After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the Camp Miasma slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"This one’s designed to make us shriek, smirk and think in equal measure." (Toronto Star)

"Jane Schoenbrun’s meta, queer and horny answer to misogynistic genre fare like Friday the 13th, which Teenage Sex and Death reclaims as sexually empowering." (CBC Radio)

"'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Thursday, August 27
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the Camp Miasma slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"This one’s designed to make us shriek, smirk and think in equal measure." (Toronto Star)

"Jane Schoenbrun’s meta, queer and horny answer to misogynistic genre fare like Friday the 13th, which Teenage Sex and Death reclaims as sexually empowering." (CBC Radio)

"'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Friday, August 28
Doors 5:30 pm | Movie 6:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Friday, August 28
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

Two aimless young women inadvertently gain telepathic abilities after ingesting an experimental drug, pitting them against dangerous rivals pursuing the same substance. With Kristen Stewart, Alia Shawkat, Cate Blanchett, Kumail Nanjiani, Kate McKinnon, Geena Davis.

"The ‘90s stoner comedy is back, so take a rip and let the hijinks grab ya’ by the boo-boo. More Alex Cox vibes than Cheech & Chong." (Fort Worth Report)

""The Wrong Girls" is the right comedy if you want to unplug your brain and laugh." (Los Angeles Times)

Saturday, August 29
Doors 1:30 pm | Movie 2:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE WRONG GIRLS (Dylan Meye, 2026 / 97 mins / 14A) Two aimless young women inadvertently gain telepathic abilities after ingesting an experimental drug, pitting them against dangerous rivals pursuing the same powerful substance.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Saturday, August 29
Doors 4:00 pm | Movie 4:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Saturday, August 29
Doors 7:00 pm | Movie 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

Echoing the Canadian comedy classic "SCTV" and picking from hundreds of hours of original, low-budget TV ads to tell the sinister tale of two restaurants battling it out in the fictional town of Westridge County. Ads for insurance, used car rivals, a local religious scholar, and a recording artist converge to tell the story of an expanding sinkhole, a cult, and an ever-growing restaurant that becomes unsettlingly sentient.

"I think this might just be a masterpiece." (Cinepunx)

"A sloppy joe satire force-fed to us in colorful and hilarious thirty second bursts that make the medicine go down, down, down, until we’re all happily gagging on it. That’s the Buffet Ihttps://riotheatretickets.ca/events/44096-buffet-infinity-director-in-attendance-for-q-anfinity guarantee." (Pajiba)

"Walking a tightrope between middle school sleepover chaos and grad school formalism, this is a mordantly dark gift that keeps on giving." (Nashville Scene)

Saturday, August 29
Doors 9:45 pm | Movie 10:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

BUFFET INFINITY (Simon Glassman, 2026 / 90 mins / NR) In a series of cheap, locally produced television commercials, a story unfolds that begins as a simple business rivalry between small business owners and the looming threat of Buffet Infinity. As Buffet Infinity endlessly expands and grows, swallowing everything in its path, a sinister conspiracy unfolds at the margins, and unfathomable powers begin to worm their way into the vulnerable community of Westridge County, Alberta.

The setting is Camp Firewood, the year 1981. It's the last day before everyone goes back to the real world, but there's still a summer's worth of unfinished business to resolve. At the center of the action is camp director Beth, who struggles to keep order while she falls in love with the local astrophysics professor. He is busy trying to save the camp from a deadly piece of NASA's Skylab which is hurtling toward earth. All that, plus: a dangerous waterfall rescue, love triangles, misfits, cool kids, and talking vegetable cans. The questions will all be resolved, of course, at the big talent show at the end of the day. With Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Molly Shannon, Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, and Elizabeth Banks.

"This shamefully under-promoted, gloriously silly romp made me laugh harder than any other movie this summer...this blissfully unimportant movie starts in a deceptively low key, gradually unveiling its total lunacy." (Newsweek)

"'Wet Hot American Summer' is gleefully, wonderfully stupid in the absolute best way." (Polygon)

"The funniest cinematic camp experience since Pugsley and Wednesday freaked everyone out with their rendition of the first Thanksgiving in 'Addams Family Values'." (Planet S Magazine)

Sunday, August 30
Doors 12:45 pm | Movie 1:10 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER (David Wain, 2001 / 14 A / 97 mins) Set on the last day of camp, in the hot summer of 1981, this cult-classic comedy follows a group of counselors who are each trying to complete their unfinished business before the day ends. The entire summer of pent-up sexual frustrations, unresolved post-traumatic stress, pending separations and of course, the talent show, all weigh heavily on the minds and groins of counselors and campers alike.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

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

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Sunday, August 30
Doors 5:45 pm | Movie 6:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

IT ENDS premiered at SXSW 2026, and is the debut feature from Alex Ullom (who wrote, directed, and edited the film). It follows a friend group of graduates who go on a late night drive, but accidentally turn onto a never-ending, two-lane hellscape surrounded by -untold horrors and cosmic forces beyond their understanding. Ostensibly a very contemporary, Gen-Z take on Jean-Paul Sartre's influential 1944 existentialist play "No Exit." With Phinehas Yoon, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth and Mitchell Cole.

