Presented by Quenouille and Lebon trait-d'union Productions. There will be a Q&A with the director after the film. Dir: Hélène Lebon, Canada, 2026, 48 min, Documentary. In French with English subtitles. À contre-mode follows three young people from Prince Edward Island who take on the challenge of creating a fashion show made entirely from second-hand clothing to inspire a new way of consuming. By questioning their shopping and style habits, they discover that sewing, repairing, and carefully choosing what surrounds us can become a powerful act of self-expression and collective change.

Presented by Quenouille and Lebon trait-d'union Productions. There will be a Q&A with the director after the film. Dir: Hélène Lebon, Canada, 2026, 33 min, Documentary. In French with English subtitles. Filmmaker Hélène Lebon confronts her own fear of breast cancer after discovering cysts and carrying a heavy family history of the disease; guided by her friendship with survivor and innovator Simonne Cormier — who designs a natural, Canadian-made breast prosthesis — she enters a circle of women whose lives have been reshaped by illness and loss, discovering a powerful community reclaiming their bodies, their stories, and their strength.

Dir: Nat Boltt, New Zealand/Canada, 2026, Comedy/Drama. Miriam Margolyes, Jacki Weaver, Judy Davis, Elijah Tamati. "Holy Days is a wildly charming, big-hearted adventure that sends three defiantly spirited nuns on the road in search of a miracle—only to discover they’re far better at raising a little hell. When the sisters of St. Suzanne’s convent face forced retirement, they stage a last-ditch escape to New Zealand’s breathtaking South Island, hoping an ex-nun-turned-lawyer can save their home. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when a young Māori boy joins them, carrying a secret mission of his own: reaching the summit of Mt. Cook to find his recently departed mother before she crosses into the spirit world. As a sudden snowstorm threatens their plans, this unlikely band of companions is pushed to the limits of faith, courage, and friendship. With echoes of Little Miss Sunshine, Wonder, and The Peanut Butter Falcon, the film blends humor, heartfelt emotion, and adventure into a story that celebrates love, loss, and the resilience that keeps us moving forward. Holy Days delivers stunning landscapes, unexpected connections, and an ensemble of unforgettable characters finding exactly what they need—just not in the way they expect. Uplifting, tender, and delightfully offbeat, it’s a crowd-pleasing odyssey destined to charm audiences of all ages." - The Victoria Film Festival

Dir: Polly Findlay, UK/Netherlands, 2026, Drama. Lesley Manville, Ciarán Hinds, Julie Lamberton. "Midwinter Break is a look at a long-time married couple, now in the midwinter of their lives and marriage, offering a reflection on what can keep us together even as we drift apart. Stella and Gerry (Oscar nominees Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds) are a retired Irish couple, living in Glasgow. Their days are routine... When Stella returns from church, Gerry is asleep on the couch, passed out after another round of solitary drinking... She books a trip to Amsterdam for both of them. Gerry is delighted by the surprise, and the two set off. The holiday offers a break from their daily humdrum chores. At first, they revel in their new surroundings, taking in the sights and sounds. But soon, old habits start to creep back in. Stella is looking for a higher purpose in her life, while Gerry cannot rein in his drinking. The vacation brings them to a crossroads... The film is based on an acclaimed novel by Bernard MacLaverty... posing questions about faith and commitment, and what makes love endure rather than become an endurance. It’s set against the beautiful backdrop of a European city, with walkways beside waterways, and a history that is both tragic and uplifting – following the long-established tradition of Irish literature... Fortunately, Midwinter Break stars two seasoned actors who are not even close to the winter of their careers. Both bring grace and gravitas to their characters, conveying their personal crises with humanity. It’s wonderful to see an older couple take centre stage, and hold our attention as they wander about a new city, rediscovering each other – faults and all." - Aparita Bhandari

Dir: Thaddeus O'Sullivan, Ireland, 2011, Comedy/Drama. Martin Sheen, Stephen Rea, Trystan Gravelle. Sponsored by The Benevolent Irish Society. "Playing a small-town Catholic priest in culturally isolated 1950s Ireland, Martin Sheen does his best work since The West Wing... This splendidly acted drama explores its themes with sensitivity, gentle humor and poignancy... Inspired by Michael Doorley’s memoir... Progressive cleric Daniel Barry (Sheen) sees his temporary assignment to the tiny Tipperary backwater of Borrisokane as a penance... A lover of movies and a believer in their power to communicate, Father Barry suggests opening a cinema... He promises that the movie house will be a civilizing influence, showing only films deemed morally suitable. While the Bishop proves malleable, xenophobic politician Brendan McSweeny does not, branding all movies as corrupting filth. The old-fashioned qualities of Stella Days are among its strengths, echoed in the handsome period production values... While the film has moments of Cinema Paradiso-style sentiment, these are achieved with delicacy. Chief asset is the cast, with fine work from the lovely Plunkett and from Rea in an amusingly dour role. But it’s Sheen who carries the film. He brings sorrowful dimensions to a conflicted character that both bristles against and uncomfortably reflects a culture steeped in uneasy contradictions." - David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter. "Nothing shy of exceptional, Stella Days explores the culture of Ireland in the fifties with parallels to the present. This is a piece of cinema that is, in itself, a love letter to the form and well worth another look back if anyone missed it the first time around." - Film Ireland

Presented by Roving Picture Shows and Island Jazz. Silent with Live Improvised Musical Accompaniment by Island Jazz. Dir: Wallace Worsley, USA, 1923, Drama/Horror. Lon Chaney, Patsy Ruth Miller. Adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel, published 195 years ago this month, the film takes some liberties with the story but still follows the classic tale: Quasimodo, the hunchback, loves Esmeralda, the gypsy, played by Lon Chaney and Patsy Ruth Miller, while a revolution is brewing within the walls of Notre Dame. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame resonates most strongly today for its timeless tale of haves vs. have-nots, just as relevant now as it was when written in 1831. On the strength of a physical performance that has never really been equalled in any of the other Hunchback adaptations, it was a launching pad for both the fortunes of Lon Chaney and American horror films in general." - Paste Magazine

Dir: Finn Taylor, US, 2026, Drama. Stephen Lang, Elsie Fisher, Luke David Blumm. Audience Award Winner, Spokane International Film Festival. Beautiful performances from Stephen Lang and Elsie Fisher anchor a tale of personal strength and sacrifice inspired by true events about a man harboring a haunting secret as a Holocaust survivor. Set in locations as disparate as Terezín, Prague, and the Avenue of the Giants drive in California’s Humboldt Redwoods State Park, this is an inspiring story about the transformative power of friendship and healing. For more than 50 years, Auschwitz survivor Herbert Heller kept his memories of the Holocaust secret — even from his wife and children. But when he meets Abbey, a troubled teen dealing with her own unspoken pain, Herbert decides it’s time to talk and finally open his heart. Through sharing their personal traumas, Herbert and Abbey become the unlikeliest of friends, allies in healing whose bond brings them a previously undiscovered sense of purpose. With stunning reenactments of Herbert’s struggles to survive during WWII, this touching film demonstrates that hope and redemption can come from anywhere if we’re open to it.