Vancouver International Film Festival is the largest annual showcase of Canadian film in the world, featuring 86 films from longtime filmmakers to new talent, all under the umbrella of the Canadian Images series.

On our radar is Amazon Falls , directed by Katrin Bowen who was born in England and moved to Linden, Alberta at the age of five where she spent her childhood growing up in the Mennonite community. Her journey took her to Los Angeles, where she acted in b-movie kickboxing films before moving to Vancouver to write and direct independent films.

Now, an award-winning director, this is Bowen’s first feature and what’s even more amazing is that it was shot in 12 days on a shoestring budget. “Making Amazon Falls has got to be the fastest concept to turn around in recorded history,” says screenwriter Curry Hitchborn. “It was two weeks straight of non-stop writing. I put my entire life on hold and I’m so glad I did. I dived in and look what was produced: this phenomenal film.”

Based on Bowen’s experiences in Los Angeles, Amazon Falls unapologetically exposed the grit behind the glitz of fame, featuring former beauty queen April Telek, from Flight 93 , who plays Jana, an aging starlet who refused to give up on her Hollywood dream.

Catch a VIFF public screening of Amazon Falls ( www.amazonfalls.com ) on Tuesday, October 5 ^th at 9:30, Thursday, October 7 ^th at 2:50pm, or Tuesday, October 12 at 12:40pm at the Empire Granville 7.