The Vancouver International Film Festival has announced the 17 films to screen in its Canadian Images program, including the world premieres of Helene Choquette’s doc A Dog’s Life and Ryan McKenna’s The Heart of Madame Sabali.

The program, which showcases Canadian features and documentaries, will include a total of six world premieres. Other films to have their world bows in the Canadian Images series include Chelsea McMullan’s Michael Shannon Michael Shannon John, Alexander Carson’s O, Brazen Age, Alex Williams’ The Pass System and the Canada/USA copro Frank and the Wondercat, from Tony Massil and Pablo Alvarez-Mesa.

Two films will also get their English-Canadian premieres at VIFF: Francois Peloquin’s The Sound of Trees and Sonia Boileau’s Le Dep. Other films set to screen in the Canadian Images series are Sophie Deraspe’s The Amina Profile, Sean Garrity’s Borealis, Adam Garnet Jones’ Fire Song, Alan Zweig’s Hurt, Anne Emond’s Our Loved Ones, Andrew Cividino’s Sleeping Giant and Guy Edoin’s Ville-Marie.

Films screening in the Canadian Images series are eligible for two cash prizes from VIFF: the $10,000 Best Canadian Film award and the $2,000 Emerging Canadian Director award. Both of the prizes are sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada.

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