Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, with Charles Dance and Christoph Waltz.

"The Toronto-filmed epic is a thing of grotesque beauty, body horror of such operatic spectacle and emotional impact, it makes you want to applaud with two severed hands." (Toronto Star)

"Del Toro throws everything he can at the screen. 'Frankenstein' is loud, bombastic, sublime and silly. This is a universe in which towers totter above precipices, cellars drip hollowly and women wear impossible dresses in the snow." (Time Out)

Friday, November 14
Doors 2:00 pm | Movie 2:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FRANKENSTEIN (Guillermo del Toro, 2025 / 150 mins / 14A) A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

"You built a time machine.... Out of a DeLorean?"

Great Scott! We thought the time was right to to go back, way back, to 1985... And revisit Robert Zemeckis' original 80s classic, BACK TO THE FUTURE. But we're not just screening the original BACK TO THE FUTURE.

Michael J. Fox stars as Marty McFly, a typical suburban teenager (circa 1985) who accidentally travels back in time - to 1955! Cue an amazing soundtrack featuring Huey Lewis and the News, Doc Brown, some angry Libyans, the Enchantment Under the Sea dance, and the horror of getting to know your parents as... kids. (No further exposition necessary - you know the story!) Also starring Lea Thompson, Christopher Lloyd, and Crispin Glover.

Friday, November 14
Doors 5:15 pm | Movie 5:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

BACK TO THE FUTURE (Robert Zemeckis, 1985 / 116 mins / PG) A young man is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence.

A missing patient. A demonic hamster. A cosmic hole in the bedroom ceiling. For Linda (Rose Byrne), life is a series of surreal catastrophes pointing to her failure as a working mother, and even her therapist (Conan O’Brien) is getting sick of her. Displaced in a purgatorial motel while her husband (Christian Slater) is away on business, Linda turns to weed, white wine, and holotropic breathing to cope with the bottomless void of need that is her daughter’s mysterious illness.

Shot on 35mm film, this darkly humorous psychological drama from writer-director-actor Mary Bronstein (YEAST) immerses us in Linda’s unraveling mental state as her heightened world collapses on itself. Drenched in anxiety and desperate fury, Rose Byrne’s top-notch performance is complemented by impeccable comedic timing from editor Lucian Johnston (MIDSOMMAR). Through extreme close-ups, a nerve-wracking soundscape, eerie ambient lighting, and visceral practical effects, IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU reflects the frantic perspective of a mother at the end of her rope.

"'If I Had Legs' aims high, and hits harder than most this year – a film guaranteed to knock the breath out of you." (Little White Lies)

"It’s the kind of film that makes you want to call your own mother and apologize." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

Friday, November 14
Doors 8:00 pm | Movie 8:20 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU (Mary Bronstein, 2025 / 113 mins / 14A) With her life crashing down around her, Linda attempts to navigate her child's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.

The Rio Theatre's Friday Late Night Movie series continues on with a screening of one of our favourite and most frequently requested titles - the bizarro 70's Japanese cult-classic oddity that is HOUSE ("Hausu").

Some movies can't be explained; they need to be experienced. HOUSE is one of those movies. (Trust.)

How to describe Nobuhiko Obayashi’s indescribable 1977 movie HOUSE? As a psychedelic ghost tale? A stream-of-consciousness bedtime story? An episode of 'Scooby-Doo' as directed by Mario Bava? Any of the above will do for this hallucinatory head trip about a schoolgirl who travels with six classmates to her ailing aunt’s creaky country home who comes face-to-face with evil spirits, a demonic house cat, a bloodthirsty piano, and other ghoulish visions, all realized by Obayashi via mattes, animation, and collage effects. Equally absurd and nightmarish, HOUSE might have been beamed to Earth from some other planet.

"The best thing in this wild assemblage of collage and cartoon and fairy tale is that the girls, when they're eaten, scream with glee as their cut-out body parts spin around the frame. It's cannibalism as the ultimate kiddie ride." (Vulture)

Friday, November 14
Doors 10:30 pm | Movie 11:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

LATE NIGHT DATE NIGHT! Bring a friend, date, or pal and get two-for-one entry to this film!

HOUSE "Hausu" (Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977 / 88 mins / NR / Japanese with English subtitles) In an effort to avoid spending time with her father and his creepy new lover, young Gorgeous (Kimiko Ikegami) resolves to visit her aunt's remote mansion. With six of her closest friends in tow, including the musically inclined Melody (Eriko Tanaka) and the geeky Prof (Ai Matsubara), Gorgeous arrives at the estate, where supernatural events occur almost immediately. A severed head takes flight, household appliances come to life and a portrait of a cat seems to contain an evil spirit.

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, with Charles Dance and Christoph Waltz.

"The Toronto-filmed epic is a thing of grotesque beauty, body horror of such operatic spectacle and emotional impact, it makes you want to applaud with two severed hands." (Toronto Star)

"Del Toro throws everything he can at the screen. 'Frankenstein' is loud, bombastic, sublime and silly. This is a universe in which towers totter above precipices, cellars drip hollowly and women wear impossible dresses in the snow." (Time Out)

Saturday, November 15
Doors 11:30 am | Movie 12:05 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FRANKENSTEIN (Guillermo del Toro, 2025 / 150 mins / 14A) A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

The promising and confident directorial debut of acclaimed actor Harris Dickinson (BABYGIRL, TRIANGLE OF SADNESS), URCHIN. The film had its world premiere at this years Cannes Film Festival where Dickinson won the prestigious FIPRESCI Prize, and Frank Dillane won Best Actor in the Un Certain Regard section.

Mike, a rough sleeper in London, is caught in a cycle of self-destruction as he tries to turn his life around. Drifting through hostels, shelters, and the streets, his days are shaped by fleeting encounters and fractured attempts at stability. As he struggles with addiction and the ghosts of his past, moments of absurdity and tenderness reveal the fragile hope that keeps him moving forward. Raw and darkly comic, Urchin is a story about the strange patterns that hold us back—and the fragile possibility of escape

FIPRESCI PRIZE and BEST ACTOR AWARD, UN CERTAIN REGARD , CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2025

Saturday, November 15
Doors 2:45 pm | Movie 3:10 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

URCHIN (Harris Dickinson, 2025 / 100 mins / PG) On the streets of London, Mike is hustling to get by. Roadside evangelizers won't let him sleep in peace, his slippery friend won't pay up the money he stole, and before long, he finds himself in trouble with the law. As he struggles to reintegrate into society, shuffling between gigs as a line cook and a trash collector, he must balance a newfound sense of community with his own itch for self-destruction.

Forever. Begins. Now.

We're sinking our teeth into one of the most beloved, most requested franchises we've had lately, so whether you're #TeamJacob or #TeamEdward, get ready to bring on all the the heated sidelong glances and moments of sparkling, yet awkward silences as we revisit the TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON.

High-school student Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), always a bit of a misfit, doesn't expect life to change much when she moves from sunny Arizona to rainy Washington state. Then she meets Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a handsome but mysterious teen whose eyes seem to peer directly into her soul. Edward is a vampire whose family does not drink blood, and Bella, far from being frightened, enters into a dangerous romance with her immortal soulmate.

"Fifteen years after its release, 'Twilight' stands as a powerful, darkly stylish depiction of teen female desire." (Refinery 29)

"The two hormonal teenagers sizzle like sausages in a frying pan. The supernatural stunts don't disappoint. Neither does the deadpan wit." (Times UK)

Saturday, November 15
Doors 10:30 pm | Movie 11:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

All tickets just $12!

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (Chris Weitz, 2009 / 130 mins / PG) Edward leaves Bella after an attack that nearly claimed her life, and, in her depression, she falls into yet another difficult relationship - this time with her close friend, Jacob Black.

