Celluloid series celebrate everything from film noir to queer cinema, and let you travel from Taiwan to France this summer

Summertime and movies—put the two together and that usually means blockbusters. But you won’t want to overlook film festivals. Each year, the number of cinematic series and festivals in this city multiplies. So if you want to escape the summer heat and chill out in an air-conditioned theatre catching films you might not otherwise have a chance to see, there’s plenty to fit the bill. Can’t fathom venturing indoors? Fret not—there are options for you, too. (Be sure to confirm dates and details on event Web sites, because they are subject to change.)

International Departures

Taiwanese Film Festival (June 19 to 21 at the Vancity Theatre, www.twff.ca ) Seen a massive eyeball traipsing about Vancouver? Just as the Taiwanese Film Festival’s official mascot, Big Eye, has leapt off the page, the festival—organized by nonprofit student club UBC Literature Etc.—continues to develop its dynamism. This year’s theme, Only Human, is reflected in six selections from the island nation that convey universal themes through the lives of ordinary souls.

Each film highlights a different facet of Taiwan. The weekend commences with a war drama (Zhiyu Hong’s 1895), and there’s also religious diversity (Singing Chen’s God Man Dog) and baseball (Winds of September) in the mix. Issues of sexuality are touched on in ensemble dramas like Zero (Mei-Ling) Chou’s Drifting Flowers and Hsiu-chiung Chiang’s Artemisia. There’s even a mockumentary (What on Earth Have I Done Wrong?!), in which director Chen-Zer “Doze” Niu stars in his own examination of Taiwan’s contemporary social values.

Vancouver French Film Festival (June 19 to September 10 at the Ridge Theatre, www.festivalcinemas.ca ) Like the Taiwanese Film Festival, this celluloid celebration of all things franí§ais is in its third year and features six selections. Its duration, however, spans several months. The aptly titled family drama Summer Hours starts the Gallic journey. Along the way, there’s a cleaning lady who’s actually a forgotten painter (Séraphine), stories of murder and intrigue (The Girl From Monaco, Anything for Her, Lorna’s Silence), and another family drama (One Day You’ll Understand). Anglophones, don’t worry—there are English subtitles, bien sí»r.

Kibatsu Cinema (July 2, 5, 9, 16, and 23 at Pacific Cinémathí¨que, www.cinematheque.bc.ca ) It’s back. The second edition of this quirky series continues the tradition of serving up weird but intriguing cinematic offerings from Japan. The seven films, which include two documentaries on Japanese artists, cult fave Kamome Diner and director Naoko Ogigami’s follow-up, Megane, a stop-motion animated feature, and Miki Satoshi’s amusing Adrift in Tokyo, act as big-screen appetizers for the Powell Street Festival (which jointly presents this fest) in August.

Brazilian Film Festival Of Vancouver (July 8 to 12 at the Vancity Theatre, www.brazilianfilmfestival.com ) Alas, the Vancouver-based Canada's Portuguese Film and Video Festival was cancelled this year, but this Portuguese-language cinematic collection from Brazil is back for a second year. Four dramatic features, four documentaries, and six animated shorts (plus two film-industry forums) will tackle subjects such as smoking, sex trafficking, and Brazilian music.

Vancouver Latin American Film Festival (September 10 to 20, various locations, www.vlaff.org ) Chile steps into the spotlight this year. Chilean picks include Sebastián Silva’s Sundance International Jury Prize winner La nana (The Maid); Tony Manero, about a Saturday Night Fever–obsessed killer; as well as features, documentaries, and shorts. The festival, which boasts 50 selections, opens with Arráncame la vida (Tear This Heart Out), one of the biggest-budget Mexican films ever made, and concludes with Andrés Wood’s La buena vida, winner of the Best Latin American film award from the Spanish Film Academy.

Green Screens

The decision about running the ever-popular Monsters in the Meadow in Stanley Park was still up in the air at the Straight’s deadline. You can check vancouver.ca/parks/ to find out if it’s on or not.

Lunafliks Outdoor Film Experience 2009 (every Wednesday from July 1 to August 26 at Rebagliati Park and Lost Lake Park, Whistler; www.lunawhistler.com/lunafliks.html) Luna-fliks’s seventh annual series of lakeside outdoor screenings (featuring international selections from Canada, the U.S., Norway, Israel, and more) kicks off on Canada Day. If it rains, it’ll be held indoors at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre; call the LUNA hotline for weather updates at 604-966-4800 after 1 p.m.

Fresh Air Cinema ( www.freshaircinema.ca ) This Western Canadian outdoor movie company teams up with local organizations to project movies onto inflatable screens around town; the June 13 Bollywood Under the Stars II screening in Stanley Park was their handiwork. Upcoming events include screenings of Happy Gilmore (Quilchena Golf Course, Richmond, on June 20), Ghostbusters (David Lam Park on July 19), and events at Killarney Community Centre, Point Grey Secondary School, and several in Delta and Surrey, among others. Screening details will be announced throughout the summer at Fresh Air Cinema’s Facebook profile, “FREE Outdoor Movie Events in BC”.

And Everything Else

The Vancouver Student Film Festival has been rechristened the Vancouver Short Film Festival, and has moved to the fall (October 23 to 24). Filmmakers, take note: you can submit your short film of up to 15 minutes long until August 8; see www.vsff.com for details.

Film Noir (August 6 to 31 at Pacific Cinémathí¨que, www.cinematheque.bc.ca ) A perennial Vancouver favourite. This year’s monthlong retro fest features 18 vintage titles, including Howard Hawk’s The Big Sleep, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall; The Blue Dahlia, written by Raymond Chandler; Gilda, featuring femme fatale Rita Hayworth; and Robert Aldrich’s classic Kiss Me Deadly.

Kitsilano Film Festival (August 14 to 16 at the Russian Community Centre, www.kitsilanofilmfestival.org ) The inaugural edition of this neighbourhood event will showcase independent short films of up to 20 minutes. Screenings will take place at the former Kitsilano Theatre (2114 West 4th Avenue), which closed in 1955.

Vancouver Queer Film Festival (August 13 to 23, www.queerfilmfestival.ca ) They’ll be here, they’ll be queer—get ready to start watching them. The 21st annual edition of this fest boasts 71 films, 21 of which have been classified so that those under 18 can attend. The latter move is part of Focus on Youth, which will include a youth filmmaking and art gala party. Meanwhile, Focus on Asian Voices will give centre stage to queer Asian cinema, including works by local filmmakers. Focus on Hope highlights inspirational stories of international queer champions, while local stories will be recorded on camera at the Queer Speakers’ Cabaña as part of the Queer History Project. Full festival details will be announced when tickets go on sale on-line and at Little Sister’s Book and Art Emporium (1238 Davie Street) on July 18.

Bold: Bold, Old(er) Lesbians & Dykes Film Festival (September 13, Rio Theatre, www.soundsandfuries.com/BOLD_film.html ) Another newbie. As part of the fifth annual BOLD Conference, this one-day series will focus on lesbians over the age of 45. Submissions will be accepted until July 17. (See the Web site for details.)