The director and writer Brian Daniel Johnson discusses his debut feature A Welcome Distraction, a Vancouver-set film, having its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and more, with Joseph Planta.
Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:
I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.
Having its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival is A Welcome Distraction, the debut feature of director and writer Brian Daniel Johnson. We spoke two weeks ago about the film that’s set in Vancouver. The film stars Simon Farrell, Madison Isolina, Adriana Marchand, and Liam McCulley, among others. In the film, Ernest played by Farrell, is a wayward twenty-something living in Vancouver, having come here from elsewhere. Despite a family tragedy, he tries to avoid family. He goes hiking and is captivated by Mallory, played by Isolina, and soon falls into her friend group, which might be a cult. We see Ernest navigate the seasons in Vancouver, in beautifully shot scenes of Metro Vancouver covered in snow amidst the backdrop of the mountains, as well as in the warmth of those days when it doesn’t rain as much. I’ll ask Mr. Johnson about shooting in Vancouver, setting the story here, and the feelings the film evokes in visitors or transients or lifelong Vancouverites. Brian Johnson is an American writer and director, known for his music video work with Vancouver artist Haley Blais, as well as his short films After Dinner (2020) and Side Walks (2022), the latter of which received a nomination for the Best of BC award at the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival. He is also a film editor and short story writer. Visit www.briandanieljohnson.com for more information. And visit www.viff.org for tickets to the film which debuts Thursday night (06 October 2025) at The Cinematheque, with additional screenings Saturday and Sunday (11, 12 October 2025). Mr. Johnson joined me from California. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Brian Johnson; Mr. Johnson, good morning.
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