BVFI
Home Of Small Stories
The BVFI is a community-based arts and non-profit organization dedicated to the transformative power of documentary film. Our work empowers a diverse range of filmmakers, promotes media literacy for all ages, and presents meaningful perspectives that inspire and engage our communities.
Every contribution helps the Bow Valley Film Institute inspire storytellers to share stories that matter — uplifting our community through the power of documentary film.
Consider making a difference today to help us build the future of storytelling!
Organizer\Runner
Rongqin su
As a storyteller in modern, Su likes to observe the environment changes, the ethnic group dynamics, and the independent critical minds. Su mean to be a filmmaker exploring and connecting with this lost world, telling invisible story that he care. He began his career as an adventurous filmmaker documenting from the top of the world Everest, to the rural indigenous villages in Greenland, from Alaska to Patagonia, from modern life to old culture... Then he found what touched him the most are the stories behind the nature, culture ,life, and humans.
Elinor Svoboda
Elinor is an award-winning filmmaker, sound designer, educator, with over 20 years of experience in the film, television, and audio industries. Her work has been nominated for both Grammy and Juno Awards.A was broadcast and distributed internationally via Warner Brothers Music. Having spent several years in Toronto, Elinor recently returned to her home province of Alberta, where she is developing several television and feature narrative projects under her company, Ellefire Media.
Ching YU
Ching is a producer and director at DioDio Studio, where she weaves together stories of culture, social justice, and the environment through a unique lens grounded in both science and art. She studied geophysics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and trained in directing and producing Science and Natural History at the UK’s National Film and Television School. She left NFTS early, guided by a strong sense of ethics and a personal note from Sir David Attenborough encouraging her to stay true to her voice and vision. In her spare time, she skis the wildest snow winter to winter and volunteers with Girls On Ice Canada.
Gail Liang
With eight years in advertising, Gail is an accomplished short-film writer and producer, and an emerging director. As head of DM-Film, she has led commercial productions for brands including iPhone, Arc’teryx, HOKA, lululemon, Kailas, and Porsche in the Chinese market. While living in Canada in 2025, her experience at the Banff Film Festival inspired her to document reality from a fresh perspective, focusing on small, often overlooked moments in the mountains and telling quiet stories of beauty and curiosity, with outdoor sports and lifestyle as her long-term themes.
Volunteer
Volunteers are the key to the success of Bow Valley Film Institute! Friendly faces and helping hands in our community welcome patrons to the tour and help run events from screenings to connection sessions to filmmaker parties.
Volunteers receive a free screening voucher for each shift worked!
Stay up-to-date with all things BVFI Volunteering.
Volunteer registration
please contact us.