern reserve, while his partner Eileen lives in Toronto. The universal stressors of long-distance relationships are exacerbated by eugenics, colonial violence, and misogyny. After an intense day, George and Eileen find themselves at a crossroads, prompting George to find answers in their traditional Anishinaabe medicine ways.

Lumen
Stéphanie Bélanger I Canada I 2024 I 13:21 I French with English Subtitles
It has been raining heavily for months and the sixth wave is depressing humanity. In this prevailing darkness, Claude, 70 years old, compulsively buys lamps online to break his solitude and bring light into his life, at any cost.

Is Gay Marriage Next?
Emily Clark I USA I 2024 I 16:00 I English
Responding to a Supreme Court case in 2003, a groundbreaking cover of Newsweek featured a lesbian couple and asked: Is gay marriage next? A young, closeted woman saw the magazine and found the courage to come out. Two decades later, she searches for the couple who gave her hope.
Together, they explore the LGBTQ political landscape then and now. In a post-Roe era, this
compelling story asks a familiar question with a haunting twist: is gay marriage next—to go?
Short Program: Rise
📆 March 7, 1:00 PM
📍 VIFF Centre

pîķîwî
Olivia Marie Golosky I Canada I 2024 I 4:10 I English
In the quiet, haunting landscapes where memory and reality intertwine, pîķîwî follows a Two-Spirit Métis person on a deeply personal and transformative journey of healing. Set in the fractured spaces of trauma and resilience, the film explores the nuanced process of self-discovery and reclaiming one’s identity in the aftermath of violence.
pîķîwî presents the tender meditation of a Survivor returning not only to a physical place, but to a spiritual self. The path through swirling visions, fragmented memories, and moments of raw vulnerability echoes the complexities of rebuilding a world shattered by the echoes of past trauma.
Through evocative animation and tender imagery, the film captures the intimate process of healing, honoring, and embracing one’s true self—moving beyond the pain toward a radical place of self-love, joy, and resurgence.

Vivie
Hweiling Ow I New Zealand I 2024 I 9:20 I English
Sexually frustrated Amy has a love-hate relationship with her vagina, Vivie. Every time she tries to have sex with a new lover Vivie absolutely refuses to open up. Amy gets increasingly frustrated with Vivie while Vivie is increasingly frustrated with Amy for not listening to her, and this leads to a huge argument between the two. When Amy's “the one who got away”, Matthew, suddenly arrives back in town, Amy wonders if he is the missing key to cracking Vivie. Amy goes out on a date with Matthew and is surprised to get a positive response from Vivie. When Amy finds herself in bed with Matthew, things start to go to plan... or so she thinks.

Under the Kasaya
Jennifer Fan Jiang I Canada I 2024 I 15:17 | Chinese with English Subtitles
The film opens at the temple with Jean sitting happily with Lama as they catch up on life. Suddenly, Lama’s hand slides down Jean’s back, and Jean’s world has never since been the same. At home, Jean’s mother Lucy is shaken by her daughter’s sudden coldness, and scolds her instead of showing empathy. Their relationship frays.
On her father’s death anniversary, Lucy forces Jean to come with her to visit the temple to gain blessings from Lama. Jean only agrees to avoid a fight, but when Lama begins to touch her leg under the table, Jean runs out of the room and courageously spills the secret to her mother in a fit of tears. Now, with the truth out, they decide to choose each other.

Autophagy
Edie Lawrence I UK I 2024 I 11:04 I English
A waterborne disease ravages a town, the affliction slowly morphing you into an octopus. With the societal hatred towards those suffering building, a couple have the limited choice: afford the medication to carry on living, or drink the water and suffer being shunned.

Through My Eyes: An Artist's Recreation
Kaileigh Coles I Canada I 2024 I 15:42 I English
Vancouver artist, Maureen Coles, shares her journey as an artist with low vision and takes us along as she prepares for an accessible exhibition of new paintings, adapting her artistic voice to her changing vision.
Short Program: Leap
📆 March 7, 3:00 PM
📍 VIFF Centre

Tomorrow
Ingrid Pérez López I Colombia I 2023 | 14:29 | Spanish with English Subtitles
On the eve of her First Communion, Rocío is taken by her father to pick up the dress that she will wear at the ceremony, but, unexpectedly, she will experience the pain of heartbreak. For her, the ceremony and life must go on.

