Benjamin Flaherty’s Shuffle, SXSW 2025 Documentary Feature Grand Jury Award Winner. Shot over three years, this film follows three individuals navigating a treacherous treatment industry riddled with insurance fraud as they attempt to survive.
In addition, VIFF will screen five narrative, five documentary, and five animated shorts. The narrative shorts include: Alex Thompson’s Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting, Sundance 2025; Chi Thai’s Lullaby, Diversity in Cannes 2025 Short Film Showcase Winner; Aisling Byrne’s Turnaround, IFTA 2025; Daisy Friedman’s Unholy, Sundance 2025 and SXSW 2025; and Bianca Politti’s Video Barn, SXSW 2025.
The documentary shorts include Mark Shapiro’s The Invisible Enemy, Santa Fe Film Festival 2025 Best Short Documentary Jury Award Winner; Lesley Loksi Chan’s Lloyd Wong, Unfinished, Berlinale 2025 Teddy Award for Best Short Film Winner and Golden Bear for Best Short Film Winner; Charles Frank’s Shanti Rides Shotgun, SXSW 2025; Loren Waters’ Tiger, Sundance 2025 Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing Winner; and Christopher Radcliff’s We Were the Scenery, Sundance 2025 Nonfiction Short Film Jury Award Winner.
A majestic view of Mount Rainier bathed in sunset light, as seen from Vashon Island
“The coveted VIFF Red Bicycle Awards are a tribute to the island.”
The animated shorts include: Natalia León’s As If the Earth Had Swallowed Them Up (Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado), Sundance 2025 Animation Short Film Jury Award Winner; Olivia Marie Valdez’ Dormilón. SIFF 2025; John Kelly’s Retirement Plan, SXSW 2025 Animated Short Grand Jury Prize and Animated Short Competition Audience Award Winner; Calleen Koh’s My Wonderful Live, SXSW 2025 Animated Short Special Jury Award Winner; and Emerson Tenney’s Vibrantea, Manchester Film Festival 2025 Best Animated Short Award Winner.
Features at VIFF compete for the Quartermaster Award and the Audience Award for Best Feature, as well as Red Bicycle Awards in each category, as determined by the VFI’s programming team; shorts compete for the Burton Award and the Audience Award for Best Short. The awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, August 10.
VIFF’s jury selects Quartermaster and Burton Award winners in an anonymous voting process. This year’s jury consists of VIFF alumn: Jury President Jewerl Keats Ross (Sujo, VIFF24), Olivia Blue (Juniper, VIFF22), Jonathan Hsu (Starring Jerry as Himself, VIFF23), and Nick Richey (1-800-HOT-NITE, VIFF22). Festival attendees determine Audience Awards.
For general admission to VIFF, there are Single Screening Tickets or the All-Access Pass. To learn more about VIFF and VIF, visit vashonislandfilmfestival.com and vashonfilminstitute.com.
"…a program like no other independent film festival..."