"Anchored by four genuinely engaging performances and a concept that understands the benefit of not over-explaining itself." (Roger Ebert.com)

"Writer/Director Alexander Ullom nestles an existential crisis within his genre-bending road trip thriller in his feature debut. What begins as an intense horror movie settles into a meditative rhythm for an inventive slice-of-life metaphor." (Bloody Disgusting)

Sunday, August 30
Doors 8:30 pm | Movie 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

IT ENDS (Alexander Ullom, 2026 / 89 mins / 14A) Out for a late-night drive, friends turn onto a never-ending, two-lane hellscape surrounded by untold horrors and cosmic forces beyond their understanding. Crammed inside a jeep with miles stretching infinitely ahead, they face a choice: embrace their new existence or fight to escape it.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Monday, August 31
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

When fresh-faced Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) lands an exciting job for renowned artist, icon and provocateur Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde), his fantasies come true as Erika taps him to become her sexual muse. But Elliot soon finds himself out of his depth as Erika takes him on a journey more profound than he ever could have imagined, into a world of sex, obsession, power, betrayal and murder.

"From the opening shot of a body in a Los Angeles pool, Gregg Araki and co-screenwriter Karley Sciortino tickle us with their 21st century send-up of "Sunset Boulevard." But Araki can go where Code-era movies couldn’t: into the bedroom." (Los Angeles Times)

"It is a terrific platform for Wilde, who as an actor Hollywood never quite knew how to use properly... Araki’s film figures out how to use all her qualities in wildly entertaining fashion." (Associated Press)

"When "Sex" keeps the focus on the couple at the center, you can feel it tapping into something as old as the moving pictures themselves. Nothing is hotter than connection." (Rolling Stone)

"It is also very, very funny; and Araki — whose wonderfully daring “Mysterious Skin” (2005) remains his masterwork — directs with an appealing joyfulness." (New York Times)

Monday, August 31
Doors 8:45 pm | Movie 9:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

I WANT YOUR SEX (Gregg Araki, 2026 / 90 mins /18A) Elliot lands a job for Erika Tracy as her sexual muse.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Tuesday, September 1
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

Two aimless young women inadvertently gain telepathic abilities after ingesting an experimental drug, pitting them against dangerous rivals pursuing the same substance. With Kristen Stewart, Alia Shawkat, Cate Blanchett, Kumail Nanjiani, Kate McKinnon, Geena Davis.

"The ‘90s stoner comedy is back, so take a rip and let the hijinks grab ya’ by the boo-boo. More Alex Cox vibes than Cheech & Chong." (Fort Worth Report)

""The Wrong Girls" is the right comedy if you want to unplug your brain and laugh." (Los Angeles Times)

Tuesday, September 1
Doors 8:45 pm | Movie 9:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE WRONG GIRLS (Dylan Meye, 2026 / 97 mins / 14A) Two aimless young women inadvertently gain telepathic abilities after ingesting an experimental drug, pitting them against dangerous rivals pursuing the same powerful substance.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Wednesday, September 2
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

When fresh-faced Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) lands an exciting job for renowned artist, icon and provocateur Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde), his fantasies come true as Erika taps him to become her sexual muse. But Elliot soon finds himself out of his depth as Erika takes him on a journey more profound than he ever could have imagined, into a world of sex, obsession, power, betrayal and murder.

"From the opening shot of a body in a Los Angeles pool, Gregg Araki and co-screenwriter Karley Sciortino tickle us with their 21st century send-up of "Sunset Boulevard." But Araki can go where Code-era movies couldn’t: into the bedroom." (Los Angeles Times)

"It is a terrific platform for Wilde, who as an actor Hollywood never quite knew how to use properly... Araki’s film figures out how to use all her qualities in wildly entertaining fashion." (Associated Press)

"When "Sex" keeps the focus on the couple at the center, you can feel it tapping into something as old as the moving pictures themselves. Nothing is hotter than connection." (Rolling Stone)

"It is also very, very funny; and Araki — whose wonderfully daring “Mysterious Skin” (2005) remains his masterwork — directs with an appealing joyfulness." (New York Times)

Wednesday, September 2
Doors 8:45 pm | Movie 9:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

I WANT YOUR SEX (Gregg Araki, 2026 / 90 mins /18A) Elliot lands a job for Erika Tracy as her sexual muse.

Michael Mann's third feature, the 1986 thriller MANHUNTER, is a gripping adaptation of the first entry of Thomas Harris' four novels featuring the iconic psychiatrist-slash-murderer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

The story follows retired criminal profiler Will Graham (William Petersen) as he reluctantly returns to the FBI to help track down a serial killer of families known as the "Tooth Fairy." In order to find the suspect, he is forced to consult an expert—the imprisoned Dr. Lector (Brian Cox in a subtly chilling performance), who is the reason Graham took an early retirement. Soon, Graham and the FBI are entangled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game between the Tooth Fairy, Lecter and an interfering journalist.

MANHUNTER benefits from the filmmaker's typically striking visuals as well as a top-notch supporting cast, including Tom Noonan as the hunted killer, and three-time Oscar nominee Joan Allen as his blind love interest.

This new 4K Final Cut, overseen by Mann, enhances the film’s depth, visual clarity and sound, offering audiences the ultimate immersive version. Released in 1986, MANHUNTER was on a frontier in both its subject matter and film form, initiating an impressive list of subsequent films and series. This 4K version of the film is both a restoration, and a final edit. This 4K scan of the original 35mm negative—with a few shots from an interpositive—was conformed and digitally restored at L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, strictly following the new reference edit done by Michael Mann, and was was supervised by Becca Mann and the Studiocanal team, Jean-Pierre Boiget and Delphine Roussel.