This is the story of Jean-Luc Godard making BREATHLESS, told in the style and spirit in which Jean-Luc Godard made BREATHLESS.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Richard Linklater (BOYHOOD, DAZED AND CONFUSED) has crafted a playful, poignant love letter to cinema with NOUVELLE VAGUE, which ably reimagines the making of Godard’s landmark vérité BREATHLESS, in an exuberant exploration of the youthful rebellion and creative chaos that shaped the French New Wave. With Zoey Deutch, Guillaume Marbeck, and Aubry Dullin.

"Absolutely delightful!" (FilmWeek)

"Coming just a couple of years after Godard’s death, the movie is partly a memorial of a very specific moment of possibility, but its verve is an invitation to do it yourself, too." (Sight & Sound)

"'Nouvelle Vague' darts forward at the effervescent pace of the cultural youth movement it chronicles." (Slate)

"'[Nouvelle Vague]' apes the joie de moviemaking and the jazzy looseness of the original to an absolutely amazing degree, replicating an off-the-cuff feeling that’s more than a second-hand buzz. It’s the most blissful time spent in the dark you can imagine." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

"It’s the origin story of Godard, and, in a way, of himself. Even more importantly, it’s a manual for what Linklater hopes will be a fresh wave of talent storming the shore any minute. (I’m counting on it.)" (Los Angeles Times)

"“Nouvelle Vague” isn’t a portrait of Godard by Linklater but a feature-length thank-you note, from Richard to Jean-Luc, for freeing him to make films his own way." (The New Yorker)

Sunday, November 16
Doors 2:15 pm | Movie 2:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

NOUVELLE VAGUE (Richard Linklater, 2025 / 106 mins / 14A / English and French w. EST) After writing for Cahiers du cinéma, aspiring French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard decides making films is the best film criticism. He finds funding for a low-budget feature, creating a treatment with François Truffaut about a gangster couple.

The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) been celebrating bicycles through art, film and music over the last 24 years. BFF spanned the world in over 100 cities worldwide to an audience of over one million people.

BFF Vancouver presents two short film programs: Cycle for Change and Cinematic. These short films appeal to a wide audience from film connoisseurs to avid cyclists and everyone in between. Curated documentaries, narratives, animations, award-winning directors, and emerging talents – all sharing equal billing.

Presented by HUB Cycling

Wednesday, November 19
Program 1: Cycle For Change
Doors 5:15 pm | Show 6:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Program 2: Cinematic
Show 8:30 pm

Single Program: (Sliding Scale): $20 / $25 / $30 + s/c
Double Bill: $50 + s/c

The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) been celebrating bicycles through art, film and music over the last 24 years. BFF spanned the world in over 100 cities worldwide to an audience of over one million people.

BFF Vancouver presents two short film programs: Cycle for Change and Cinematic. These short films appeal to a wide audience from film connoisseurs to avid cyclists and everyone in between. Curated documentaries, narratives, animations, award-winning directors, and emerging talents – all sharing equal billing.

Presented by HUB Cycling

Wednesday, November 19
8:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Program 2: Cinematic
(Sliding Scale): $20 / $25 / $30 + s/c

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, with Charles Dance and Christoph Waltz.

"The Toronto-filmed epic is a thing of grotesque beauty, body horror of such operatic spectacle and emotional impact, it makes you want to applaud with two severed hands." (Toronto Star)

"Del Toro throws everything he can at the screen. 'Frankenstein' is loud, bombastic, sublime and silly. This is a universe in which towers totter above precipices, cellars drip hollowly and women wear impossible dresses in the snow." (Time Out)

Thursday, November 20
Doors 5:45 pm | Movie 6:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FRANKENSTEIN (Guillermo del Toro, 2025 / 150 mins / 14A) A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

A woman's obsessive search for her missing sister leads her into a terrifying mystery at the hands of an unknown evil. With Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, and Michael Beach.

"It’s lean as a hellhound." (Austin Chronicle)

"Pacy, clever, and most importantly, creepy as all hell; Shelby Oaks both is and isn’t what you’re expecting, announcing Chris Stuckmann as a very promising new voice in horror." (HeyUGuys)

"The edge-of-your-seat thrills, impeccable sound design, thoughtfully crafted cinematography, and powerhouse performances bring to life the tragic tale of Riley Brennan in a feature that is sure to become a must-watch for all horror fans." (FILMHOUNDS Magazine)

"Chris Stuckmann makes his directorial debut with a film that blends horror documentary, found footage, and narrative feature into a singular vision." (Loud and Clear Reviews)

"Newer genre fans will likely respond to Shelby Oaks with big smiles on their faces. It’s a very well-made film, with plenty of clever twists and turns and no real lulls in the increasingly complex narrative." (ScreenAnarchy)

"There is an era of Aughts horror, brimming with creepypasta web stories, short-form scary films, and rentable DVD rip-offs and reboots, that hasn’t received the same reverence as other time periods. And Stuckmann plays in that time period well." (Fangoria)

Thursday, November 20
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

SHELBY OAKS (Chris Stuckman, 2025 / 99 mins / 14A) A woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real.

How-dyyyyyyy!

The legendary East Van Opry! 2025 will mark the 12th anniversary of this unstoppable live music event that celebrates "country" music - with a decidedly East Van twist, featuring performances from a host of your favourite local artists and special guests. Full Lineup Coming Soon!

Soooie! If one night of country isn't enough to fill your trough, how about three full nights of back-to-back-to-back heel stompin' fun at three of Vancouver's most iconic venues. See all three shows for one heck of a deal with the East Van Opry Weekend Pass!

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EAST VAN OPRY WEEKEND PASS
Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 23

All three shows at all three different venues.

Save $10 with Early Bird tickets. Limited availability.

Early Bird, General Admission - $90 + s/c
General Admission - $100 + s/c

single event tickets also available

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East Van Opry presents Friday Night Dance
Friday, November 21 @ WISE HALL
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Two steppin', Square Dancing, Jigging and more!

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The East Van Opry XII
Saturday, November 22 @ RIO THEATRE
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

The dance floor is open and so is the saloon. Boot scoot your booty to the live performances then on up to the bar for a cold one.

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East Van Opry presents Stringband Sundae: Who Will Sing For Me?
Sunday, November 23 @ ANZA CLUB
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Vancouver's finest bluegrass and old time pickers band together for a superstar lineup of Stringband Sundae, and present to you their favourite singers in the west. Come feast your ears on this special presentation of Stringband Sundae with all the extra toppings!

How-dyyyyyyy!

This November marks the return of the legendary East Van Opry! 2025 will mark the 12th anniversary of this unstoppable live music event that celebrates "country" music - with a decidedly East Van twist, featuring performances from a host of your favourite local artists and special guests. Full Lineup Coming Soon!

Soooie! If one night of country isn't enough to fill your trough, how about three full nights of back-to-back-to-back heel stompin' fun at three of Vancouver's most iconic venues. See all three shows for one heck of a deal with the East Van Opry Weekend Pass!

EAST VAN OPRY WEEKEND PASS
Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 23

All three shows at all three different venues.

Save $10 with Early Bird tickets. Limited availability.

Early Bird, General Admission - $90 + s/c
General Admission - $100 + s/c
Tickets here: https://riotheatretickets.ca/events/38962-east-van-opry-weekend-pass

East Van Opry presents Friday Night Dance
Friday, November 21 @ WISE HALL
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Two steppin', Square Dancing, Jigging and more!

General Admission - $20 + s/c

A copious cavalcade of top notch talent and captivating cabaret await at The Rio Theatre Burlesque & Variety Show on Friday, November 21!

Local luminary April O’Peel has curated a show full of wonder sure to dazzle and delight our fun loving audience! The theme is NO THEME! That’s right! These talented performers will each be performing one act of their choosing! What act will they decide to bring to The Rio Theatre Burlesque & Variety Show!? Find out on Friday, November 21 as these stars align for one night only!

