The Vashon Island Film Festival (VIFF) is proving once again why it has become a beloved annual event, now in its third successful year. This picturesque island, just a short ferry ride from Seattle, has made itself into a four-day hub of cinematic celebration, bringing together filmmakers and film enthusiasts to celebrate movies.

As we rolled off the ferry early Saturday morning, the festival’s presence was immediately felt. VIFF posters and banners, creating a level of buzz and excitement were all over the island. We overheard conversations about films to see and parties to attend as we made a quick stop at the popular Saturday Farmers Market for our weekend’s provisions. 

Although we missed the screening of “Inheritance,” we caught the post-screening interview at Vashon Theatre’s Backlot, featuring the actress, producer, and other key members of the Bainbridge Island (via California) based film team. The afternoon featured a nearly packed house for the North American premiere of “Black Dog,” a Cannes winner that lived up to its hype. As Pink Floyd’s music played over the closing credits, the audience showed it’s appreciation with enthusiastic applause.

Between screenings, we took a moment to appreciate the island’s other cultural offerings, visiting the latest exhibits at the Vashon Arts Center. We finally made our way to our accommodations, which ended up being a charming beach house. Although the Adirondack chairs on the waterfront offered a tempting respite, the festival’s packed schedule kept us moving.

Afternoon turned into evening as we attended the Filmmakers Dinner at Sugar Shack hosted by Sodel Pop-up and Mana Bakery with wine pairings provided by Corianna Garrels. The Filipino-inspired, multi-course meal brought together a mix of industry professionals (among them director of VIFF2023 award winning ‘Raging Grace,” Paris Zarcilla, “Sujo” producer, Jewerl Keats Ross, and producer of “Resynator,” Jon Lullo), jurors, sponsors like Tara Morgan of C’mon Barber, and even the festival founder’s mother.

The dinner, fueled by spirited conversation and flowing wine, seamlessly transitioned into the Saturday Night Soirée at the Backlot. There, former KEXP DJ Marco Collins kept the crowd – including a few canine guests – dancing well into the night.

Sunday morning greeted us with a misty, atmospheric backdrop perfect for diving into more festival offerings. Perfect as we head into town for a lineup that includes “Songs from the Hole,” the documentary “Porcelain War” (which screened at SIFF) and “Bang Bang.”

The festival is set to conclude this evening with the Red Bicycle Awards, where Festival Founder Mark Mathias Sayre will announce the winners, capping off another successful year for this popular fest that only promises to get more popular moving forward. 

The Vashon Island Film Festival has once again demonstrated its ability to combine the intimacy of a small island community with the magic and excitement of international cinema. So if you haven’t yet made it to the island to catch VIFF, it’s never to early to put it on your calendar for 2025.