"In case you didn’t know there was a Hannibal Lecter before Tony Hopkins, Michael Mann brings his 1986 crime thriller back to theaters with a revelatory, pre-"Succcession" Brian Cox. Fasten your seatbelts." (The Travers Take)

"This slick thriller has been overshadowed by The Silence of the Lambs, but it is a compelling piece of film-making." (The Times UK)

"'Manhunter' ushered in the age of empathy for the devil." (Slate)

Thursday, September 3
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

MANHUNTER (Michael Mann, 1986 / 120 mins / 14A) Former FBI profiler Will Graham returns to service to pursue a deranged serial killer dubbed "the Tooth Fairy" by the media.

After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the CAMP MIASMA slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks') for resurrection. But when she visits the original movie's star (Gillian Anderson, 'The X-Files'), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. With Jasmine Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, Amanda Fix, Sarah Sherman, Dylan Baker, Kevin McDonald, Eva Victor.

"As sexy as movies come, all the way through its final climax." (ELLE Magazine)

"'TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA' is a meta horror-comedy and a whip-smart entertainment industry satire. Still, on a deeper level, in a hole at the bottom of its lake, is a hard-won sexual awakening." (Time Out)

Thursday, September 3
Doors 8:45 pm | Movie 9:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (Jane Schoenbrun, 2025 / 115 mins / 14A) A director making a slasher sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's 'final girl,' leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

Two inseparable best friends navigate the last weeks of high school and are invited to a gigantic house party. Together with their nerdy friend, they spend a long day trying to score enough alcohol to supply the party and inebriate two girls in order to kick-start their sex lives before they go off to college. Their quest is complicated after one of them falls in with two inept cops who are determined to show him a good time. With Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Stone.

"Deftly balancing vulgarity and sincerity while placing its protagonists in excessive situations, SUPERBAD is an authentic take on friendship and the overarching awkwardness of the high school experience." (Rotten Tomatoes)

"SUPERBAD is a movie about partying and getting wasted and getting the girl, but as the night wears on, much wisdom is gained too, about self, friendship and the end of teenage innocence in all its wondrous, terrifying splendor." (Village Voice)

Friday, September 4
Doors 11:00 pm | Movie 11:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Late Night Date Night! Tickets are two-for-one entry!

SUPERBAD (Greg Mottola, 2007 / 113 mins / 14A) High school best buddies are facing separation anxiety as they prepare to go off to college. While attempting to score alcohol for a party with help from a fake ID-toting friend, the guys' evening takes a turn into chaotic territory.

The Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party is returning to the Rio Theatre with a "school's out" event featuring an all-new lineup of retro TV goodness, covered in sugary cereal. It's Volume XIV!

Kids today may not realize the significance of the Saturday morning ritual, but once upon a time, we had to wait a whole week to get our cartoon fix, and when we got it, we tended to binge. Well – welcome to The Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party - that special time when kids and kids-at-heart get to relive the exciting Saturday Morning ritual of non-stop retro cartoons, and binge on the multi-colored sugary cereals that used to be a part of every “balanced” breakfast!

The cartoon lineup is always a mystery, but expect to see monsters, sci-fi, sleuths, superheroes and all kinds of 2D silliness, both faves and obscurities spanning the '30s through the '90s, all punctuated with vintage commercials, PSAs and station IDs for a 3-hour trip down memory lane! So get ready for a sugar rush and an explosion of nostalgia all wrapped up in one candy-coated package.

Curated by David Bertrand

Dairy-free and gluten-free options available! Compostable bowls and spoons will be provided, however we welcome and encourage guests to bring their own NON-BREAKABLE (ie, not ceramic) bowls and spoons.

Saturday, September 5
Doors 10:00 am | Event 10:30 am *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adults $23
Kids Pricing (13 and under) $15

Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.With Willem DaFoe, Great Lee, Jake Lacey.

"There’s wisdom and depth to the film’s themes of growing old, dashed dreams and the magic of rediscovery, plus a deliciously ironic final twist. " (Los Angeles Times)

"The poetry of this movie, in short, is in Dafoe, who gives his finest performance in years -- a long trek from bliss to despair to disillusionment, and finally to the odd contentment and consolation that disillusionment often brings." (The New Yorker)

"Greta Lee’s performance may be the secret key to 'Late Fame.' Gloria is a user, a poseur extraordinaire; her fluttery flamboyance, rooted in insecurity, summons another Gloria, the one from 'Sunset Blvd'." (TIME Magazine)

"In a sense, the film, directed by Kent Jones, is like a wonderful little poem. It’s also a touching nod to the past, gracefully intertwining aspects of “Metropolitan” and “Dead Poets Society.” (Wall Street Journal)

"Dafoe and Lee raise the entire project to a higher level. It’s worth seeing 'Late Fame’ just to watch Dafoe fine-tune his character from one scene to the next, and to witness Lee in action." (Roger Ebert.com)

Saturday, September 5
Doors 2:15 pm | Movie 2:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

LATE FAME (Kent Jones, 2026 / 97 mins / 14A) Legendary New York poet Ed Saxberger's forgotten works captivate an eccentric group of young creatives, reigniting his artistic passion. Their intrigue intertwines with the bewitching presence of actress Gloria.

A copious cavalcade of top notch talent and captivating cabaret await at The Rio Theatre Burlesque & Variety Show on Saturday, September 5!

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 Saturday, July September 5 as these stars align for one night only!