Friday, November 21
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird Until November 1 $20+ s/c
General Admission $30 + s/c | $35 + s/c at the door
VIP tickets (Rows 1-3, centre section) $40+ s/c
Squad Pass (Group of Four Tickets – online only) $100+ s/c

With Featured Performances By:
April O'Peel | Bonnie Voyage | Meadow Phorical | Misty Moss | Peter Packer | Rosie Thornbush | Shane Sable | Terra Nova | Yuki the Juggler

Hosted by The Wet Spots

Darren Aronofsky's hyperstylish REQUIEM FOR A DREAM is a lucid and devastating fever dream of a film, with a deliberately frenzied and kinetic pace that draws its audience down the very spirals experienced by the protagonists' own horrific descent into addictive behaviours. Imaginatively evoking the inner landscape of human beings longing to connect, to love and feel loved, the Aronofksy's masterwork is a parable of happiness gloriously found, and tragically lost.

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM tells parallel stories that are linked by the relationship between the lonely, widowed Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn, in an Oscar-nominated performance) and her sweet but aimless son, Harry. The plump Sara, galvanized by the prospect of appearing on a TV game show, has started on a dangerous diet regimen to beautify herself for a national audience. With Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans, Jennifer Connelly, Louise Lasser, and Christopher McDonald.

"It may be too much for some viewers to take, but no one ever said addiction is pretty. And [director] Darren Aronofsky earns every right to his excesses by making sure audiences feel the loss of humanity instead of treating them like spectators at a freak show." (Fangoria)

"Clearly influenced by the cut-and-paste of hip-hop, Requiem stokes and builds its tragic momentum like an expertly mixed dance cut, the kind that catches you so seductively in its rhythms you'll follow it anywhere... " (Toronto Star)

"...'Requiem For A Dream' is so efficiently devastating that it resonates like the echo of a dying scream. Beautifully executed, but spine-jarringly uncomfortable stuff." (Total Film)

"What makes this gruesome tale of woe worthwhile is its raw cautionary power. Be warned - despite the funky style, this film will repulse as well as compel." (Film4)

Friday, November 21
Doors 11:00 pm | Movie 11:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Late Night Date Night! Bring a friend or movie-loving pal and get two-for-one entry!

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (Darren Aronofsky, 2025 / 102 mins / R) The drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island people are shattered when their addictions run deep.

“Jerry on Top” is a Nepali drama-romance film that follows Jerry, a privileged young man determined to prove himself to his father by climbing Mount Everest. After failing the climb and faking his success, his lie triggers a family crisis that pushes him toward the real journey. What begins as an attempt to repair his reputation turns into a personal battle for growth, complicated by a romantic conflict between his girlfriend and a Sherpa guide. The film traces Jerry’s emotional and physical transformation as he learns responsibility, courage, and self-awareness.

Presented in Nepali with EST.

Saturday, November 22
Doors 11:00 am | Movie 11:30 am *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adult Assigned $25 + s/c
Student/Youth/Seniors Assigned $20 + s/c

JERRY ON TOP (Suyog Gurong, 2025 / 180 mins Nepali w. EST / NR) Jerry, the only son of famous business tycoon, Vijay; is never truly acknowledged and trusted prejudicing him far lack of matureness- is engaged to Shreya. However, one day he comes up with an idea of summitting the Everest, unaware of the problems coming to his family and his love-life.

How-dyyyyyyy!

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, November 22 for one of our favourite annual events - The legendary East Van Opry! 2025 will mark the 12th anniversary of this unstoppable live music event that celebrates "country" music - with a decidedly East Van twist, featuring performances from a host of your favourite local artists and special guests. Full Lineup Coming Soon!

Soooie! If one night of country isn't enough to fill your trough, how about three full nights of back-to-back-to-back heel stompin' fun at three of Vancouver's most iconic venues. See all three shows for one heck of a deal with the East Van Opry Weekend Pass!

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EAST VAN OPRY WEEKEND PASS
Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 23

All three shows at all three different venues.

Save $10 with Early Bird tickets. Limited availability.

Early Bird, General Admission - $90 + s/c
General Admission - $100 + s/c
Tickets here: https://riotheatretickets.ca/events/38962-east-van-opry-weekend-pass

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The East Van Opry XII
Saturday, November 22 @ RIO THEATRE
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

The dance floor is open and so is the saloon. Boot scoot your booty to the live performances then on up to the bar for a cold one.

Save $3 with Early Bird tickets available till midnight, October 31!

Early Bird, General Admission - $37 + s/c
General Admission - $40 + s/c

SAINTS AND WARRIORS is the epic and inspiring story of how basketball became not only an obsession, but a means for survival for the Haida people and their culture on the remote Indigenous Nation of Haida Gwaii on the northwest coast of Canada, near Alaska.

Over the course of the 2023-24 basketball season, we follow the legendary Haida basketball team the Skidegate Saints who have dominated the iconic All Native Basketball Tournament for the past decade. As aging team leaders Desi Collinson, Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, and Duane Alsop attempt to defend their title, the surprising defection of star teammate Jesse Barnes to a rival big city team sets local heroes on a collision course in a dramatic championship game.

Meanwhile, leading members of the Saints team are also leaders of the Haida government who are fighting a decades long court battle with the provincial and federal government to take back Aboriginal title of their land from the governments that stole their land with the Indian Act of 1876. These intertwining battles on and off the court showcase the stunning role that "a silly game of putting the ball in the hoop"
plays in Haida Gwaii as a tool for political action, community leadership, and the survival of culture.

"As compassionate and patient as it is compelling in the final stretch, Saints and Warriors is the type of incisive documentary that finds its greatest impact in telling marginalized peoples’ stories." (Willamette Week)

Director Patrick Shannon (an OG Rio Theatre employee!) will be on site for an introduction and post-show Q&A. The first 50 guests on site will receive a complimentary medium fountain beverage and popcorn.

Sunday, November 23
Doors 12:00 pm | Movie 12:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

SAINTS AND WARRIORS (Patrick Shannon, 2025 / 99 mins / PG) Leaders of iconic Indigenous basketball team, the Skidegate Saints as they compete for two titles - defending their championship title at the 2024 All Native Basketball Tournament, and the political title battle for their lands and waters.

The best new climbing films from the UK – epic ascents, big laughs, and gripping stories that’ll leave you buzzing for your next adventure.

Sunday, November 23
Doors 2:45 pm | Event 3:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

LITTLE WINGS (25 mins)

For 5'2” Tina Breslin, the tallest lines bring the greatest solace. Tina was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and highballs are her escape from an overactive mind. We follow Tina's climbing year as she tours stunning lines in North Yorkshire and the Lakes, supported by her partner Ian Henderson – a 6'4 giant who provides no useful beta! Tina's severe lack of reach and her neurological state provide ever-present challenges that Tina never shies from. This film is a sweet and charming exploration of the mental benefits of climbing, and of the focus that can be found in commitment. In the grand conclusion, the stakes are raised when Tina attempts 'Hang the Gallows High', a route where falling is not an option.

GAME OF STONES (90 mins)

2025 proved to be one of the best trad climbing years in living memory, and filmmaker Al Lee has been on a mission to document its most incredible ascents. Game of Stones celebrates UK trad climbing in all its glory – the colourful characters, the rich history, the thrilling lines, the awesome climbing!

Highlights include:

Jaw-dropping onsights from the likes of Siebe Vanhee, Robbie Phillips, Steve McClure and Mat Wright.
First ascents from Ferdia Earle, Ian Cooper and Franco Cookson.
Super-impressive hard repeats from Billy Rydal (Rhapsody E11 7a) and Katie Keely (Always the Sun, E7 6b)
Blind climber Jess Dufton making his most impressive ‘non-sight’ to date with an ascent of the Pembroke route ‘Howling Gale’, E3 6a.