Detours Ahead
Esther Cheung I Canada I 2024 I 7:45 | Animation with Audio (No Speaking)
A young woman embarks on a road trip making her way inland from the coast. As she travels, the landscape transforms from idyllic and blissful to cold and unwelcoming. She struggles with independence and self-reliance as she moves through the harsh landscape. It all comes to a head when she strikes a deer—she reckons with herself, with grief and with moving on.

February Sixteenth Nineteen Forty-Seven
Jessica Miinguuaqtii I Canada I 2023 I 4:00 I English
Inuk Elder Levinia Brown shares the oral history of how she was born on February 16, 1947 while her family was travelling by dogsled across the open tundra from Tavani to Dawson Inlet. Her story is illustrated by cutout stop motion animation of hand sewn Inuit wallhanging designs in the style of her own artwork.

Strangers
Leah Doz I Canada I 2024 I 13:42 I English
After missing their bus on a cold winter night, a young girl confronts the limits of her mother's love.

All That Matters
Coraci Bartman Ruiz I Brazil I 2024 I 20:00 | Portuguese with English Subtitles
All That Matters tells the story of three Brazilian families of trans people and their processes of understanding and celebration of their identities. These mums, dads and grandparents take a step forward and decide to fight for a society that respects and values diversity. Directed by a filmmaker who is herself the mother of a young trans person, the film connects generations by showing stories of love, transformation and learning.
Shorts Program: Flutter
📆 March 8, 12:30 PM
📍 VIFF Centre

Mawtini (My Homeland)
Fateema Al-Hamaydeh Miller I Canada I 2023 I 18:46 I English and Arabic with English Subtitles
Nawal, a young Palestinian woman grieving the death of her grandmother & clinging to the task of keeping a fig sapling alive as her last thread of connection to Palestine, builds an unlikely friendship with Tanya, an older Indigenous woman growing a guerilla garden on the lawn of their apartment building. As Nawal helps Tanya with her garden & battle against middle management, the two women find home in their connection with each other on the margins.

Karateka
Florence Fauquet I France I 2024 I 16:40 I French with English Subtitles
Gabrielle and Alix are about to compete in the finals of the regional karate championship. But when Gabrielle discovers that she is having her period when she wasn't expecting it, things get complicated and the fight becomes unequal. But the two young women will then realize that they are in reality on the same team.

Little Miss Sleepy
Jenny Lee-Gilmore I Canada I 2024 I 23:00 I English
A filmmaker explores her journey of being diagnosed with Narcolepsy at age 21 and documents her participation in a scientific research study to help raise awareness for the condition that currently has no known cure.

Passageways
Geneviève Tremblay and Milla Cummings I Canada I 2024 I 4:41 I French with English Subtitles
Passageways is a stop-motion documentary hat takes a positive look at the emotional and physical transformations women experience during menopause. Drawing on the authentic confidences of five women who share their personal experiences of this natural stage of life. In a poetic and sensitive visual framework, the film offers an intimate portrait of resilience, growth and self-discovery trough the journey of a female character who tames a new environment and welcomes new ways of perceiving and projecting her femininity .
Shorts Program: Soar
📆 March 9, 12:30 PM
📍 VIFF Centre

The Wish Baker
Carolyn Irwin I Canada I 2024 I 6:30 I English
Birthdays are special, like your very own personal Christmas. And we all know about Santa, but this short film allows us to finally answer the question of “who is the person who is making your wishes come true when you blow out the candles on your birthday cake?” This concept is a of who that magical person is, how she uses her power to make our wishes come true, but at the same time, there’s also something a little dark and terrifying about this person. With the ultimate power to make your wishes come true, there’s also the immense pressure of trusting that people won’t break the one and only rule around wish making… and when they do…well you’ll have to just watch and find out what happens.