Saturday, September 5
Doors 8:00 pm | Show 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

General Admission $30 + s/c | $35 + s/c at the door
VIP tickets $40+ s/c (includes interactive prop and goody bag)
Squad Pass (Group of Four Tickets – online only) $100+ s/c

Featuring:

April O’Peel 
Astra Atomica
Belle Jumelle
Carl Leathers
Heavy Duty Dance Collective
Island Gyal Atelier
Katelynn Constrictor
Kiki Albright
Madame Merlot
Miss Chaquita Banana
Misty Moss
Ruby Moon
What Surname
Wildflower Burlesque Collective

Hosted by Gia Sangria

Dr. Brady Smith  brings his own brand of humor to the table, with a mix of brutally honest life stories, outrageous tales from the dental trenches, and a knack for turning the mundane into the absurd, Brady delivers a comedy experience that's raw, relatable, and absolutely hilarious. He combines his love of dentistry, philanthropy, and irreverent humor into a one-of-a-kind style that leaves audiences in stitches. Prepare to laugh until your face hurts.

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

Tickets $35+ s/c 
VIP (Rows A-E, Centre Section) $45 + s/c

Connect on TikTok @DrBradySmith

Connect on Instagram @DrBradySmith

Laughing My Gas Off Podcast

Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.With Willem DaFoe, Great Lee, Jake Lacey.

"There’s wisdom and depth to the film’s themes of growing old, dashed dreams and the magic of rediscovery, plus a deliciously ironic final twist. " (Los Angeles Times)

"The poetry of this movie, in short, is in Dafoe, who gives his finest performance in years -- a long trek from bliss to despair to disillusionment, and finally to the odd contentment and consolation that disillusionment often brings." (The New Yorker)

"Greta Lee’s performance may be the secret key to 'Late Fame.' Gloria is a user, a poseur extraordinaire; her fluttery flamboyance, rooted in insecurity, summons another Gloria, the one from 'Sunset Blvd'." (TIME Magazine)

"In a sense, the film, directed by Kent Jones, is like a wonderful little poem. It’s also a touching nod to the past, gracefully intertwining aspects of “Metropolitan” and “Dead Poets Society.” (Wall Street Journal)

"Dafoe and Lee raise the entire project to a higher level. It’s worth seeing 'Late Fame’ just to watch Dafoe fine-tune his character from one scene to the next, and to witness Lee in action." (Roger Ebert.com)

Monday, September 7
Doors 3:30 pm | Movie 4:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

LATE FAME (Kent Jones, 2026 / 97 mins / 14A) Legendary New York poet Ed Saxberger's forgotten works captivate an eccentric group of young creatives, reigniting his artistic passion. Their intrigue intertwines with the bewitching presence of actress Gloria.

What happens when great actors collide with what some consider the worst script ever written? Tommy Wiseau’s original THE ROOM (2003) infamously burned through $6 million and months of shooting with no-name actors. This reimagining flips the myth on its head. Filmed in under 12 hours, on virtually no budget, with Bob Odenkirk ("Better Call Saul"), Bella Heathcote ("The Neon Demon"), Kate Siegel ("Hush)", Greg Sestero (the original "The Room"), executive producer Mike Flanagan ("The Haunting of Hill House"), and directed by newcomer Brando Crawford.

With no rehearsal and only teleprompters to guide them, the cast embraced the chaos with Shakespearean gravity, transforming cinematic disaster into unpredictable spectacle… All for charity.

Followed by a live Q&A with filmmaker director/producer Brando Crawford and TBD some special guests!

This is a benefit event for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research (501c3), and Blue Collaborative (501c3)

Monday, September 7
Doors 6:00 pm | Film 6:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

MRG Comedy, The Rio Theatre and Vancouver is Funny Present...
Paul Anthony's Talent Time!

It’s Vancouver’s longest-running, best-kept secret! Inspired by the classic variety show format, Paul Anthony’s TALENT TIME combs youth talent shows and unique corners of underground entertainment to create an innovative, strange and hilarious show that also accidentally reaffirms the human spirit? Featuring...

AWARD WINNING CLOWN FROM SEATTLE: BRADLEY WRENN!
Bradley is a theatre artist creating original comedic work rooted in joyful play, physical performance, and absurd whimsy, earning him multiple critic awards from the New York Times and the Village Voice!!

TROMBONE FRONTED MUSICAL PROJECT: GERÄUSCH!
As a kid Brianne used to imagine rock songs with the horns not as a side element, but taking the place of the singer while retaining the power and emotion of rock music!  So she created GERÄUSCH!

PRESENTATION FROM TAPEWORM CORP.
“We feed off the intestines of society and discharge creativity back into our host” Right now they are working on a personal DIY oil drill for people wanting a more artisanal way to power their vehicles. Might have something to do with that, might not. One of the most exciting corporations to ever have a home office in this city!! We demand you to open up your intestines to Tapeworm Corp.

ENERGETIC YOUNG HIP HOP CREW: FUNKY 4 CORNERS!!
From Dancin'Stars Studio in Burnaby, BC, these kids are known for their explosive energy, strong stage presence, and entertaining performances! The group combines hip hop, street dance, breaking, and freestyle elements to create routines that captivate audiences of all ages.

EXPERIENCE A REAL VACATION!
Neuroscientists say that your brain can’t tell the difference between something you vividly imagine and something that actually happened to you. With the economy in the toilet and most people having to abandon travel plans altogether, we will take the audience on a detailed sensory vacation that you will never forget! All included in your minimal ticket price. Meaning the value of this particular episode of Talent Time will be in the thousands! You simply cannot afford NOT to be at this show!!