This epic documentary celebrates the brilliance of British trad climbing with action from today's heroes, but also with an eye on the history and ethics that make UK trad unique. Cameos from Zoe Wood, John Dunne and Tanya Meridith all help paint an entertaining and vibrant picture of today's trad climbing scene.

The film unfolds across some of the UK's most amazing locations, from the Cuillins to Pembroke, from Sca Fell to North Wales and from Ben Loyal to Yorkshire limestone.

Strap in for another classic to rival anything in the BritRock canon.

How-dyyyyyyy!

This November marks the return of Vancouver's favourite annual events - The legendary East Van Opry! 2025 will mark the 12th anniversary of this unstoppable live music event that celebrates "country" music - with a decidedly East Van twist, featuring performances from a host of your favourite local artists and special guests. Full Lineup Coming Soon!

Soooie! If one night of country isn't enough to fill your trough, how about three full nights of back-to-back-to-back heel stompin' fun at three of Vancouver's most iconic venues. See all three shows for one heck of a deal with the East Van Opry Weekend Pass!

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EAST VAN OPRY WEEKEND PASS
Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 23

All three shows at all three different venues.

Save $10 with Early Bird tickets. Limited availability.

Early Bird, General Admission - $90 + s/c
General Admission - $100 + s/c
Tickets here: https://riotheatretickets.ca/events/38962-east-van-opry-weekend-pass

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East Van Opry presents Stringband Sundae: Who Will Sing For Me?
Sunday, November 23 @ ANZA CLUB
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Vancouver's finest bluegrass and old time pickers band together for a superstar lineup of Stringband Sundae, and present to you their favourite singers in the west. Come feast your ears on this special presentation of Stringband Sundae with all the extra toppings!

General Admission - $40 + s/c

Iron Dog Books and Black Bond Books/Book Warehouse are proud to bring you An Evening with Travis Baldree to celebrate the launch of Brigands & Breadknives. A TikTok sensation and instant bestseller, the Legends & Lattes series brings you beloved stories of cozy high fantasy, and Brigands & Breadknives promises to be just as charming. This evening will provide deeper insight into Travis Baldree’s writing through a presentation by the author and pre-submitted audience question period.

Ticket price includes a signed paperback copy of Brigands & Breadknives, with an additional opportunity to meet Travis Baldree and get a personalized signature after the event.

Ticket purchasers will be contacted ahead of the event for the opportunity to submit questions.

Monday, November 24
Doors 6:00 pm | Event at 7:00 pm

Tickets $42+ s/c Includes a pre-signed book

Tickets on sale 10:30 am on October 10

An eccentric documentary crew treks across the vast roadways of Alberta, Canada, to document monuments, museums, and other roadside curios. Armed with only a loose idea of the project’s final form, the wayward director struggles to manage a slew of messy personal
entanglements and rivalries embroiling her collaborators. They look for meaning in the landscape, but their search turns inward as they’re inspired to reckon with their own lives.

Directed with a light touch, this charming cross-country odyssey is part revisionist Western and part road movie. Punctuated by moments of extraordinary tenderness and unexpected violence, it invokes poetry, magic, and prayer to imagine a radical, caring form of wildness on the Canadian frontier. With Liz Peterson, Bebe Buckskin, Ingrid Vargas, Randall Okita, Kris Demeanor, Benjamin Carson.

Filmmakers including Director Alexander Carson and David Ehrenreich (DOP) in attendance for Q&A.

Tuesday, November 25
Doors 5:45 pm | Movie 6:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

ALBERTA NUMBER ONE (Alexander Carson, 2025 / 83 mins / NR) Alberta Number One is a contemporary revisionist Western. Instead of guns, the characters brandish movie cameras and microphones as they explore the disjointed, sometimes dangerous "wild west" of Alberta, Canada's museums and roadside attractions.

The Kingdom of Abraxeon has fallen under siege by the Dreadites, a scourge of bloodthirsty demonic warriors said to herald the return of the sinister, ancient sorcerer Nekromemnon. The titular Deathstalker (martial artist and legendary stuntman Daniel Bernhardt) is a lone wolf who survives by scavenging the corpses strewn about the battlefields. After recovering a mysterious amulet, he becomes cursed by an arcane magick, sending him on a quest to remove the curse and rid the realm of evil.

Inventive practical effects take center stage in FX wizard Steven Kostanski’s (PSYCHO GOREMAN, MANBORG) thrilling reboot of the 80s cult classic sword-and-sorcery film series. Featuring animatronic demons, rubber masked trolls, stop-motion skeletons, copious amounts of blood, and a hard rock theme song composed by Slash (who is also a producer of the film), DEATHSTALKER is a heavy metal hack-and-slash adventure that offers something for gorehounds, fantasy nerds, and anybody looking for a big dose of direct-to-video nostalgia.

"It’s a playground for the filmmakers and audience alike, a fantastical space where anything can happen, whether it’s silly or badass or both." (The Wrap)

"With 'Deathstalker', Kostanski attempts to bring his loose, gleeful style to the sword and sorcery genre, and mostly succeeds, giving us another midnight movie essential." (AV Club)

Tuesday, November 25
Doors 8:45 pm | Movie 9:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

DEATHSTALKER (The Kingdom of Abraxeon is under siege by the Dreadites, heralds of the long-dead sorcerer Nekromemnon. When Deathstalker recovers a cursed amulet from a corpse-strewn battlefield, he's marked by dark magick and hunted by monstrous assassins. To survive, he must break the curse and face the rising evil. Death is just the beginning... of great adventure!

What kind of woman do you become when your dad’s “The Butcher”, your uncle is a “Mad Dog” and your godfather is André “The Giant”? ... A LUNATIC!

LUNATIC is the story of Canadian-American women’s wrestler-turned WWF villain, Trudy Vachon. But you may know her best as the leather studded, growly voiced, mohawk wearing in-ring persona, Luna ‘The Lunatic’ Vachon.

Raised in Montreal by a family of wrestling legends, wrestling was her first love. And like most first loves, her parents weren’t thrilled that their little girl fell so deep. Reaching the peak of her fame in the 90s, she paved the way for a new generation of women wrestlers and started a global movement which put womenon a more level playing field and earned them as much respect as their male counterparts. Luna aimed to be the biggest, baddest wrestling villain that ever lived. But despite her successes, both her stage persona and reality started to blur. The guilt of abandoning her two sons to pursue her dream job, being diagnosed as bipolar, abuse, and addiction would prove too much. While the crowd yelled out ‘Lunatic’ to her in-ring heel character, little did they know a dark cloud of mental health struggles plagued her in real-life.

Director Kate Kroll and guests including wrestlers Raven Lake and Nicole Matthews in attendance for post-screening Q&A.

Wednesday, November 26
Doors 5:45 pm | Movie 6:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

LUNATIC: The Luna Vachon Story (Kate Kroll, 2025 / 116 mins / NR) The story of WWF villain, Luna Vachon. Raised by a family of wrestling legends, wrestling was her first love. Reaching the peak of her fame in the 90s, Luna’s biggest hurdle was challenging the mainstream wrestling industry and their view on women at that time.

The RIO Theatre is proud to present

The ROYAL STRAYS album release show with very special guest ART BERGMANN

Opening the night author CHRIS WALTER reads from his upcoming book “Born Too Loose: A Messy & Incomplete History of Punk” Books!

Vinyl! CDs! T-Shirts and more available! Buy your Christmas presents here!

Thursday, November 27
Doors 7:00 pm | Movie 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

George A. Romero’s DAY OF THE DEAD, the apocalyptic final chapter of the ultimate zombie trilogy, returns for its 40th Anniversary!

