THANK YOU everyone for another well-attended Crazy8s 2026 Gala Screening and Afterparty!
The evening was abuzz with celebration and anticipation right from the pre-show reception at The Centre for Crazy8s 2026 sponsors, filmmakers, and special guests, catered by The Gourmet Lunch Ladies and Lavish Liquid. Paul Armstrong, president of the Crazy8s board, addressed the appreciative guests, thanking all of the Crazy8s program’s sponsors and partners, congratulating program alumni and the current cohort on their accomplishments, and encouraging industry employers and creatives to work with each other and with the up-and-coming talent on the Top 6 teams.
With a lineup forming from 5:30 pm, doors opened to general ticket holders at 6:00PM and the enthusiastic was immediately abuzz with networking throughout the venue’s three levels and auditorium, where the 100 generous sponsors and supporters that help make Crazy8s possible were on display both on-screen and in the print and digital event program guides. The posters of this season’s Top 6 films, prominently on view in light boxes on the first- and second-floor lobbies, kept cameras clicking alongside an interview and photo opportunity with media sponsor Film Picnic and digital marketing partner, Loose Lips Media.
The show started shortly after 7:00PM with Gala Host, Leo Award-winner Sam Krochmal, who delivered a thoughtful land acknowledgement and a warm welcome to all in attendance.
Sam acknowledged the sponsors, supporters, and community partners of the Crazy8s 2026 program and invited up to the stage our esteemed guest speakers which included The Honourable Niki Sharma, British Columbia’s Attorney General and Deputy Premier; Zach Lipovsky, Directors Guild of Canada, BC District Council – Chair, Executive Board; Andrew Williamson, Telefilm Western Region Feature Film Executive, English Market; and Prem Gill, Creative BC CEO.
The Crazy8s Executive Director, Grace Chin followed up with a few words of welcome. She touched on the Gala theme “into the unknown,” referencing the current industry climate of strengthening Canadian content creation and production, while applauding the bold films from this season’s Top 6 cohort and acknowledging and thanking the program’s founders, past leadership, alumni, and current board and staff.
Finally it was time for the Crazy8s 2026 Top 6 films to screen, all rated by Consumer Protection BC. The screening began with the Crazy8s flagship trailer including clips from the past 27 years of filmmaking, and an inspiring Crazy8s Behind the Scenes video directed by Brian Cheung featuring behind the scenes footage and video interviews with the 6 directors.
Opening the evening’s program was The Decision directed by Cory Thibert and written by Steven Cayer, an intimate drama about a man living with cerebral palsy who must make a life-changing decision; followed by The Last Caller mockumentary directed by Mariel Calvo, written by Miguel Da Ponte from a story by Mariel Calvo and Miguel Da Ponte; then Full Asian from director/writer Ely Davidson, a science fiction drama about a man undergoing a risky procedure to radically modify his biracial identity, closed out the evening’s exciting first half.
During the 20-minute intermission, guests were well-supplied with concession drinks and snacks from Lavish Liquid. The evening’s second half opened with the chilling real-crime mystery thriller Gone Viral from director Kat Reynolds, co-written by Reynolds and Felicia Simone; Mould from writer Morgan Abele, a claymation-composited-into-live-action film directed by Abele, with additional direction of the stop-motion elements from Kiki Evans; and The Thing Inside Her written by Jacki Gunn, co-directed by Gunn and Della Haddock, featuring an 8-foot tall slug puppet with poseable antennae and mouth.
The key creatives, lead cast, and other key crew of the Crazy8s 2026 Top 6 cohort then took the stage to be celebrated, photographed, and acknowledged with claps and cheers by the audience! Special thanks to Gala Screening and Reception photographers Corey Malone, Phillip Chin, Alicia Weng and Gabriel Narciso.
With the show ending shortly after 9:30PM at The Centre, close to 1,200 people made their way to the Afterparty at Science World, many via the Party Bus supported by On Set Headsets.
Guests entering the 80’s-themed event featuring lighting and light effects by Clarks AV were ushered along a hallway toward the glamorous blue carpet and media wall. Guests who made their way upstairs, posed with LED screens displaying the film posters, while downstairs the PhotoCulture photo booth and Film Picnic table were buzzing all night. Both levels featured dance floors with beats from W.K.M. DJ Services and bar service from Lavish Liquid. While guests mingled, tore up the dance floor, or played the “rubber duck hunt” game for a chance to win prizes up to $100 each, the White Spot Triple O’s stayed open with a full menu until the lights came up at 1:30 am, signalling the conclusion of an entertaining and inspiring 27th-year Gala evening!
THANK YOU to our Crazys 2026 Gala Volunteers, Film and Gala Production and Operations Teams, and Board; and to the staff and A/V team Xcite Plus at The Centre, and all the staff at Science World!
THANK YOU to all our Crazy8s sponsors!
CRAZY8S 2026 GALA EVENT PHOTOS are in our Crazy8s Facebook Page Albums, tag yourself and your friends!
CRAZY8s 2026 GALA PROGRAM GUIDE is also online.
THE CRAZY8s 2026 FILMS*:
- THE DECISION Teaser – Directed by CORY THIBERT, Written by STEVEN CAYER
- FULL ASIAN Teaser – Directed and Written by ELY DAVIDSON
- GONE VIRAL Teaser – Directed by KAT REYNOLDS, Written by FELICIA SIMONE and KAT REYNOLDS
- THE LAST CALLER Teaser – Directed by MARIEL CALVO, Written by MIGUEL DA PONTE, Story by MIGUEL DA PONTE and MARIEL CALVO
- MOULD Teaser – Directed by MORGAN ABELE & KIKI EVANS, Written by MORGAN ABELE
- THE THING INSIDE HER Teaser – Directed by JACKI GUNN & DELLA HADDOCK, Written by JACKI GUNN