Premiere of "THE BORDER" Presented by interplay_

interplay_2026 presents... a special in-person screening of THE BORDER.

Held at the Cinematheque on January 24. 

Doors: 11:30am 
Film Screening + Artist Talk: 12:00-16:00

Location: 1131 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K8

From a sanctuary of reunion to a site of sudden closure, a border park between the US and Canada becomes the stage where families, friends, and displaced souls navigate the tightening grip of political change, and the stark loss of one of the last shared spaces between the two nations. 

interplay_ has always been a festival that embraces experimentation, interdisciplinary thinking, and the edges of performance. This year, we are excited to expand the 13th edition of this festival with a special in-person event at The Cinematheque in Vancouver, where we will host the world premiere of THE BORDER.

The film’s exploration of borders and liminal spaces mirrors the spirit that drives interplay_: a commitment to questioning boundaries, reimagining what exists between them and reflecting on the divisions that shape, separate, and connect us.

THE BORDER is the newest feature film by Ying Wang, a multi-award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Cinevolution Media Arts Society. Her practice continues to influence contemporary conversations on migration, connection, and the shifting nature of global borders.

We look forward to welcoming audiences to this special screening of THE BORDER and to wrap this year’s festival through shared reflection and dialogue.


About THE BORDER:
On March 21, 2020, the governments of Canada and the United States closed their shared border to non-essential travel. What was framed as a temporary, 30-day emergency stretched into a two-year shutdown—the longest closure in the history of the world’s undefended border.

Amid this sweeping act of control, one sliver of land remained anomalously open: Peace Arch State Park. Perched at the threshold between British Columbia and Washington State on the Pacific coast, this tiny piece of soil became a loophole in the system. People from across the continent—and beyond—traveled to its grassy grounds to see loved ones they were otherwise forbidden to touch. 

Filmed from 2020 to 2024, THE BORDER traces the emotional and often absurd choreography of life in this temporary "free zone". Through fragments of longing, humor, and intimacy, the film reveals the strange contradictions of a place that was both open and closed, public and personal, symbolic and deeply real.

More than a document of a park or a pandemic, THE BORDER is a critical reflection on the fragility of freedom and the enduring tension between our desires to draw close and impulses to pull away.

Ying Wang Bio:
An award-winning filmmaker, Ying has traveled widely with her camera, creating films across Asia, North America, Europe, and South America. 

As a migrant navigating between cultures, Ying is drawn to stories that probe the complexities of humanity and question accepted narratives. 

Her critically acclaimed feature documentary The World is Bright, which examines immigration and mental health, has received multiple awards internationally, including the Sea to Sky Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2019 and the Emerging Canadian Filmmaker Award at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2020. It was also nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards in 2021. THE BORDER (2025) is her latest feature, continuing her exploration of global borders, resilience, and human connection.

Her other notable works include Sisters (2005), a docu-drama interrogating gender politics and the notion of individual liberty; and Tricks on the Dead: The Story of Chinese Labour Corps in WWI, on which she served as co-producer and assistant director. This Canada-China-France co-production won two 2016 Canadian Screen Awards and the 2015 Vancouver International Film Festival Audience Must See Award. 

Alongside her work as a filmmaker, Ying is an active advocate for the arts. In 2007, she co-founded Cinevolution Media Arts Society, a grassroots, migrant-led organization presenting innovative works from Asian diaspora and artists across the Pan-Asian region. She also serves as a founding member and board director of RESO (Racial Equity Screen Office), advancing cross-territory collaboration in film production and distribution within today’s interconnected digital landscape.

Additional interplay_ offerings:
interplay_ and NWXR Workshops:

• Freya Björg Olafson: Online Technical Artist Workshop (January 17, 11-1pm.) Book here.
• Chantal and Choo: Seed Sanctuary Workshop @ Q7 New Works (January 18, 11-1pm). Book here. 
• arya: Technical Artist Workshop @ Q7 New Works (January 25, 11-1pm). Book here.

interplay_2026 Live Online Performance:

• Program 1: arya, Chantal and Choo and Freya Björg Olafson
  Jan 8 at 7pm PST + Jan 10 at 6pm PST*
• Program 2: Elliot Vaughan, Niloufar Samadi, and Vincent Isabel
  Jan 9 at 7pm PST + Jan 11 at 6pm PST*

At the intersection of performance and technology, this year’s festival highlights artists who are experimenting with the notion of liveness within digital presence. Taking place live on Zoom from January 8–11, 2026, interplay_2026 presents a selection of works that reimagine how performance can unfold within a virtual venue. Tickets here. 

Pricing:

This thoughtful community sliding-scale structure is developed by Toronto Dance Love-In. We are very grateful for them to set these standards within our community. Their pay-what-you-can approach offers several ticket tiers to reflect the diverse financial realities within our community. Below you’ll find guidance to help you select the option that feels right for you.

At checkout, please choose the tier that best represents your current circumstances. Those with steady income or financial security are encouraged to select higher tiers, helping cover costs for those with less access to resources. Your choice directly contributes to keeping interplay_ open and accessible for a wide range of artists and audiences.

How to locate yourself on the scale:

Abundant - Choose this tier if you are in a position of financial comfort, for example if you have a steady income, savings, investments, or generational support. Paying at this level helps sustain our festival and supports others in the community to attend.

Supporter - This option is for those with reliable income who wish to extend their support a little further. By contributing a bit above the base rate, you help offset costs for others.

Regular - This is the standard rate for attendance. If you can generally meet your basic needs such as rent, food, and transportation, please select this option.

Reduced - Select this tier if you are covering essentials but your income is unpredictable or you do not have a financial safety net.

Solidarity - This tier is for those currently navigating financial instability or inconsistent income but who still wish to attend.

Access - This no-cost option is reserved for community members who would not be able to attend otherwise. If financial hardship is currently preventing your attendance, please reach out to joanna@newworks.ca for barrier-free registration.