More Stories Worth Watching: VFF 2026 International Block 2
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Sara Del Core | VFF Crew Writer
The 2026 VFF international lineup has been relentless in the best possible way. Block 2 continues that momentum with another slate of short films that are as diverse in form as they are in feeling. Let's get into it.
175 (Sweden)
In an age where political tensions are dramatized in almost every consumable piece of media, 175 channels the grittiness and urgency of these 21st century heightened anxieties. Director Sepehr Nosrati’s one-take thriller documents the moments leading up to a critical parliamentary decision, in which two revolutionaries go to desperate measures to blackmail a political leader from passing the law — by kidnapping his child. Much like Block One’s opener Vultures, this short will have you on the edge of your seat to start off the night and questioning the moral debate between what is right and what is just.
Get ready because we’re just getting started.
Heirlooms (Canada)
If you’re a horror lover, then you’re in for a treat. After inheriting her deceased mother’s house, Jamie begins to discover her old family relics are not what they seem to be. Horror as a genre, while known for the jumpscares and constant frights, also present an interesting way of interpreting trauma and the ever-present guilt that resides in the characters, and Heirlooms does just that and more. Director Dan Abramovici, known for his vast short film catalogue on the festival circuit, as well as starring in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, gives you not only a good scare, but a good gripping story about generational trauma and the familial ties that bind — and that’s all you can ever really ask for.
My Game (Spain)
From the same production house that brought you VFF fan favourites Paris 70 and TITO is David Navarro Bravo’s four-minute long animation My Game. As a fan of the unreliable narrator trope in fiction, I personally wish this film was longer, which speaks to how much it says in such a short amount of time. We follow our main character, who hopelessly spends his days working at a video store, playing a sadistic game with himself to pass the time — until he is confronted by the depraved rules in which he created.
When The Doorbell is Ringing (Belgium)
For all those VFF faithful out there, you know that when a film from Belgium is in the lineup, it is sure to be a banger. In this sincere and raucous dramedy, a man shows up at the door of his married former classmate and first love to announce he no longer has feelings for her. The catch —she desperately wants to know why. The moments that ensue will leave you laughing as well as wondering what you might be missing when you purposely don’t answer the door at times.
Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites (Cambodia)
I’m a sucker for family dramas, so naturally, VFF’s first ever Cambodian selection Grandma Nai Who Played Favourites instantly became a favourite of mine. Our titular character, Grandma Nai, gets paid a visit from her chaotic family one afternoon — the twist being that Grandma Nai is actually deceased. She decides to sneak away from the boring monotonies of the afterlife to keep an eye on her withdrawn grandson, who is in some need of divine intervention. It’s heartfelt, witty and incredibly moving — and I’m sure it will become a favourite of yours too.
Good Vibes Only (Canada)
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and desperately wanted every word to come out of your mouth be decided for you? Then this is the film for you. Vaughan’s very own director Sarah D’Ambrosio depicts a young woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown — except her AI companion won’t actually let her have one. In this age of ever-evolving technology and the rise of artificial intelligence into the mainstream, Good Vibes Only challenges the overgrowing dependency on AI in the professional and personal sphere, posing the ultimate question — what are we as humans if we cannot actually feel our own thoughts?
Hippopotami (China/Hong Kong)
A precocious young girl with an affinity for zoo animals takes a car ride which will forever change her perspective on life, and those around her. Hippopotami draws on the inevitable loss of innocence as well as the challenging socio-economic realities young women ultimately face, with the gut-punch ending hitting you like a ton of bricks — all told through the perspective of an adorably witty young protagonist.
Jazz Infernal (Canada)
Director Will Niava’s melodic drama evokes the spirit of Whiplash while maintaining its distinct and unique Québécois flair that allows it to stand completely on its own. Koffi, the son of a legendary Ivorian trumpeter, arrives in Montreal on what is set to be the most chaotic day of his young life. Destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, he must confront the place he left behind in order to carve out his own future in a brand new country. And if you couldn’t tell, there’s a lot of jazz music involved.
That wraps up the international selections for VFF 2026! There is a little bit of everything for everyone — laughs, tears, fears and everything in between. I, for one, cannot wait for both blocks of films, taking place on July 7 & 8th 2026 at The Studios at Assembly Park in Vaughan, and if you’re reading this, I know you’ll be there too.
Read my recap on International Block One Here.
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