PLUS COMEDIAN JAMES LEBUKE!
CO-HOST RYAN BEIL FROM THE SUNDAY SERVICE!
2 MORE GREAT ACTS I CAN’T ANNOUNCE YET! Shhh...
Tech director & live switching by ERIC ST. LAURENT!
Live House band & more comedy TBA!

Tuesday, September 8
Doors 7:15 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Save $5 on tickets till September 1st!
General Admission, Tickets $25+ s/c

“Like freebasing sheer fun!" - The Globe & Mail

"Something of a phenomenon”- Vancouver Sun

Live Comedy with VHS tapes!
BRAND NEW VOLUME 11 SHOW FOR 2026!

Joe Pickett (The Onion) and Nick Prueher (Late Show With David Letterman) have over 14,000 VHS tapes in their cluttered office in Brooklyn and will take viewers on a guided tour of their latest/greatest finds in this brand new Volume 11 show for 2026. Highlights include a psychotic dollar store salesman, a video catalog of frightening porcelain dolls, two wonderfully homemade Bigfoot videos and a new age “miracle” treatment from the 80s called “Psychic Surgery.” (90 mins - contains nudity, language, clowns).

“I think I speak for fans everywhere when I express gratitude for their continued hunt for hilariously bad videos. I hope the search never ends.” (Steven Hyden, Uproxx)

"Skull-crushingly funny." (AV Club)

Thursday, September 9
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Assigned Tickets $36 (includes all taxes and fees)

About the Found Footage Festival

Debuting in 2004 in New York City, the Found Footage Festival has since sold out hundreds of shows across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., including appearances at the Just For Laughs Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, and Bonnaroo.

The show has been featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and NPR, and has been praised by critics in The Guardian and The New York Times.

Fans can also catch Pickett and Prueher in their weekly YouTube series VCR Party Live! and the hit Tribeca documentary Chop & Steele, now available on Blu-ray and VOD.

For more information on Found Footage, head to www.foundfootagefest.com

Deep within the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, charismatic and musically gifted Amziah King herds a bluegrass band of misfits while overseeing the premiere honey-making operation in town. When his estranged foster daughter unexpectedly returns, Amziah leaps at the possibility to reconnect and create a family business. With Matthew McConaughey, Angelina LookingGlass, and Kurt Russell.

"I like my elegiac masterpieces the way I like Matthew McConaughey: COVERED IN BEES." (The Wrap)

"There’s a giddy exuberance that captures the unexpected wildness of farm life, from hijinks with a rogue swarm to the seemingly constant background roar of Red Dirt classics." (Austin Chronicle)

"This is a raucous, exciting, occasionally shocking, ultimately uplifting story of community, sacrifice, and shared values." (RogerEbert.com)

"A cinematic buffet of all-you-can-eat incongruity that adds up to one tasty dish. At once a toe-tapping musical, a Gothic whodunnit, a jaw-dropping dark comedy and a hardboiled revenge flick, The Rivals of Amziah King is a Southern-fried delight." (Globe and Mail)

"As subtly sharp as it is sweet, it’s one of the year’s most enlivening standouts." (The Daily Beast) 

Thursday, September 10
Doors 6:00pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING (Andrew Patterson, 2026 / 130 mins / 14A) Amziah King, beekeeper, musician, and anchor of his community, reunites with former foster daughter Kateri after many years apart, and fends off threats to his honey business.

Do Go On is a comedy/history podcast hosted by Australian Comedians Dave Warneke, Jess Perkins and Matt Stewart. Every week since 2015 they've taken it in turns to pick a topic from history and report back. Over ten years and 500+ episodes later, they've covered everything from Dolly Parton to Bigfoot, Chernobyl to the real Great Escape.

In that time they've been downloaded more than 25 million times and toured live shows across Australia, The UK, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand and Thailand. This is their first ever time in Canada! Yes it will be weird seeing their voices come out of their faces but don't worry, you'll get used to it!

Saturday, September 12
Doors 12:00 pm | Podcast Taping 1:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

In 2026, The Invincible Czars celebrate 100 years of FW Murnau's silent masterpiece FAUST by performing their tastefully modern soundtrack live with the movie at theatres across the US and Canada - including a stop at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, September 12.

Their brand new electrifying score marries new and old elements of classical music, bossa nova and even a touch of heavy metal to bring the movie to life for contemporary audiences and incorporates a mix of instruments like flute, violin and electric guitar.

The Czars' return engagement at the Rio Theatre will function as an FW Murnau "silent sinema" double feature, as guests will be able to take in both FAUST and their revamped version of the 1922 silent classic NOSFERATU - for one sweet price!

Saturday, September 12
Doors 6:15 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adult Entry $35+ s/c
Youth (Under 15) $22+ s/c
VIP (Gold Circle - Rows A-D, Centre Section) $40+ s/c

About FAUST

An elderly alchemist named Faust (Gösta Ekman) makes a pact with the demon Mephisto (Emil Jannings) to gain the power to protect his village from plague. Faust soon succumbs to temptation and asks Mephisto to restore his youth and help him acquire all the hedonistic pleasures that earth can offer. Eventually, his love affair with a young woman named Gretchen (Camilla Horn) leads to tragic and devastating consequences for them both.

FAUST has quite a history. It is the quintessential “deal with the devil” tale based on a centuries-old European legend. The legend inspired Johann Wofgang Goethe’s 1808 play which is considered Germany’s greatest literary work.  The play inspired the famous opera by Charles Guonod which director FW Murnau used as a map for his 1926 film.  Virtually every “sell your soul” type story from the film Crossroads to songs like “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” owes a debt to FAUST whether the creators know it or not. (In fact, "Faust" is the opera in Gaston Leroux’s "Phantom of the Opera.")