Whole generations of horror lovers had never seen any of Romero’s zombie classics at a theatre or drive-in, but in November 2021 Red Band Releasing started helping book the original DAWN OF THE DEAD into venues across U.S. and Canada, eventually getting it shown in both 2-D and 3-D on over 500 screens! Now in 2025 Red Band is thrilled for the opportunity to help fellow George A. Romero fans celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the original DAY OF THE DEAD by seeing it as the legendary director intended – ON THE BIG SCREEN!

DO NOT MISS this rare chance to experience the shocks of THE DARKEST DAY OF HORROR THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN – ON THE BIG SCREEN!

When first released in 1985, many horror fans weren’t ready for the bleaker, more nihilistic and grisly horrors of DAY, particularly not after the lighter, at times comedic, action/adventure of its predecessor DAWN OF THE DEAD. Some fans didn’t understands or appreciate the change of direction, but there were several who saw what George was doing under the surface, and over the years it has been re-watched, re-experienced and re-evaluated to the point where DAY OF THE DEAD is now seen by many as one of the greatest horror movies ever made! (RED BAND RELEASING)

"The movie represents Romero's very best writing, with unusually strong characters for a gore picture." (San Francisco Chronicle)

"If you stomach can take it, you will definitely be amused by this." (L.A. Weekly)

Friday, November 28
Doors 10:30 pm | Movie 11:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Late Night Date Night! Bring a friend, pal, or zombie-loving bud and get two-for-one entry!

DAY OF THE DEAD (George A. Romero, 1985 / 101 mins / NR) The living dead regroup above while humans sweat it out below in a Florida missile silo.

Clare Voyeur presents BROADVILLE - An All-Women Comedy Variety Show! These bold, hilarious performers live and breathe the madness of showbiz! They're appearing together to bring you their best acts in stand-up comedy, circus arts, burlesque, musical comedy, clowning, and character-driven absurdity! They’ve got gimmicks, they’ve got gags, they have feats of physical agility and they sure have outrageous talent! You don’t want to miss these broads shining in the spotlight! Get your tickets today!

Saturday, November 29
Doors 7:00 PM | Event 7:30 PM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

EARLY BIRD tickets just $30 +s/c. Available until midnight November 7.

General Admission - $38 +s/c in advance | $42 +s/c at the door
VIP (first 4 rows) - $55 +s/c in advance | $60 + s/c at the door

Featuring performances by:

Shirley Gnome
Bella Bizzare
Randee Neumeyer
Lola Loops
Yumi Nagashima
Tahina Awan
Clare Voyeur

Hosted by Priscilla Costa

Presented by System Entertainment

Crna komedija koja osvaja svojim šarmom.

Sinopsis: Nakon godina zlostavljanja i poniženja, grupa stanara staračkog doma „Paviljon“ odlučuje se na oružanu pobunu. Naoružani ilegalnim sredstvima, zauzimaju dom, uzimaju osoblje za taoce i ulaze u sukob s vlastima. Njihova očajnička borba prerasta u medijski i politički spektakl, dok starost postaje njihova prednost – nemaju šta izgubiti i spremni su da idu do kraja. U „Paviljonu“ nastaje novi poredak, vođen osvetom i nakupljenim bijesom, a pregovori s pobunjenicima postaju nemogući.

Sunday, November 30
Doors: 2:45 pm | Movie 3:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

General Admission $25 +s/c

Žanr: crna komedija
Trajanje: 100 min
Godina produkcije: 2025.
Zemlja produkcije: Bosna i Hercegovina
Zemlja/e koprodukcije: Hrvatska, Sjeverna Makedonija, Srbija, Crna Gora
Format prikazivanja: DCPBoja (u boji, crno-bijelo ili oboje): u boji
Jezik: BHS
Titlovi: Engleski

Režija: Dino Mustafić
Uloge: Rade Šerbedžija, Zijah Sokolović, Miralem Zubčević, Ksenija Pajić, Jasna Diklić, Branka Petrić, Meto Jovanovski, Mirjana Karanović, Vladimir Jurc Lali, Kaća Dorić, Muhamed Bahonjić, Ivo Barišić, Ermin Bravo, Alban Ukaj, Nikša Butijer, Vedrana Božinović, Ermin Sijamija, Aleksandar Seksan, Snežana Vidović, Selma Mehanović, Zlatan Školjić, Adis Mehanović, Siniša Vidović, Faketa Salihbegović-Avdagić, Ivica Šarić, Mugdim Avdagić, Sabina Kulenović, Ana Novaković
Scenarij: Viktor Ivančić
Koscenarista: Emir Imamović Pirke
Direktor fotografije: Almir Đikoli, Mustafa Mustafić
Montaža: Vladimir Gojun
Muzika: Bojan Zulfikarpašić

PAVILJON (PAVILION) (Dino Mustafic | 2025 | 100 mins | BHS w/ EST | NR) A group of spunky seniors launch an armed rebellion against the employees of their retirement home, where they’ve been subjected to years of abuse and humiliation. Abandoned by their loved ones and left with nothing to lose, they stage an insurrection that grabs headlines, shocks the country — and proves that it’s never too late to find something worth fighting for.

The Rio Theatre is delighted to welcome writer-director Jeremy Saulnier to the venue for a 10th Anniversary screening of his white-knuckle thriller GREEN ROOM, followed by a live talk back and Q&A.

Down on their luck punk rockers The Ain’t Rights are finishing up a long and unsuccessful tour, and are about to call it quits when they get an unexpected booking at an isolated, run-down club deep in the backwoods of Oregon. What seems merely to be a third-rate gig escalates into something much more sinister when they witness an act of violence backstage that they weren’t meant to see. Now trapped backstage, they must face off against the club’s depraved owner, Darcy Banker (a quietly terrifying Sir Patrick Stewart), a man who will do anything to protect the secrets of his nefarious enterprise. But while Darcy and his henchmen think the band will be easy to get rid of, The Ain’t Rights prove themselves much more cunning and capable than anyone expected, turning the tables on their unsuspecting captors and setting the stage for the ultimate life-or-death showdown. Also starring Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat, and Imogen Poots.

"Patrick Stewart is impressive as a white supremacist in a genuinely shocking horror-thriller about a punk band’s battle with neo-Nazis." (Guardian)

"How can you resist a film that, metaphorically, throws Simon & Garfunkel, Fugazi and Slayer into the same moshpit?" (London Evening Standard)

"Smartly cast, Stewart brings an almost Shakespearean edge to the drama, delivering lines such as "all is for nought" in the manner of a theatrical king surveying the devastation of a five-act tragedy." (Observer UK)

"Green Room means business, the nastiest kind. You've been warned." (Rolling Stone)

"A riotous, rough-hewn and rousing punk reinvention of ’70s-style grindhouse exploitation-with-a-brain-cinema." (Empire)

Sunday, November 30
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

GREEN ROOM (Jeremy Saulnier, 2016 / 94 mins / 18A) Members of a punk-rock band and a tough young woman battle murderous white supremacists at a remote Oregon roadhouse.

In an underwater city, a young girl takes care of a large egg she holds carefully in her arms – a treasure that she believes is an angel’s egg. A boy with a gun arrives in search of a bird he saw in his dream. At first it seems as if feelings of sympathy are developing between the two. Then, one night, the boy crushes her precious egg.

First released directly to home video in 1985, the film is a creative collaboration between internationally acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii (GHOST IN THE SHELL), who wrote and directed the feature, and revered artist Yoshitaka Amano (FINAL FANTASY, VAMPIRE HUNTER D). The film beautifully intertwines Oshii’s thematic reflections on philosophy and theology, with Amano’s distinctive ink painting style, culminating in an arrestingly beautiful hand-drawn allegorical fantasy.

Forty years after the film’s original release, GKIDS is proud to present an all-new 4K restoration of the film, which is being supervised by director Oshii, in cinemas nationwide for the first time.

Sunday, November 30
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

ANGEL'S EGG "Tenshi no Tamago" (Mamoru Oshi, 1985 / 73 mins / 14A / Japanese w. EST) n a decaying city, a little girl takes care of a large egg which she believes was laid by an angel, and crosses paths with a gun-toting young man searching for a bird he saw in a dream.

