Key Takeaways
- Three films directed by Vancouver Film School alumni and faculty have been selected for Sundar Prize Film Festival.
- Vancouver Film School returns as a proud sponsor of the festival, supporting socially driven storytelling in Vancouver.
- The featured films highlight diverse global perspectives and important social themes, from identity and displacement to systemic control.
Film festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for emerging and established filmmakers across film schools in Canada and worldwide to share their work with both local and global audiences. Beyond showcasing talent and diverse perspectives, they create space for connection, conversation, and a shared celebration of the art of cinema.
Sundar Prize Film Festival is a standout example of a homegrown Vancouver festival delivering an unforgettable experience year after year. Now in its third year (running from April 23-26), the festival continues to build momentum with an impressive slate of socially driven films. Vancouver Film School is once again a proud sponsor – and this year, three films directed by VFS alumni and faculty are featured in the lineup.
Read on to learn more about these films, and get your advance tickets here.
THREE FILMS FROM VFS ALUMNI/FACULTY WILL SCREEN AT THE FESTIVAL
Being selected for Sundar Prize Film Festival is a proud moment for these filmmakers. Ahead of their screenings this weekend, learn more about the films and when they’re playing.
Sanjeevani
Directed by Neetha John, a VFS Film Production alum, Sanjeevani makes its world premiere at Sundar Prize and is part of the ‘What We Don’t Say | South Asian Spotlight’ programme. The 15-minute film follows a grieving young woman who, in a quiet Kerala home in Southern India, crosses paths with a mysterious woman. Through their brief connection, she finds a small moment of strength she didn’t know she needed to change her life.
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Venue: North Delta Centre for the Arts
The 2400
Directed by David Scott Titus, a Film Production instructor at VFS, The 2400 was written and filmed in just 48-hours. Part of the ‘Who Are We Under Pressure? | BC / Indigenous Spotlight’ programme, the 5-minute film centers around an authoritarian regime that uses drones to hunt down people citizens with expired residency cards.
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Venue: North Delta Centre for the Arts
IF
Directed by Tathagata Ghosh, a VFS Writing for Film, Television & Games alum, IF follows a lesbian couple who is torn apart by an arranged marriage. Part of the ‘Becoming Someone | Shorts Block’ programme, the 25-minute film had its world premiere at BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival and has since screened at numerous other festivals around the world.
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 10:15 a.m.
Venue: Landmark Cinemas Guildford
Watch the trailers for all three films below:
ABOUT SUNDAR PRIZE FILM FESTIVAL
Sundar Prize Film Festival is dedicated to championing powerful, purpose-driven storytelling that sparks awareness and inspires meaningful action. At its core, the festival celebrates films that engage with critical social issues, spotlighting voices and perspectives that are often underrepresented, while fostering empathy, understanding, and dialogue among audiences.
With a mission rooted in social impact, Sundar champions social impact films across all genres, with a strong emphasis on themes such as human rights, social justice, climate change, and the lived experiences of Indigenous communities, immigrants and refugees, people of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. The festival envisions a world where film serves as a catalyst for change, one where storytelling reflects diversity in film and actively contributes to a more just and equitable society.
What sets Sundar apart is its filmmaker-first approach and deep commitment to accessibility and inclusion. From offering living wages for jurors and honorariums for contributors, to providing affordable tickets and free community access passes, the festival ensures that both creators and audiences are supported. Unique initiatives like youth and student juries, mentorship programs, and open mic pitch sessions create meaningful opportunities for emerging talent to connect, learn, and grow.
The festival is led by Sidartha Murjani (Executive Director and Senior Programmer) and Vinay Giridhar (Creative Director - Co-Founder), alumni from VFS’s Acting for Film & Television and Classical Animation programs, respectively.
HOW TO START YOUR INDUSTRY TRAINING AT VFS
In just 1 short year, VFS gets aspiring creators fully trained for careers in the film industry, TV, animation & VFX, games, design, and beyond. By becoming a student at Vancouver Film School, you gain access to The VFS Advantage from day 1 (something you won’t get at any other school):
Production Facilities Matching Industry: You’ll create & collaborate in a real studio environment from day one, working with industry-level tools in pro-grade spaces – including a professional motion capture stage, a green screen room, black box studios, & more.
Unmatched Industry Integration: Many schools offer only one program/discipline. At VFS, you’ll work alongside students across various programs, giving you the full scope of a production pipeline.
Much Greater Opportunities for Cross-Program Collaboration: We’re a school that the industry comes to first. VFS works directly with the industry to ensure you train to current, real-world standards, and we shape our curriculum and Production Centre to what’s going on in the industry right now.
To find out everything that VFS can offer for your creative training, book an appointment with a VFS Advisor if you’re looking to study film in Vancouver.