GEMFest – Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver
byGender Equity in Media Society Vancouver (GEMS) has revealed the full lineup for the 20th annual GEMFest, set to take place in-person at the VIFF Centre in Vancouver from March 5-9, 2025. The festival will host screenings, engaging panels, and exclusive events, bringing together filmmakers, industry leaders, and audiences for a celebration of inclusive storytelling.
GEMFest Lineup
- Dates: March 5-9, 2025
- Location: VIFF Centre – Vancity Theatre and Studio Theatre (1181 Seymour St)
- Tickets: Full festival passes are $300 and tickets range from $15 – $22, with discounted access options available for low-barrier admission and GEMS members. The Advocacy Panel, GEMS Showcase, BIPOC networking event and Awards Ceremony are free/by donation.
This year’s festival, celebrating two decades of championing women and gender-diverse filmmakers, features a robust schedule of feature films, panels, networking events, and special programming designed to advance gender equity in the film industry.
With 32 films from nine countries, GEMFest showcases diverse stories and perspectives, including 23 Canadian films and 11 films from BC-based creators.
GEMFest kicks off on Wednesday, March 5 with an Opening Night Reception and the BC premiere screening of One Must Wash Eyes, Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Sepideh Yadegar’s feature directorial debut at the VIFF Centre. Highlights of this year’s festival include Kaniehtiio Horn’s feature film Seeds (CAN) which debuted at TIFF 2024 and Tasha Hubbard’s acclaimed documentary Singing Back the Buffalo. Florence Fauquet’s Karateka (FRAN), Carolyn Irwin’s short film The Wish Baker (CAN) and Kaileigh Coles’ Through My Eyes: An Artist’s Re-Creation (CAN) are all world premiering at GEMFest and Canadian premieres include: Coraci Ruiz’s All That Matters (BRZL), Edie Lawrence’s Autophagy (UK), Sunyin Zhang’s August & Ebony (USA), Lori Watt’s Henderson (CAN), Stéphanie Bélanger’s Lumen (CAN), Emilie Sornasse’s My Week with George Clooney (BELG), Hồng Anh Nguyễn’s Saigon Kiss (VTNM), Ingrid Pérez López’s TOMORROW (COL) and Vivie (NZ) from Hweiling Ow.
Local Filmmakers
Local filmmakers who have films featured at this year’s festival include Sepideh Yadegar (One Must Wash Eyes), Thea Loo (Inay (Mama)), Jules A. Koostachin (NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film), along with short films from Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos (Ask the Plantain), Kaileigh Coles (Through My Eyes: An Artist’s Re-Creation), Esther Cheung (Detours Ahead), Carolyn Irwin (The Wish Baker), Jessica Miinguuaqtii (February Sixteenth Nineteen Forty-Seven), Jenny Lee-Gilmore (Little Miss Sleepy), Lori Watt (Henderson) and Olivia Marie Golosky (pîķîwî). One Must Wash Eyes will be followed by a panel with the filmmaking team. Inay (Mama) and Ask the Plantain will be screened together in a special presentation with filmmakers in attendance.
GEMFest 2025 will feature a dynamic lineup of panels and discussions addressing key issues and opportunities within the film industry:
Featured Panels
Director Panel – Thursday, March 6 at 6:30pm
Join BC directors for an in-depth conversation on craft and creative process. Moderated by Carol Whiteman from Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) and presented in partnership with WIDC and DGC BC.
Ethical Production Panel – Friday, March 7 at 6:30pm
Industry experts discuss the importance of ethical practices in film production, from fair representation to sustainable practices. Panelists include sustainability consultant Smiely Khurana (The Sustainable Act), filmmaker Jules A. Koostachin (NiiMisSak: Sisters In Film), intimacy coordinator Aryn Mott (Vancity Intimacy Coordination), Natasha Tony (Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Inclusion) and filmmaker Shannon Walsh (Adrianne and the Castle). Moderated by Anaïsa Visser (Executive Director of GEMS) and presented in partnership with CMPA.
Advocacy Panel – Saturday, March 8 at 10:30am
A panel on advocacy in film, showcasing organizations whose work drives social change and funders who are working to better their approaches to equitable access. Panelists include Tanvi Bhatia (Outreach and Strategy Lead, Women in View), Patricia Doss (Senior Advisor: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, NFB), Kadon Douglas (Executive Director, BIPOC TV & Film), Prem Gill (Chief Executive Officer, Creative BC), Meghna Haldar (Content Analyst, Telefilm), Joy Loewen (Vice President of Growth & Inclusion, CMF) and Winnie Luk (Executive Director, DSO). Moderated by Natasha Tony (Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Inclusion). Presented in partnership with Elevate Inclusion Strategies.
Casting Director Panel – Saturday, March 8 at 12:30pm
Insights from casting directors Corrine Clark and Jennifer Page (Clarke & Page Casting) along with Kris Woznesensky and Kara Eide (Kris & Kara Casting) on the evolving landscape of casting and representation. Moderated by celebrated local actress Johannah Newmarch (When Calls The Heart) and presented in partnership by UBCP/ACTRA.
Screenplay Competition Panel – Sunday, March 9 at 10:30am
Select finalists from this year’s screenplay competition will discuss their work and the power of storytelling in a conversation moderated by filmmaker Andy Alvarez (Curl Power). This year’s finalists are: Corina Bizim, Brenna Goodwin-McCabe, Mykayla Filipovic, dre larivée, Jasleen Kaur, MK Morris and Tessa Parker.
Special Events
GEMFest’s program includes a variety of networking events designed to foster connections within the industry and celebrate the breadth of talent represented in the film community. Some highlights include:
Firecracker Film Fest – Friday, March 7th at 10:30AM
GEMS has partnered with Firecracker Department to host the first Firecracker Film Fest at GEMFest. The two organizations’ aligned values made this celebration of comedy a no-brainer. In this snappy 90 minute affair, 9 shorts crafted by women and gender-diverse folks from Firecracker West; Vancouver, Kelowna and Calgary will be screened, and some filmmakers will be in attendance. Firecracker Department is an international community of artistic women and non-binary folk empowering each other to take creative action through education and positive support.
BIPOC Networking Night – Friday, March 7th at 8:00pm
An event dedicated to connecting BIPOC creatives and industry professionals, featuring Keynote Speaker Ella Cooper from Black Women Film. This event is free of charge.
Pitch Forum – Sunday, March 9th at 12:00pm
The GEMFest Pitch Forum starts at which serves as a dedicated platform for filmmakers to present their projects to production companies, broadcasters, and distributors within the industry. The event is by registration – registrants will be paired with their desired pitch recipient for a one on one 10 minute pitch. Designed to empower and propel Canadian talent, this event offers a distinctive space for project development, networking, and exposure to influential figures in the film and television industry. Filmmakers are encouraged to research and tailor their pitches to the company they are targeting.
GEMS Showcase – Sunday, March 9th at 3:00pm
The very first GEMS Showcase features selected GEMS Talent Lab alumni who will pitch their projects to a panel of industry professionals. The panel will be followed by an awards ceremony celebrating this year’s standout contributions to the festival. The Presenting Sponsor for this event is Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV and the event is free of charge.
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