Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver (GEMS) is proud to reveal the full lineup for the 20th annual GEMFest, set to take place in-person at the VIFF Centre in Vancouver from March 5-9, 2025. This year’s festival, celebrating two decades of championing women and gender-diverse filmmakers, features a robust schedule of feature films, panels, networking events, and special programming designed to advance gender equity in the film industry.

With 32 films from nine countries, GEMFest 2025 showcases diverse stories and perspectives, including 23 Canadian films and 11 films from BC-based creators. The festival will host screenings, engaging panels, and exclusive events, bringing together filmmakers, industry leaders, and audiences for a celebration of inclusive storytelling.

GEMFest kicks off on Wednesday, March 5 with an Opening Night Reception and the BC premiere screening of One Must Wash Eyes, Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Sepideh Yadegar’s feature directorial debut at the VIFF Centre. Throughout the festival, audiences can enjoy a curated selection of feature films and shorts at both the Studio Theatre and Vancity Theatre at the VIFF Centre. Highlights of this year's festival include Kaniehtiio Horn’s feature film Seeds (CAN) which debuted at TIFF 2024 and Tasha Hubbard’s acclaimed documentary Singing Back the Buffalo. Florence Fauquet’s Karateka (FRAN), Carolyn Irwin’s short film The Wish Baker (CAN) and Kaileigh Coles’ Through My Eyes: An Artist's Re-Creation (CAN) are all world premiering at GEMFest and Canadian premieres include: Coraci Ruiz’s All That Matters (BRZL), Edie Lawrence’s Autophagy (UK), Sunyin Zhang’s August & Ebony (USA), Lori Watt’s Henderson (CAN), Stéphanie Bélanger’s Lumen (CAN), Emilie Sornasse’s My Week with George Clooney (BELG), Hồng Anh Nguyễn’s Saigon Kiss (VTNM), Ingrid Pérez López’s TOMORROW (COL) and Vivie (NZ) from Hweiling Ow. 

Local filmmakers who have films featured at this year's festival include Sepideh Yadegar (One Must Wash Eyes), Thea Loo (Inay (Mama)), Jules A. Koostachin (NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film), along with short films from Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos (Ask the Plantain), Kaileigh Coles (Through My Eyes: An Artist’s Re-Creation), Esther Cheung (Detours Ahead), Carolyn Irwin (The Wish Baker), Jessica Miinguuaqtii (February Sixteenth Nineteen Forty-Seven), Jenny Lee-Gilmore (Little Miss Sleepy), Lori Watt (Henderson) and Olivia Marie Golosky (pîķîwî). One Must Wash Eyes will be followed by a panel with the filmmaking team. Inay (Mama) and Ask the Plantain will be screened together in a special presentation with filmmakers in attendance. 

Full festival passes are $300 and tickets range from $15 - $22, with discounted access options available for low-barrier admission and GEMS members. The Advocacy Panel, GEMS Showcase, BIPOC networking event and Awards Ceremony are free/by donation. All events will be held at the VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre and Studio Theatre, located at 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC.