11:30 AM
to 12:30 PM PT
Tue, Oct 6
Guest speaker
Indie distribution
A Catalyst session on independent distribution: building an audience before the film exists, and turning social traction into buyer interest.
Granville Island, Vancouver
Rags 2 Richmond at
Vancouver International Film Festival
VIFF 2026, Catalyst programme
6
Tuesday, October
Vancouver, Canada
Our session
Why we're there
Rags 2 Richmond was shot in Richmond and Vancouver with local talent. We’re back home to share how a microdrama built its own route to distribution.
About VIFF
VIFF’s 45th edition. Catalyst is the VIFF Institute programme for emerging filmmakers from the Lower Mainland, with sessions running through the festival.
Oct 1–11, 2026
One of the world’s first microdramas to be adapted into a feature film.
An aspiring singer enters a controversial Asian male beauty pageant against his better judgement, and stumbles into overnight fame on an innocent lie. As the spotlight grows and the secret behind his star factor starts to crack, he has to figure out who he actually is — and find the courage to let the world hear it.
- views for the vertical series in its first month
- 9M+views for the vertical series in its first month
- episodes in the original microdrama
- 28episodes in the original microdrama
- Hong Kong solo artist on MBC Show! Music Core, with "Low Key"
- 1stHong Kong solo artist on MBC Show! Music Core, with "Low Key"
- formats from one IP: series, film, unscripted, music
- 4formats from one IP: series, film, unscripted, music