THANK YOU to everyone for another well-attended screening and afterparty at the Crazy8s 2025 Gala!
The vibe was electric from the start of the celebration, with a reception at The Centre for Crazy8s 2025 sponsors, the Top 6 filmmaking teams, and special guests, catered by Emelle’s and Lavish Liquid. Paul Armstrong, president of the Crazy8s board, addressed the supportive croed, thanking all of the Crazy8s program’s sponsors and partners, and congratulating program alumni and the current cohort on their accomplishments past and present.
With a lineup forming from 5:30 pm, doors opened to ticket holders at 6:00PM and the enthusiastic crowd was immediately abuzz with networking throughout the venue’s three levels, as well as in the rapidly-filling auditorium where 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.
The Gala Screening
The show started shortly after 7:00PM with Gala Host, Canadian Film Award “Best Lead Performer” nominee Grace Dove, who then invited Musqueam Nation representative Quelemia Sparrow onstage for a warm welcome to all in attendance.
Grace then acknowledged the sponsors, supporters, and community partners of the Crazy8s 2025 program and invited up to the stage our esteemed guest speakers which included The Honourable Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament, Vancouver Centre; Nina Krieger, British Columbia Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film; Matthew Chipera, Directors Guild of Canada, BC District Council – Chair, Executive Board; and Mathew Parry, Manager, Creative Industry Programs, Creative BC.
The Crazy8s Executive Director, Grace Chin followed up with a few words of welcome. She touched on the Gala theme “vaudeville at the movies” with a nod to the current industry climate of transition, while lauding the audacity and courage of the Top 6 cohort and their films, and acknowledging and thanking the program’s founders, past leadership, alumni, and current board and staff.
Finally it was time for the Crazy8s 2025 Top 6 films to screen, preceded by the Crazy8s flagship trailer including clips from the past 26 years of filmmaking, and an inspiring Crazy8s Behind the Scenes video directed by Brian Cheung https://www.briancheung.ca/ featuring behind the scenes footage and audio and video interviews with the 6 directors.
Opening the evening’s program was Our Monsters by Mia Peterovic, featuring hand-drawn animated elements to accompany the live-action sequences; followed by The Reveal by Jackie Hoffart; then Headcase from Spencer Zimmerman, featuring a VFX-animated, talking prosthetic severed head, 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 featured Red Light Rebel from Hannah Yang; My Mother, The Zombie by Samantha Pineda; and W7éyle (Moon’s Wife) by Kamloops-based director/writer Amanda Wandler.
The key creatives, lead cast, and other key crew of Crazy8s 2025 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 Alicia Weng and Corey Malone.
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.
The Afterparty
Guests entering the “Vaudeville at the Movies”-themed event featuring lighting and light effects by Clarks AV, were ushered along a hallway past large-format LED screens displaying the film posters, to the main multi-level party area, featuring a portrait studio booth from Philip Chin and beats from W.K.M. DJ Services.
The glamorous Blue Carpet went all night long, with photos by Nick Scott and afterparty event photo support from Alisha Weng and Corey Malone.
Guests were able to partake of the specialty cocktails and mocktails from Lavish Liquid, and noshed until the lights went up at the White Spot Triple O’s.
Wrapping up by 1:30AM, it was indeed an inspiring and entertaining 26th-year Gala evening!
THANK YOU to our Crazys 2025 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!
Crazy8s 2025 Media
CRAZY8S 2025 GALA EVENT PHOTOS will be in our Crazy8s Facebook Page Albums, tag yourself and your friends!
CRAZY8S 2025 GALA PROGRAM GUIDE is also online.
THE CRAZY8S 2025 FILMS:
- Headcase – Directed by Spencer Zimmerman
- My Mother, The Zombie – Directed by Samantha Pineda
- Our Monsters – Directed by Mia Petrovic
- Red Light Rebel – Directed by Hannah Yang
- The Reveal – Directed by Jackie Hoffart
- W7éyle (Moon’s Wife) – Directed by Amanda Wandler
Our Sponsors
THANK YOU to all our Crazy8s sponsors!