Vancouver Foreign, Documentary and Independent Cinema Group

Let's Watch Guy Maddin's odd film MY WINNIPEG

Wed, Aug 26 · 6:30 PM PDT

Mystery Location, I'll msg you the exact location, Vancouver, BC, CA

Want to join me for Cdn Guy Maddin's experimental docu-fantasia film MY WINNIPEG on Wed? Trailer: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8hqmju

**warning - this will be weird. Be ready for something completely different in a venue that's also completely different.

What can you expect?
Maddin structured the doc around a metafictional plot where an actor playing "Guy Maddin" attempts to film his way out of the frozen city. He rents out his former home & hires actors to play his family in recreations of scenes from his youth. He documents facts & myths about Winnipeg; a Winnipeg hockey arena demolition, ghosts of frozen horse heads returning in winter, & 'If Day' (a faked Nazi invasion of the city mounted during World War II to promote war bonds).

My Winnipeg received the award for Best Canadian Feature Film (2007 TIFF) & Best Doc from the 2008 San Fran Film Critics Circle.

Note:

• The Theatre is downtown Vancouver & a 12 min-ish walk from Canada Line & skytrain & close to Honeybrew Strudel Bar. The walls are painted black & the seats will prob be uncomfortable. But there will be snacks.
• There will likely be a line up to get into the theatre as the seats are first come, first served. There are only 40 seats.
• This is an event that is aimed at local filmmakers, hence me not widely sharing details. But it's fine for us to go.
• The space is wheel-chair friendly & has gender neutral bathrooms.

I’ll try to grab seats in the middle of the thtr towards the right side, look for my baseball cap & red hair.

SIGNING UP FOR THIS MEETUP DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU WILL GET IN. YOU WILL NEED TO ARRIVE EARLY & WAIT IN LINE. I WILL SEND YOU A MESSAGE WITH THE EXACT LOCATION.

After, if there's interest we'll go to Honeybrew Strudel Bar on Davie for a drink or snack to chat about the film on their deck(yes they have nice strudel)

I hope you can join us! :)

Ocean Film Fest World Tour 2026 - Short Docs

Thu, Sep 17 · 6:30 PM PDT

Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC, CA

Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFw1zWRRzaI The Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2026 is coming up!

"A breathtaking series of short films that take us through the world's most spectacular marine environments, capturing the raw beauty, untamed power, and majesty of our oceans."

We've gone the past 2 yrs & really liked it, so we're going again.

More info/BUY tix($28.05 or less): https://events.humanitix.com/ocean-film-festival-world-tour-2026-vancouver-thurs-17-sept-7pm. They are general admission seats.

Note I was able to get a discount for our members. Msg me directly to get the discount code. If you haven't paid your 2026 member dues($5) yet & would like to, msg me for etransfer info.

We'll plan to meet by 620 pm-ish in front of the KFC located across the street, then we'll cross the road to lineup to get in the thtr. There usually are some interesting display tables in the lobby to look at. We'll aim to get seats in Row K &/or L on the West (left) side or middle of the thtre by 645ish.

If you arrive later & want to sit with the group, look for us in Rows K & L and read the Comments for an update re location.

***This event sold out last time & was very crowded***

Afterwards, if there's interest we'll walk down to a nearby casual cafe for a quick drink & chat if time allows(they close at 11)

This event will be a combo of speakers & films, not just films.

If you're driving, note that there is construction & the parking is limited near the thtr. I recommend parking on the West side of Lonsdale on W. 22nd, 21st or 20th St if you can.

More fun things:
*On Fri, Oct 2, there is ANOTHER (new) different Ocean Film Fest, believe it or not. It's called Our Ocean Fest & has a Canadian focus & is Canadian-produced. https://www.ouroceanfilmfest.ca/tickets Msg me for our members code to get a free tkt! Yes, FREE. Note I'm not sure yet if I can go due to VIFF being on at the same time.
*The big Vancouver Film Fest runs Oct 1 to 11. Mark your calendars!

See Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde at the Orpheum ($26+)

Mon, Oct 26 · 6:45 PM PDT

The Orpheum, 601 Smithe St, Vancouver, BC, CA

Let’s see a 1920 classic psychological thriller to get in the mood for Halloween & learn about the silent film era! At the stunning Orpheum theatre on a huge screen with a rare Wurlitzer organ playing along.

Set in late Victorian London, the film portrays the tragic consequences of a doctor's experiments in separating the dual personalities he thinks define all humans: one good, the other evil.[

The 1920 film stars John Barrymore as the dr whose experiment releases his cruel alter ego Mr. Hyde, an increasingly difficult to control persona.

An entertaining watch & chance to see this classic as it was meant to be seen.

Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesSilentFilmFestival/videos/1010943470018198/ (note the accompanist reference & screen date aren't accurate)

This black & white film will be followed by Vancouver Film School hosting a short lively talk about the movie and silent film history.

Please RSVP to this event AFTER you have bought a ticket & have a seat #.

730 pm Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde film (80 mins plus seminar after) More info/buy tix: https://www.ticketmaster.ca/silent-movie-mondays-dr-jekyll-and-vancouver-british-columbia-10-26-2026/event/110064F0A03D65BD

To join our group:

1. #1. Buy your own tkt ($25.85 or more). I’m in LORCH Row 24, Seat #33 and there are seats available nearby. (If on your cell, switch to 'Map' view, click/unclick on the dots to see row #s) I suggest looking for seats in Row 24 or Row 25(seats 30 to 36) Look at the photo below, aim for seats near the black dot area.
2. #2. RSVP to this event & write your Row & Seat # in the sign-up questions.
3. #3. Get to the theatre 645 pmish if you'd like to meet the group/chat. Find us in the Westcoast Energy Hall Lounge, towards the window side(up the stairs from the gift shop). I'll post what I'm wearing that day so you can find me. Some people like to dress up.

*It's a Mon & a worknight, so if you can't stick around for the seminar after the film that's totally ok. :) *

The evening will also feature a live Jazz Band in the lobby 1 hour before the show and popcorn & drinks specials.

This is an immersive experience with dramatic music played live on the last historic organ in Canada still performing in its original home. Last season's Silent Film nights were great, so we're doing it again.

Keith Blackmore of Vancouver Film School will host the discussion about the film afterwards.

I hope you can come to this special night out! :)

Some interesting film facts:
*Based on an 1886 gothic horror novella https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Case_of_Dr_Jekyll_and_Mr_Hyde
The novella was turned into a stage play, then a screenplay
*"Jekyll begins to live a double life: by day a compassionate and gentlemanly doctor, and by night a lustful, hunchbacked creature who ventures out to opium dens, bars, and music halls to satisfy his "dark indulgences".
*An especially remarkable feature of the silent film is Barrymore’s first transformation into Hyde, performed largely by contorting his face and body rather than relying on makeup or camera effects.

**A friendly reminder this meetup group has membership dues of $5 a yr to cover the subscription fee charged by meetup. If you enjoy receiving these film notices, here's how to pay your $5 dues for 2026: 1. You can give your organizer $5 cash at your next meetup. They will put a note in the meetup Comments re your payment. 2. You can etransfer me (Karen K) directly. Msg me for details**