Murnau had already made a name for himself and set the standard for early horror films with NOSFERATU (1922) and in 1926 he was on top of his game and found himself with a big budget for FAUST with a lot of autonomy from the studio UFI. The result is silent-era German Expressionist eye candy full of amazing sets, innovative special effects and Murnau’s signature camera work.  It was his last German-made film before he moved to Hollywood later that year.

For modern audiences, it’s the cast that really makes the movie entertaining.  The virtually-unknown Camilla Horn is hard not to love in the role of Gretchen.  (Horn had replaced the legendary Lillian Gish in the role when Gish ultimately turned it down due to the subject matter in the film.)  The charismatic (if complicated) Emil Jannings was like the Jim Carrey of his day bringing all emotions with equal gusto and power. He is hilarious, hateable, terrifying and unforgettable especially when paired with Yvette Guilbert as Aunt Marthe

About the Soundtrack

The Invincible Czars’ score for FAUST is mostly original material inspired by film score composers like Bernard Herrman and John Williams peppered with cinematic metal a la Fantomas and even a little Marcos Valle-esque bossa nova.  The band keeps their tradition of incorporating music from Russian classical composers, revisiting their renditions of Mussorgsy’s Pictures at an Exhibition and A Night on Bald Mountain in particular for this soundtrack.  Five players perform the score live on violin, electric guitar, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, glockenspiel, keyboard and drums.

About the Band

Josh Robins - Guitar
Wes Haynes - Keyboards
Phil Davidson - Violin, glockenspiel
Stefan del Bosque - Drums
Kevin Sakai - Clarinet, Flute, Bass Clarinet

The Invincible Czars have made a name for themselves among horror and classic film lovers in the US and Canada with their original, tastefully modern live soundtracks for silent films which they started creating for the original Alamo Drafthouse in their hometown of Austin, TX in 2007, though they began making their wacky brand of cinematic rock in 2003.  They are great at using music and sound to transform century-old movies into immersive and engaging experiences that allow audiences to approach, appreciate, and enjoy the depth and innovation of classic silent film. Czars shows are a lot of fun with opportunities for audience participation and costumery.

In 2026, The Invincible Czars celebrate 100 years of FW Murnau's silent masterpiece FAUST by performing their tastefully modern soundtrack live with the movie at theatres across the US and Canada - including a stop at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, September 12.

Their brand new electrifying score marries new and old elements of classical music, bossa nova and even a touch of heavy metal to bring the movie to life for contemporary audiences and incorporates a mix of instruments like flute, violin and electric guitar.

The Czars' return engagement at the Rio Theatre will function as an FW Murnau "silent sinema" double feature, as guests will be able to take in both FAUST and their revamped version of the 1922 silent classic NOSFERATU - for one sweet price!

Saturday, September 12
FAUST
Doors 6:15 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

NOSFERATU
9:15 pm *Approximate Start Time

Single Film (VIP Admission - GA) $39*
Single Film (Main Floor - GA) $34*
Single Film (Kids 13 and under - GA) $21*

About FAUST

An elderly alchemist named Faust (Gösta Ekman) makes a pact with the demon Mephisto (Emil Jannings) to gain the power to protect his village from plague. Faust soon succumbs to temptation and asks Mephisto to restore his youth and help him acquire all the hedonistic pleasures that earth can offer. Eventually, his love affair with a young woman named Gretchen (Camilla Horn) leads to tragic and devastating consequences for them both.

FAUST has quite a history. It is the quintessential “deal with the devil” tale based on a centuries-old European legend. The legend inspired Johann Wofgang Goethe’s 1808 play which is considered Germany’s greatest literary work.  The play inspired the famous opera by Charles Guonod which director FW Murnau used as a map for his 1926 film.  Virtually every “sell your soul” type story from the film Crossroads to songs like “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” owes a debt to FAUST whether the creators know it or not. (In fact, "Faust" is the opera in Gaston Leroux’s "Phantom of the Opera.")

Murnau had already made a name for himself and set the standard for early horror films with NOSFERATU (1922) and in 1926 he was on top of his game and found himself with a big budget for FAUST with a lot of autonomy from the studio UFI. The result is silent-era German Expressionist eye candy full of amazing sets, innovative special effects and Murnau’s signature camera work.  It was his last German-made film before he moved to Hollywood later that year.

For modern audiences, it’s the cast that really makes the movie entertaining.  The virtually-unknown Camilla Horn is hard not to love in the role of Gretchen.  (Horn had replaced the legendary Lillian Gish in the role when Gish ultimately turned it down due to the subject matter in the film.)  The charismatic (if complicated) Emil Jannings was like the Jim Carrey of his day bringing all emotions with equal gusto and power. He is hilarious, hateable, terrifying and unforgettable especially when paired with Yvette Guilbert as Aunt Marthe

About the Soundtrack

The Invincible Czars’ score for FAUST is mostly original material inspired by film score composers like Bernard Herrman and John Williams peppered with cinematic metal a la Fantomas and even a little Marcos Valle-esque bossa nova.  The band keeps their tradition of incorporating music from Russian classical composers, revisiting their renditions of Mussorgsy’s Pictures at an Exhibition and A Night on Bald Mountain in particular for this soundtrack.  Five players perform the score live on violin, electric guitar, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, glockenspiel, keyboard and drums.