The Rio Theatre is pleased to welcome comedian Gareth Reynolds back to our stage on Tuesday, December 2.

Tuesday, December 2
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 6:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

GARETH REYNOLDS is an internationally touring stand-up comedian whose brilliantly clever quips perfectly offset Dave Anthony’s hilarious snark on their smash-hit podcast The Dollop, which
garners over 5 Million downloads every month.

Gareth has written on ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, FLAKED and HOOPS for Netflix, as well as YOU’RE THE WORST on FX and I’M SORRY for truTV. Previous to that he wrote on the Comedy Central sitcom IDIOTSITTER, took the lead on ABC show HAIL MARY, and has been seen on IFC’s MARON.

His debut stand-up album “Riddled With Disease” released Dec. 6 2019 on Comedy Dynamics and reached #1 on Billboard that week. Originally hailing from the sweet streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Gareth moved to Los Angeles where he began producing and writing his own material, eventually making shows at Comedy Central, The Travel Channel, and MTV

He also has a cat named Jose.

Instagram @reynoldsgareth
TikTok @reynoldsgareth
X @reynoldsgareth

We’re naughty. We’re nice. But we’ve got lice!

Cult filmmaker and legendary provocateur extraordinnaire John Waters is bringing his signature holiday chaos back to the Rio Theatre's stage with his solo comedy tour, officially titled A John Waters Christmas, for TWO nights in December - so expect nothing less than Waters' hot, irreverent take on the season. This year’s performance promises 90 minutes of biting satire, filthy holiday tales, and Waters’ trademark wit. (PLUS! VIP “Group Therapy” tickets offer fans a signed poster and a post-show Q&A session...)

Yep, the alternative Clause with flaws, John Waters is back with his demented solo comedy show holiday show that puts the gag in gagster, the hole in holiday, and the stuffer in your stocking. He not only loves Santa, he eats him raw and regurgitates him back up piping hot to eager-beaver filth-tartar lovers everywhere.

Yep, Waters’ fast moving, all-new stand-up comedy show is here again for another year of holiday jeer, coming down your chimney without a Dude Wipe, ready to gobble up your Christmas cookies.

It’s a whole new world out there, and you know what you have to do... Teabag the reindeer! Knock over the tree! Leave a holiday payday for your whole family to see.

It’s A John Waters Christmas - resist, resist, resist, with a joyous limp wrist.

Wednesday, December 3
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time. Latecomers will not be admitted.

Balcony (General Admission) $55+ s/c (Until November 12 - Limited Number Available) | $70+ s/c
Main Floor (Reserved Seating) $65 + s/c (Until November 12 - Limited Number Available | $80+ s/c
VIP (First four rows, centre section / Max 4 per transaction) $120+ s/c

VIP tickets include: Early access to the theatre, priority seating in the first four rows/ centre section, a commemorative event poster signed by John Waters(!), access to an exclusive post-show “Group Therapy” session featuring an intimate Q&A, and an opportunity to take a socially-distanced selfie with the man himself. VIP tickets are capped at 4 / transaction.

Tickets for this event go on sale on Wednesday, November 5 at 11:59 am.

We’re naughty. We’re nice. But we’ve got lice!

Cult filmmaker and legendary provocateur extraordinnaire John Waters is bringing his signature holiday chaos back to the Rio Theatre's stage with his solo comedy tour, officially titled A John Waters Christmas, for TWO nights in December - so expect nothing less than Waters' hot, irreverent take on the season. This year’s performance promises 90 minutes of biting satire, filthy holiday tales, and Waters’ trademark wit. (PLUS! VIP “Group Therapy” tickets offer fans a signed poster and a post-show Q&A session...)

Yep, the alternative Clause with flaws, John Waters is back with his demented solo comedy show holiday show that puts the gag in gagster, the hole in holiday, and the stuffer in your stocking. He not only loves Santa, he eats him raw and regurgitates him back up piping hot to eager-beaver filth-tartar lovers everywhere.

Yep, Waters’ fast moving, all-new stand-up comedy show is here again for another year of holiday jeer, coming down your chimney without a Dude Wipe, ready to gobble up your Christmas cookies.

It’s a whole new world out there, and you know what you have to do... Teabag the reindeer! Knock over the tree! Leave a holiday payday for your whole family to see.

It’s A John Waters Christmas - resist, resist, resist, with a joyous limp wrist.

Thursday, December 4
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time. Latecomers will not be admitted.

Balcony (General Admission) $55+ s/c (Until November 12 - Limited Number Available) | $70+ s/c
Main Floor (Reserved Seating) $65 + s/c (Until November 12 - Limited Number Available | $80+ s/c
VIP (First four rows, centre section / Max 4 per transaction) $120+ s/c

VIP tickets include: Early access to the theatre, priority seating in the first four rows/ centre section, a commemorative event poster signed by John Waters(!), access to an exclusive post-show “Group Therapy” session featuring an intimate Q&A, and an opportunity to take a socially-distanced selfie with the man himself. VIP tickets are capped at 4 / transaction.

Tickets for this event go on sale on Wednesday, November 5 at 11:59 am.

The Vancouver Burlesque Co. is proud to present their December Student Showcase at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, December 6.

Join the VBC as we wrap up 2025 in a sparkly bow and celebrate our outstanding students, teachers, and alumni! With large group acts to ring your bells and sparkling solos to make you squeal, the VBC is ready to give you a show to remember. Grab someone cute and let's get in the holiday spirit together!

Hosted by Miss Kiss

Saturday, December 6
Doors 8:15 pm | Event 9:00 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change,
Tickets $30+ s/c | $35+ s/c at the door

This show tends to sell out and seating is limited! Advance tickets are recommended to ensure entry.

STATE ORGANS – VANCOUVER SCREENING & PANEL DISCUSSION
by Taiwan Frogcast

Taiwan Frogcast presents a special screening of the internationally acclaimed documentary STATE ORGANS, followed by a live panel discussion with director Raymond Zhang, producer Cindy Song, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee David Matas. Together, they will explore the making of the film, the value of human life, and the crimes of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). State Organs is a feature-length investigative documentary exposing state-sanctioned organ harvesting in China. Based on over a decade of research and first hand accounts, the film brings together testimonies from whistleblowers, international experts, and the families of victims.

Presented in Mandarin with English subtitles

Sunday, December 7
Doors 11:30 am | Film 12:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

General Admission $21

STATE ORGANS (Raymond Zhang | 2024 | 74 mins | Mandarin w. EST | NR) When two young people mysteriously disappeared in police custody in mainland China, their families began a 20-year dangerous search for them within the communist state. What they encountered was merciless rejection, a shocking state crime, and eventually, a sense of hope as a renewal of traditional faith emerged in China. The atrocity of state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting in China is comparable to the holocaust in World War II, with tens of thousands of victims, but the difference is: it is still going on. From Peabody Award-winning Filmmaker and Emmy Award-winning Composer.

Post-Screening Panel Discussion (in English)
Panelists:
Director - Raymond Zhang
Producer - Cindy Song
Consultant - David Matas, International human rights lawyer, Nobel Peace Prize nominee (joining online)

Taiwan Frogcast is a registered cross-platform international non-profit media brand dedicated to Taiwan’s global issues, culture, and everyday life. Through articles and easy-to-watch videos, we bring our audience a real and diverse Taiwan. Learn more about us:

Link: https://portaly.cc/twfrogcast
Email: info@twfrogcast.org

Ostavrenje „Hajduk u Beogradu“ je prva filmska ekranizacija kultnog romana Gradimira Stojkovića koji je, od kada je objavljen 1985. godine, beležio srećnu mladost mnogim generacijama. Legendarni junak najpopularnijeg serijala knjiga sa ovih prostora - Gligorije Pecikoza Hajduk stiže i na veliko platno. Hajduk se doseljava sa porodicom u Beograd i postaje deo VIII5 razreda. Trudi se da bude prihvaćen i kao dobar drug i kao odličan đak i kao odgovoran sin. Rastrzan između novih iskustava i osećanja, Hajduk će otkriti da postoji sila koja sve može da promeni i uzburka: ljubav...

