Missing opening night of the Vashon Island Film Festival wasn’t ideal, but luckily we’d already caught the opener, “The Balconettes.” If you haven’t seen it, the reviews are in – put it on your list. Earlier in the day, VIFF screened the Sundance awarding winning doc, “Shuffle” which we were fortunate to catch at an earlier fest. 

Friday morning, we were ferry-bound to Vashon Island, that relaxing slice of the Puget Sound that feels like a secret getaway just a short ride from the city. Arriving means embracing island time. Our first stop is always at a farm stand to pick up some fresh strawberries, nectarines, and melons. Then a swoop through the friendly and thoughtfully stocked Thriftway to grab some splendid prepared foods, choice cheeses, and great wines for the weekend.

Festival headquarters is the historic Vashon Theatre, where the day’s first screening was a documentary shorts package. Highlights? “Tiger” – a fascinating look at Dana Tiger, the woman behind the family’s iconic Tiger T-shirts and their quest to revive the brand. Then “Shanti Rides Shotgun,” a wild and wonderfully funny glimpse into NYC’s quirkiest driving instructor prepping her well-healed students for the urban jungle. Movie buffs will want to search out “We Were The Scenery,” the true story of two Vietnamese refugees who found themselves as extras on the set of Apocalypse Now after fleeing their homeland in ’75.

Ducking out of the deliciously dark theater into the sensational sunlight was jarring, but welcome. A walk down the main street took us to a couple of our favorite spots. We checked out George Wright’s latest work at the always welcoming Valise artist collective. Ready for lunch we headed just a few storefronts away to Gravy where Chef Dre Neeley’s crispy fried chicken and salt ‘n pepper shrimp hit all the right notes – comfort food at its best. Then came a serendipitous detour: a Threshold Choir Song Bath at the Vashon Senior Center. Imagine sitting solo in a cool darkish room, surrounded by a dozen a cappella singers, their voices creating a gentle, healing soundscape. It was a rare, soothing experience that’s still with me.

Our cozy contemporary farm cottage tucked in the woods near Maury Island Marine Park was the perfect hideaway to recharge for the afternoon. We’d already seen “Seeds” and “DJ Ahmet” at SIFF, both festival darlings, so next up was “The Devil Smokes.” The film was quietly astonishing: five siblings, abandoned by their parents, straddling a line between reality and imagination with their schizophrenic grandmother as a guide. The young cast – all first-timers – delivered raw and incredible performances.

With film festivals come film parties. And on Saturday night that meant a Blue Shadows reunion on the backlot with former Cramps drummer Bill Bateman teaming up with frontman Javier Matos and bassist John Bazz to lay down some pretty soulful blues. Matos’s gravelly voice was matched by a guest drop-in by Ty Willman, who has some impressive creds – including a one-time collab with Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready.

Saturday was a day to breathe. We picnicked by Point Robinson Lighthouse with Mount Rainier as our backdrop. Back inland, we headed to the Vashon Arts Center for a performance by former Vashon kid, now NYC pianist Zander Knodt. His take on Bill Evans’ Blue in Green was pure magic.

Though we missed the narrative shorts screening earlier, festival screeners gave us access to gems like “Video Barn.” VHS nostalgia lovers will revel in this eerie tale of a cursed tape, small-town video stores, and a teen girl desperate to solve the mystery when her best friend disappears. We also caught up with “Em and Selma Go Griffin Hunting” (a Sundance Narrative Short nominee) and “As If the Earth Had Swallowed Them Up” (a Sundance Animation Short winner).

“Coroner to the Stars,” whose filmmakers were in attendance, held the noon narrative doc slot, followed by “Gamma Rays” which was a surprise highlight. Shot with non-professional actors from Montreal’s immigrant communities, it was a snapshot of youth identity in a multicultural city. 

Since paella figures prominently in Gamma Rays, Saturday night filmmakers’ dinner was a Spanish paella-three-ways party. While those giant pans were bubbling away, we slipped into the theater just in time to catch an impromptu duet from twin brothers Ari and Ethan Gold. They were about to screen their film “Brother Verses Brother,” (which they wrote, directed, scored and starred in) and kicked things off with some tunes before giving the intro. Later at the dinner, we chatted with Ethan about everything from music to movies to modern technology and culture. Once dinner wrapped, it was just a quick trip across the street for the post-screening Q&A with Ethan and Ari, rounding out a pretty perfect night. 

Saturday came to a close with dancing under the stars courtesy of Seattle’s own Larry Mizell, Jr., spinning beats that kept the party going.

Sunday offered another Seattle connection with “Milk of Amnesia,” a newly rediscovered black-and-white 16mm gem starring Vashon’s Henry Porter. The film has that quirky ’90s Seattle vibe and has many landmarks that old timers would recall. Seek it out if you’re feeling nostalgic for the old days, even if you weren’t alive yet.

The post-screening Q&A let the audience in on some secrets like the film’s original title – “Edible Breakfast.” The filmmakers also shared a hilarious story about the old days of sending out tapes to festivals: one unlabeled tape, lent to a friend, got recorded over with a private moment between he and his girlfriend. Unaware of the overwrite, the filmmaker slapped his “Edible Breakfast” label back on the tape and sent it off to a festival—talk about a total rewrite.

Next up was “Racewalkers,” a witty and endearing film that was a big winner at VIFF – you can read our review here. We chatted with Kevin Claydon and Phil Moniz – the two friends who both directed and starred in the movie – afterwards at the industry lounge. They were happy to dive into the film, but when hockey came up—being Canadian and all—that’s when they really lit up, rattling off names of the sport’s legends past and present. Fun fact: Claydon is a hockey player himself, so the conversation was right on goal.

The festival wrapped with the Red Bicycle Awards as festival founder, Mark Sayre, thanked the filmmakers and film community before the awards were handed out.  Earlier, we’d tracked down the original Red Bicycle – the one famously swallowed by a tree – a quirky Vashon landmark. Though time and vandals have taken their toll, the bike’s story endures, much like the spirit of the burgeoning festival itself.

This was the fourth Vashon Island Film Festival and it’s clear why it’s beloved by locals and visitors alike. Intimate screenings, killer music, island charm, incredible films, and a cool backlot and industry lounge for making new friends – it’s a unique experience that already has us eagerly awaiting year five.