About the Band

Josh Robins - Guitar
Wes Haynes - Keyboards
Phil Davidson - Violin, glockenspiel
Stefan del Bosque - Drums
Kevin Sakai - Clarinet, Flute, Bass Clarinet

The Invincible Czars have made a name for themselves among horror and classic film lovers in the US and Canada with their original, tastefully modern live soundtracks for silent films which they started creating for the original Alamo Drafthouse in their hometown of Austin, TX in 2007, though they began making their wacky brand of cinematic rock in 2003.  They are great at using music and sound to transform century-old movies into immersive and engaging experiences that allow audiences to approach, appreciate, and enjoy the depth and innovation of classic silent film. Czars shows are a lot of fun with opportunities for audience participation and costumery.

Get ready, Vancouver! Dhaka Club Vancouver brings you Artcell Live in Vancouver at the iconic Rio Theatre on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM.

Known as one of Bangladesh’s most influential progressive rock/metal bands, Artcell has captivated fans for decades with powerful vocals, unforgettable guitar work, deep lyrics, and an electrifying stage presence. From fan-favourite classics to their signature progressive sound, this will be a night filled with energy, nostalgia, and pure live music excitement.

Join the Vancouver Bangladeshi community and rock fans from across the Lower Mainland for an unforgettable evening celebrating music, culture, and the return of Artcell to Vancouver.

Sunday, September 13
Show begins at 6:00 pm *Please arrive on time.

Regular Tickets:
Main Floor: $50 + s/c | Balcony: $40 + s/c

Secure your tickets early and be part of one of Vancouver’s biggest Bangla Rock Nights of the year.

A documentary feature about legendary psychedelic punk band, Butthole Surfers. The film traces how two accounting students from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, found solidarity in their shared strangeness, gathered a tribe of like-minded outsiders — queers, weirdos, and nonconformists, including the unforgettable naked performance artist/dancer Kathleen Lynch — and launched one of the most radical and unpredictable paths in rock history.

Against all odds, and with a proudly unmarketable name, they became unlikely icons, inspiring acts like Nirvana and even landing a number one hit. Their live shows were one of a kind events -communal rites of passage for band and audience - the perfect antithesis of the digital isolation of our modern age. The film also goes deep on the personal lives behind the chaos — an intimate portrait of lead singer Gibby Haynes, guitar wizard Paul Leary, drummers Teresa Nervosa and King Coffey, and bassist Jeff Pinkus — five uncompromising originals whose lives took extraordinary turns. With Gibby Haynes, Paul Leary, King Coffey, Teresa Nervosa, Jeff PinkusFlea, Dave Grohl, Richard Linklater, Ian MacKaye, Al Jourgensen, Thurston Moore, John Hawkes, Steve Albini.

#MusicMonday, September 14
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

BUTTHOLE SURFERS: THE HOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUTT (Tom Stern, 2026 / 104 mins / NR) Through exhaustive interviews, archival footage, surreal animation, puppetry reenactments, and more, this film unfolds in the anarchic spirit of this legendary band. Irreverent and funny, but also sincere and heartfelt, this film explores the band's indelible influence on a generation of musicians and fans as these post-punk rock legends look back on their strangeand extraordinary lives. This is not a hagiography. It presents the hole truth and nothing butt, warts and all: sex, drugs, rock and roll, the beautiful, the ugly, and the weird.

POV36 Film Festival – The 36th Persistence of Vision (POV) Film Festival

Join us as we celebrate the next generation of filmmakers at the 36th Annual Persistence of Vision (POV)
Film Festival, proudly presented by students of the UBC Film Production Program.

Over two nights at Vancouver’s iconic Rio Theatre, POV36 will showcase bold new perspectives and
emerging voices through two curated screenings, culminating in our Award Ceremony.

Tuesday, September 15
Doors 6:30 pm | Event 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Iris Programme A — Competition
The Iris Programme is a showcase of short films created by third- and fourth-year students in the UBC Film Production Program. Each film offers a distinct perspective, inviting audiences into the worlds, experiences, and imaginations of the filmmakers behind them.

Listed alphabetically by film title:
Animal Farm — (directed by Emmi Tsiapalis)
Birdie — (directed by Tamara Khoury)
Charcoal Darling — (directed by Ruth Tesfahun)
From the Sea — (directed by Anton Hing)
Jhoom — (directed by Khazina Qureshi)
Karaoke Club — (directed by Jayzee Calingasan)
Muddy Waters — (directed by Eridanus Redenbach)
Sick Days — (directed by Andrew Lee)
Snap Out of It — (directed by Sebastian Isaac-Gooden)

Wednesday, September 16
Doors 6:30 pm | Event 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Iris Programme B + Awards Night — Competition
Screening 2 continues the Iris Programme with another selection of short films from third- and fourth-year students in the UBC Film Production Program, followed by the POV36 Awards Ceremony, where we will celebrate the filmmakers and recognize outstanding achievements across the festival.

Listed alphabetically by film title:
Blue Horse — (directed by Helen Shen)
Dead Air — (directed by Julien Bisnaire Wakeham)
Egg on My Beard — (directed by Gabriel Porath)
Group Therapy — (directed by Tasha Mackenzie)
Head to Heaven — (directed by Sreekullkorn)
Madonna — (directed by Lauren Berg)
Pierrot — (directed by Julianne Pascua)

We look forward to welcoming you to the 36th Annual Persistence of Vision Film Festival and celebrating the creativity, collaboration, and persistence behind this year’s films.