August and Ebony
Sunyin Zhang I USA I 2023 I 12:51 I English
Four-month pregnant EBONY isn’t ready for this baby and a podcast about wild childbirth stories only heightens her anxieties. Her wife of 3-months, AUGUST, comforts and reassures her... and it almost works until JUSTIN, her best friend and hook-up-turned-father of her child, bursts into the house, armed with his binder of research. Determined to save these two wholly unprepared mothers-to- be, he invites himself to stay over—much to August’s dismay.
Reviewing Justin’s research only leads Ebony to a crisis of confidence, worsened when August and Justin clash. When Ebony asks for their help to create a birth plan, she’s ignored. She finally scolds August and Justin to work together for her and the baby. The two rivals sheepishly put their rivalries aside to build a plan to get Ebony to the hospital and the thruple form a united front, choosing to weather this lifelong co-parenting journey together.

My Week With George Clooney
Emilie Sornasse I Belgium I 2023 I 18:35 I French with English Subtitles
On vacation in the south of France in November, I experience the emptiness of an out-of-season Banyuls. A handsome actor buddy of mine arrives to rehearse the scripts for his next shoot. I watch him from breakfast, in the privacy of our Airbnb. And outside, I watch him interacting with the others; the villagers, suddenly numerous. By the end of the week, we're bound to be closer. But better that I don't think about it too much.

Mother's Tongue
Vanesa Millado I Canada I 2023 I 13:25 I English
Gurleen is learning how to cook pakoras from her mother. She is eager to gain this knowledge, recognizing the importance of maintaining cultural traditions. However, when the lesson shifts towards the importance of being a good cook to service her future husband, she pushes back against the misogynic rhetoric. Unable to see eye-to-eye with Chandani, an argument ensues, causing Gurleen to abruptly end the lesson. A year passes, and Gurleen is living on her own, estranged from her mother. It isn't until she witnesses a loving interaction with Lilly, a student she tutors, and her mother, Mrs. Leung, that Gurleen attempts to learn the pakoras dish again on her own. After a failed attempt and Gurleen giving up, she's led to have a heart-felt conversation with Mrs. Leung, who encourages her to reconcile with her mother.
Special Presentation + Panel
📆March 6, 4:00 PM

Ask the Plantain
Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos I Canada I 2023 I 12:33 I English
Alternating between myth and reality, Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos unravels the intricate tapestry of grief and the liminal space that exists between not belonging to the lands one was born on nor the lands one’s ancestors once came from. In a powerful exploration of her Greek Canadian heritage, she embarks on an introspective journey through the depths of her heart, akin to traversing a black hole, in search of the gifts hidden within her wounds. Guided by the presence of the plantain, a resilient plant often referred to as "white man's footprints" due to its association with European settlers, she disentangles the fragmented threads of an ancient myth and pre-Hellenic ceremony. Through this profound exploration, she seeks to rediscover the art of navigating the loss of identity and the cyclical nature of life's transitions.

INAY
Thea Loo I Canada I 2024 I 56:00 I English and Kapampangan with English subtitles
With the desire to help answer unresolved questions and heal lingering wounds, INAY investigates the flawed immigration pathways between the Philippines and Canada that kept so many Filipino children from their mothers.

Firecracker Film Fest
Friday, March 7 at 10:30AM
GEMS has partnered with Firecracker Department to host the first Firecracker Film Fest at GEMFest. The two organizations’ aligned values made this celebration of comedy a no-brainer. In this snappy 90 minute affair, 9 shorts crafted by women and gender-diverse folks from Firecracker West; Vancouver, Kelowna and Calgary will be screened, and some filmmakers will be in attendance. Firecracker Department is an international community of artistic women and non-binary folk empowering each other to take creative action through education and positive support.

BIPOC Networking Night
Friday, March 7th at 8PM
An event dedicated to connecting BIPOC creatives and industry professionals. Keynote Speaker Ella Cooper from Black Women Film will be in attendance, and this event takes place on Friday, March 7th at 8PM. This event is free of charge.