Presented in Serbian with English subtitles.

Sunday, December 7
Doors: 3:00 pm | 3:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

General Admission: $25 +s/c

Žanr: Porodični film
Režija: Milan Todorović
Scenario: Milica Konstatinović Stanojević prema romanu Gradimira Stojkovića
Zemlja produkcije: Srbija
Jezik: srpski
Uloge: Todor Jovanović, Dragan Mićanović, Sloboda Mićalović, Ana Lečić, Srđan Timarov,
Nikola Kojo, Pavle Jerinić, Milena Predić, Vojin Ćetković...

HAJDUK U BEOGRADU (Milan Todorovic | 2025 | 113 mins | Serbian w. EST | NR) In the 1980s, a boy named Hajduk moves with his family from a small village to the capitol of Yugoslavia, where he's going to start spreading his way of honor and true values.

Mountains on Stage aims to bring the mountains to the city and to share all the beauty of mountain sports! A selection of the best films related to mountain activities are presented.

Complete program info and lineup coming soon!

Tuesday, December 9
Doors 6:15 pm | Event 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

John Achkar's "Tryin' / 3am Jarrib"
Presented by INNOVENT

Comedian John Achkar takes you on a heartfelt and hilarious journey through the chaos of life in his thirties. While the world seems to have it all figured out (HA!), John is still just Tryin’.

From navigating life's absurdities to giving marriage another shot, he’s here to remind us that being a little lost is perfectly okay. With candid observations and relatable stories, John’s special will leave you laughing, nodding, and feeling a little less alone in this wonderfully crazy thing called life.

Wednesday, December 10
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

VIP (Rows A-D / Main Floor) $100+ s/c
Tier 1 (Rows E-I / Main Floor) $80+ s/c
Tier 2 (Rows J-O / Main Floor) $65+ s/c

*Please note: This performance is in Arabic.

Artist Bio:

John Achkar is a Lebanese stand-up comedian, actor, and entrepreneur renowned across the Middle East for his sharp humor and relatable storytelling. Known for blending wit with insightful social commentary, Achkar has become a household name in the comedy scene, performing sold-out shows in Lebanon, the GCC, Europe, North America, and Australia.

Achkar rose to prominence in 2020 after a viral skit on TikTok and Instagram catapulted him into the public eye. Since then, he has performed multiple one-hour comedy specials, including No Worries(2022), Wein 3ayish?(2023), Shou Zakeh?!(2024), and his latest hit AAM JARRIB(2025) : a bold exploration of trial, error, and embracing life’s constant experiments. The special dives into the humor and chaos of pushing boundaries, trying new things, and learning to keep moving forward.

In addition to comedy, Achkar co-founded Everythink, a small business aimed at creating interactive experiences through play. His entrepreneurial spirit and comedic talents have also led him to host Tar El Waet(2024), a Lebanese TV show blending satire with cultural and political critique.

Achkar’s achievements include touring in more than 60 cities for his world tour special in 2024, as well as opening for renowned comedian Gad El Maleh in Dubai and Paris , a career milestone that fulfilled a lifelong dream. Through his work, Achkar continues to inspire laughter and introspection, proving that comedy can be a powerful tool for connection and change.

Connect on Instagram: @johnachr

Join award winning host DANDY as he haunts legendary miser Ebenezer "Humbug" Scrooge (Jordy Matheson) in a jaunty tale of the true meaning of Christmas: SCARY GHOSTS and CONFRONTING TOXIC BEHAVIOUR. In this immersive drag cabaret we wretch the meaning of the holidays from the clasping clutches of Capitalists. Don't miss the gay of Christmas past, drag king Tiny Tim, and an assortment of burlesque GHOSTS! Will this troupe of Vancouver's best in drag save the spirit of the holidays with a bevy of spirits? Find out December, 12th at the iconic Rio Theatre at DANDY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL!

Friday, December 12
Doors 7:00 PM | Show 8:00 PM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

EARLY BIRD, Save $10 off tickets until November 15, midnight.

Main Floor Assigned $30+ s/c in advance |  $35+ s/c at the door
VIP (Priority Seating & Prop Bag) $40+ s/c
Dandy's Figgy Foursome  – Save $20! (Available online only)

Featuring:

Dandy as Jacob Marley
Jordy Matheson as Ebenezer "Humbug" Scrooge
Ben Anna Split as Tiny Tim
Arabella Boop as Ghost of Christmas Past
Melrose Twist as Ghost of Christmas Future
plus
The Dancing Dandies!

About your Host:

Dandy (he/him) is the award-winning host made popular on TikTok for his viral videos promoting queer joy! Winner of Host of the Year 2024 for Vancouver International Burlesque Festival and awarded runner up in the Georgia Straight’s BEST OF VANCOUVER for his show Drag Attack! – you can catch him regularly on stage in his shows at the iconic Rio Theatre in Vancouver, or touring this Fall between LA and New York City. His all new series Dandyland, which highlights businesses, organizations, and artists in the lower-mainland’s LGBT Community, premiered this Summer on Optik TV and was nominated by the Costume Designers Guild Awards for Excellence in Short Form Design 2024, and WON a CAFTCAD Award for Excellence in Webseries 2024 thanks to already award winning, multi-talented Costume Designer, Rafaella Rabinovich.

@dandyandfriends

Helvetica Productions is once again proud to present Tits the Season! at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, December 13!

Proving that there’s no business like snow business, Helvetica Productions is back with a fifth installment of Vancouver’s naughtiest and nicest new holiday tradition: Tits the Season! Treat yo’elf to a holidate with this over-the-top festive extravaganza featuring drag, burlesque, circus, and variety performers from Vancouver and beyond.

Kicking us off on this slay ride is our headliner, the iconic King Molasses, the first ever winner of King of Drag! This holiday spectacular is sure to keep you Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree and warmer than a cup of mulled wine. So, meet us under the mistletoe, Yule definitely be entertained!

We’ve made our (cast)list and checked it twice and this year’s Tits the Season includes: 

Batty Banks
La Dame Derrière
Helvetica’s Follies
Homo Hardware
Ariel Helvetica
Cali Cobalt
Vancouver Burlesque Co.
Mx Bukuru
Quantum Roller Duo

Hosted by: Miss Kiss

Saturday, December 13
Early Show
Doors 5:00 pm | Show 6:00 pm *Start time and cast list subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Snowbells $40+ s/c

Snowballers $55 + s/c
Best seats in the house!

Snow Angels $75+ s/c
First two rows with a Meet + Greet photo opportunity with King Molasses. Go home with a VIP swag bag full of holiday presents for yourself, including a signed photo from King Molasses!

Limited VIP tickets available — frost come, frost served!

About Helvetica Productions

With more than a decade of experience under her G-String, Ariel Helvetica is everyone’s type. She has boldly crossed the globe (and uncrossed her legs) in some of the top burlesque shows across Europe, Canada, and the USA. With her unique blend of glamour, cheese, and stratospheric high-kicks, this purveyor of Tits and Teeth has received many accolades, including performing twice at the Burlesque Hall of Fame, as well as being named one of 21st Century Burlesque Magazine’s Most Influential Performers.

Underlining her performance bonafides, Ariel is also the Assistant Director of the Vancouver Burlesque Company, and in late 2021 she combined her burlesque prowess and showbiz moxie to create Helvetica Productions, which debuted with two sold-out shows of the holiday smash Tits the Season.

