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TapewormSince its inception by critic-programmer Adam Cook in 2016, the Future//Present program of the Vancouver International Film Festival has provided an eight-feature snapshot of the year in independent Canadian cinema. The initial program description placed an emphasis on “emerging” directors—though that term has since been dropped, which perhaps highlights a lateral shift in programming mandate: This year’s slate showcases filmmakers that are by some measures established, having presented multiple films at festivals with far more international cachet than Viff, to name but one possible criterion. While it’s too soon to comment on the value of this change, it does alter the ways a prospective audience might approach the films in question. As ever, the focus remains on younger independent Canadian filmmakers. But if there’s no longer the question of some directors “graduating” out of the program, then there’s a redoubled emphasis on the program's curatorial sensibility.