Expectations vs. Reality: Strategic Moves to Build Your Film Career
Friday March 7 at 5PM
Facilitated by Ghazal Elhaei (Chair of the Board GEMS, Capital G Media), this event is a 90-minute workshop on Friday March 7 at 5PM, designed to equip filmmakers and creatives with the strategic tools needed to navigate the business side of the industry. Beyond talent, success requires a strong personal brand, smart networking, and a clear approach to positioning projects. Attendees will learn how to assess their current standing, build key industry relationships, and craft materials that open doors—whether they’re just starting out or looking to level up. This event is free of charge.

Awards Ceremony
Saturday, March 8 at 2:30 PM
The GEMFest Awards Ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 8 at 2:30 PM at VIFF Center. The awards honour luminaries in the film and television industry, recognizing individuals who have made a significant contribution to advancing equity and creative excellence. This event is free of charge.

Pitch Forum
Sunday, March 9 at 12:00PM
The GEMFest Pitch Forum starts at 12PM on Sunday, March 9, which serves as a dedicated platform for filmmakers to present their projects to production companies, broadcasters, and distributors within the industry. The event is by registration - registrants will be paired with their desired pitch recipient for a one on one 10 minute pitch. Designed to empower and propel Canadian talent, this event offers a distinctive space for project development, networking, and exposure to influential figures in the film and television industry. Filmmakers are encouraged to research and tailor their pitches to the company they are targeting.
Registration opening soon!

GEMS Showcase
Sunday, March 9, at 3:00 PM
The very first GEMS Showcase will take place at 3:00 PM on Sunday, March 9, and selected GEMS Talent Lab alumni will pitch their projects to a panel of industry professionals, followed by an awards ceremony celebrating this year’s standout contributions to the festival. The Presenting Sponsor for this event is Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV. This event is free of charge.

BC Director's Panel
Thursday, March 6 at 6:30 PM
Join BC directors for an in-depth conversation on craft and creative process. Moderated by Carol Whiteman from Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC). Presented in partnership with WIDC and DGC BC.

Ethical Production Panel
Friday, March 7 at 6:30 PM
Industry experts discuss the importance of ethical practices in film production, from fair representation to sustainable practices. Panelists include sustainability consultant Smiely Khurana (The Sustainable Act), filmmaker Jules A. Koostachin (NiiMisSak: Sisters In Film), intimacy coordinator Aryn Mott (Vancity Intimacy Coordination), Natasha Tony (Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Inclusion) and filmmaker Shannon Walsh (Adrianne and the Castle). Moderated by Anaïsa Visser (Executive Director of GEMS) and presented in partnership with CMPA.

Advocacy Panel
Saturday, March 8 at 2:30PM
A panel on advocacy in film, showcasing organizations whose work drives social change and funders who are working to better their approaches to equitable access. Panelists include Tanvi Bhatia (Outreach and Strategy Lead, Women in View), Patricia Doss (Senior Advisor: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, NFB), Kadon Douglas (Executive Director, BIPOC TV & Film), Prem Gill (Chief Executive Officer, Creative BC), Meghna Haldar (Content Analyst, Telefilm), Joy Loewen (Vice President of Growth & Inclusion, CMF) and Winnie Luk (Executive Director, DSO). Moderated by Natasha Tony (Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Inclusion). Presented in partnership with Elevate Inclusion Strategies.
Joy Loewen, Vice President of Growth & Inclusion CMF
Moderated by Natasha Tony, Chief Executive Officer Elevate Inclusion

Casting Director Panel
Saturday March 8, at 12:30 PM
Insights from casting directors Corrine Clark and Jennifer Page (Clarke & Page Casting) along with Kris Woznesensky and Kara Eide (Kris & Kara Casting) on the evolving landscape of casting and representation. Moderated by celebrated local actress Johannah Newmarch (When Calls The Heart) and presented in partnership by UBCP/ACTRA.

Screenplay Panel
Sunday March 9, 10:30 AM
Select finalists from this year’s screenplay competition will discuss their work and the power of storytelling in a conversation moderated by filmmaker Andy Alvarez (Curl Power). This year's finalists are: Corina Bizim & Maddy Hillis, Brenna Goodwin-McCabe, Mykayla Filipovic, dre larivée, Jasleen Kaur, MK Morris and Tessa Parker.