Helvetica Productions is once again proud to present Tits the Season! at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, December 13!

Proving that there’s no business like snow business, Helvetica Productions is back with a fifth installment of Vancouver’s naughtiest and nicest new holiday tradition: Tits the Season! Treat yo’elf to a holidate with this over-the-top festive extravaganza featuring drag, burlesque, circus, and variety performers from Vancouver and beyond.

Kicking us off on this slay ride is our headliner, the iconic King Molasses, the first ever winner of King of Drag! This holiday spectacular is sure to keep you Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree and warmer than a cup of mulled wine. So, meet us under the mistletoe, Yule definitely be entertained!

We’ve made our (cast)list and checked it twice and this year’s Tits the Season includes: 

Batty Banks
La Dame Derrière
Helvetica’s Follies
Homo Hardware
Ariel Helvetica
Cali Cobalt
Vancouver Burlesque Co.
Mx Bukuru
Quantum Roller Duo

Hosted by: Miss Kiss

Saturday, December 13
Late Show
Doors 9:00 pm | Show 10:00 pm *Start time and cast list subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Snowbells $40+ s/c

Snowballers $55 + s/c
Best seats in the house!

Snow Angels $75+ s/c
First two rows with a Meet + Greet photo opportunity with King Molasses. Go home with a VIP swag bag full of holiday presents for yourself, including a signed photo from King Molasses!

Limited VIP tickets available — frost come, frost served!

About Helvetica Productions

With more than a decade of experience under her G-String, Ariel Helvetica is everyone’s type. She has boldly crossed the globe (and uncrossed her legs) in some of the top burlesque shows across Europe, Canada, and the USA. With her unique blend of glamour, cheese, and stratospheric high-kicks, this purveyor of Tits and Teeth has received many accolades, including performing twice at the Burlesque Hall of Fame, as well as being named one of 21st Century Burlesque Magazine’s Most Influential Performers.

Underlining her performance bonafides, Ariel is also the Assistant Director of the Vancouver Burlesque Company, and in late 2021 she combined her burlesque prowess and showbiz moxie to create Helvetica Productions, which debuted with two sold-out shows of the holiday smash Tits the Season.

Join Outside Voices Choir for our biggest winter concert yet!

Two choirs. One stage. An unforgettable 150+ voice finale.

Expect lush harmonies, contagious joy, and an epic super-choir set that’ll leave you buzzing. This season features songs you know and love, reimagined with the signature Outside Voices sound—rich, heartfelt, and soaring.

Arranged and directed by David Beckingham (Hey Ocean!), this show is going to soar.

Sunday, December 14

Matinée Show
Doors 2:00 pm | Show 3:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Join Outside Voices Choir for our biggest winter concert yet!

Two choirs. One stage. An unforgettable 150+ voice finale.

Expect lush harmonies, contagious joy, and an epic super-choir set that’ll leave you buzzing. This season features songs you know and love, reimagined with the signature Outside Voices sound—rich, heartfelt, and soaring.

Arranged and directed by David Beckingham (Hey Ocean!), this show is going to soar.

Sunday, December 14

Evening Show
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

The live, smash hit epic comedy THE CRITICAL HIT SHOW returns to the Rio Theatre's stage on Wednesday, December 17 for more monstrous mirth, merriment, and snacks!

Prepare yourself for a night of laughter, as some of Vancouver’s best comedic performers grace the stage in a night featuring intrepid players on a gallant quest for comedy glory (and more snacks) in a hilariously epic adventure that has been running continuously since 2012.

Spanning over 100 live performances in both Canada and the United States, two years of “at-home” streaming, and frequent festival appearances, The Critical Hit Show is one of the longest running comedy shows around. #DNDLive is an improvised adventure that takes its inspiration from tabletop role-playing games, fantasy film and TV, and (most importantly) you!

Whether you’re a longtime fan, you’ve been enjoying our live streamed shows, or you’re brand new to The Critical Hit Show - you’re going to have a great time.

Wednesday, December 17
Doors 6:15 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.
Advance tickets $17 +s/c | $20+ s/c at the door

THE ADVENTURERS

Eric Fell as The Dungeon Master
Ian Boothby as Benoit the Anointed, the Half-Elf Cleric
Joanna Gaskell as Freya, the Elf Warlock
Barbara Beall as Ingrid, the Halfling Fighter
Ellen MacNevin as Belle Strummer, the Half-Elf Ranger
Allen Morrison as Spitz Lube’n, the Human Wizard
Shaun Stewart as Brask Hellbeard, the Dwarf Bard

More monsters! More Magic! More Mayhem! More Off-Brand soda!

Twitter: @critshow
www.criticalhitshow.com
www.facebook.com/dndlive

Jake Lambert—one of the UK’s most exciting new comedians—is heading to the Rio Theatre with his smash-hit show The Sunshine Kid.

Fresh from sell-out shows across the UK, Europe, and Australia, Jake Lambert brings his worldwide tour The Sunshine Kid to Canada in 2025.

Described by The Telegraph as “a joke machine,” Jake has firmly established himself as one of the UK’s rising stand-ups. Known for his fast-paced, gag-packed storytelling, his online videos have attracted more than half a billion views, earning him a loyal global following.

The Sunshine Kid is Jake’s debut tour, and has been an international success that continues to grow with new dates around the world, now including Canada. Alongside his touring success, Jake has performed on Live at the Apollo and joined Michael McIntyre on his world tour.

★★★★★ "...pure brilliance from start to finish" - London Theatre 1
★★★★★ “An absolute must-see” - RGM
★★★★- "A joke machine" - The Telegraph
★★★★ "A great storyteller" - The Arts Desk
★★★★ "Winningly self-deprecating" – Chortle
★★★★ “All the ingredients are there to make Jake Lambert a household name” - ITalkTelly
★★★★ "Catalyses laughter that cannot be contained" - Fest Magazine

Friday, December 19
Doors 6:00 pm | Sow 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Tickets selling fast! Over 50% sold in the first 48 hours. Don't delay Vancouver, reserve your tickets today!

This Rio Theatre gift certificate is good for entry to any single regular screening and includes two medium drinks, and one large popcorn. If you prefer a physical card, this gift certificate is also available for purchase from our conession stand during open business hours.

This Rio Theatre gift certificate is good for entry to any single regular screening and includes one medium popcorn, one medium fountain beverage, and one small candy. If you prefer a physical card, this gift certificate is also available for purchase from our conession stand during open business hours.

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Friday, March 20 for the second annual H Cupcake Productions Foundation's THE COSPLAY SWIMSUIT CONTEST, a charity variety show mixing comedy and sex appeal - for a good cause!

H Cupcake Productions was founded with the goals of bringing laughter and smiles to adults, while supporting the needs of children. While the world hasn't been the kindest place these past few years, the organization's mission is event-driven, with the goal of bringing as much joy as possible to as many people as possible. The group has been the main event for adult entertainment at Anime Revolution since 2012, with an average current attendance of 3,400 people.

We have a fabulous lineup of performers to excite and entertain you! Many of your favorites from our annual show at Anime Revolution will be joining us: Cookie._.Rush, JMRohCreations, Vancity_Ranger, Gothish.Rain, Milkiway.Cosplay, BadSheepCosplay, Brystak, Kamistry, Gavin, Sharkiekitty, Angora.Phobia and Im.JuneMonsoon.

Friday, March 20
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adult Entry $15+ s/c (Until August 11) | $20+ s/c
VIP (Rows A-C) $30+ s/c (Until August 11) | $40+ s/c

This Cosplay Swimsuit Contest will benefit BC Children's Hospital, with proceeds going towards purchasing a soft stuffed animal for a child in need at BC Children's. (When else are you going to get to see Burlesque, Singing, Dancing, Feats of Athletics and get to feel good about funding a charity!)

Come view our past events at our website at: www.hcupcakeproductions.org