With artist talks, pitch sessions, and a VR program, the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival has much to offer when it arrives at the Vancity Theatre on March 5. Here are some of the highlights of the six-day fest. More information is at www.womeninfilm.ca/.

Shorts programs

The shorts program A Fighting Chance builds on the Indigenous themes of opening-night film Warrior Women with titles that include Petie Chalifoux’s “Nisowak” and Tristin Greyeyes’ “Statistics” (March 6).

Gender and Inclusion—Seeking Solutions

Amanda Coles is among the guests at a half-day forum focused on the barriers women face in one of the busiest filmmaking cities in the world (March 9).

This Changes Everything

Following the Gender and Inclusion forum, the Directors Guild of Canada looks at the Hollywood gender gap with a free screening of the doc This Changes Everything, featuring Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, and Rosario Dawson. (March 9)