POV36 Film Festival – The 36th Persistence of Vision (POV) Film Festival

Join us as we celebrate the next generation of filmmakers at the 36th Annual Persistence of Vision (POV)
Film Festival, proudly presented by students of the UBC Film Production Program.

Over two nights at Vancouver’s iconic Rio Theatre, POV36 will showcase bold new perspectives and
emerging voices through two curated screenings, culminating in our Award Ceremony.

Iris Programme A — Competition
The Iris Programme is a showcase of short films created by third- and fourth-year students in the UBC Film Production Program. Each film offers a distinct perspective, inviting audiences into the worlds, experiences, and imaginations of the filmmakers behind them.

Listed alphabetically by film title:
Animal Farm — (directed by Emmi Tsiapalis)
Birdie — (directed by Tamara Khoury)
Charcoal Darling — (directed by Ruth Tesfahun)
From the Sea — (directed by Anton Hing)
Jhoom — (directed by Khazina Qureshi)
Karaoke Club — (directed by Jayzee Calingasan)
Muddy Waters — (directed by Eridanus Redenbach)
Sick Days — (directed by Andrew Lee)
Snap Out of It — (directed by Sebastian Isaac-Gooden)

Tuesday, September 15
Doors 6:30 pm | Event 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird tickets available till August 31 - Just $18 per night! (limited quantity available)
Single Night Tickets - $22
2-Night Festival Pass - $30 (limited quantity available)

POV36 Film Festival – The 36th Persistence of Vision (POV) Film Festival

Join us as we celebrate the next generation of filmmakers at the 36th Annual Persistence of Vision (POV)
Film Festival, proudly presented by students of the UBC Film Production Program.

Over two nights at Vancouver’s iconic Rio Theatre, POV36 will showcase bold new perspectives and
emerging voices through two curated screenings, culminating in our Award Ceremony.

Iris Programme B + Awards Night — Competition
Screening 2 continues the Iris Programme with another selection of short films from third- and fourth-year students in the UBC Film Production Program, followed by the POV36 Awards Ceremony, where we will celebrate the filmmakers and recognize outstanding achievements across the festival.

Listed alphabetically by film title:
Blue Horse — (directed by Helen Shen)
Dead Air — (directed by Julien Bisnaire Wakeham)
Egg on My Beard — (directed by Gabriel Porath)
Group Therapy — (directed by Tasha Mackenzie)
Head to Heaven — (directed by Sreekullkorn)
Madonna — (directed by Lauren Berg)
Pierrot — (directed by Julianne Pascua)

Wednesday, September 16
Doors 6:30 pm | Event 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird tickets available till August 31 - Just $18 per night! (limited quantity available)
General Admission - $22
2-Night Festival Pass - $30 (limited quantity available)

The East Van Laugh RioT welcomes comedian Katie Boyle to the Rio Theatre's stage for a night of laughter on Thursday, September 17.

Thursday, September 17
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Tickets on sale April 24 @ 9:00 am

Katie Boyle is an Irish comedian living in New York City. Her favorite stand-up topics are her journey through American culture, dating, therapy and shame! She performed as a "New Face" in the 2023 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and was featured in NY Funniest showcase and New York Comedy Festival in 2022. Katie's debut album and special, I'll Do It Myself, was released through Pinch Records in summer of 2023. The special has since hit half a million views on YouTube and the album hit #1 on iTunes Comedy Charts and is currently available to stream on all major audio platforms. Her Don't Tell Comedy set premiered in November, 2023.

Her second full-length special, Terapy, was released in July, 2025, and is currently available to stream on YouTube and Disruptor Comedy. She performed a full run of her critically acclaimed one-woman dark comedy, Roe v. Wade versus Katie, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, 2025.

Katie has headlined clubs across the United States and Ireland, and brought her hour to Dublin and Cork in the summer of 2024 for four sold-out shows. She’s been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Irish Independent, and The Irish Times and her work has been featured at Laughing Skull, Women in Comedy, Kansas City Irish Fest, and on SiriusXM. Her new, widely acclaimed dark comedy, Roe v Wade versus Katie, was named among the “Best of the Fest” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by The Scotsman in August 2025. She is currently touring the show globally.

Outside of stand-up, Katie has acted in various sketches and shorts, including LadBible and Unilad's Man of the Street videos, and she appeared in a commercial for Oracle. She also collaborates with brands like Piece of Cake Moving, Language Drops, Sundance, and MTV to create and develop funny content. Katie has been producing and emceeing a consistently sold out Irish comedy show at the Dead Rabbit since February, 2023, which flies in Irish comedians to perform. She currently hosts The Shift podcast, on which she and guests discuss sex and dating from an Irish perspective.

Connect with Katie Boyle @KatieBoylecomic

WITCH PERFECT is an all live-singing, comedy parody based on the cult-classic and audience favorite Disney film "Hocus Pocus!"

It features Emmy-winning stars from RuPaul's Drag Race, including Tina Burner (All-Stars 10 and S13's ) as Winifred, Scarlet Envy (Season 11, All-Stars S6, and UK vs the World S2), and Alexis Michelle (Season 9 and All Stars S8) as Mary.

The show features hits from such pop icons as Lady Gaga, Madonna and Cher, as well as Disney classics The Little Mermaid and The Lion King. WITCH PERFECT also flies into Broadway standards from Gypsy and Wicked as well as the sister’s own take on the infamous show-stopper, "I Put a Spell on You."

Make sure to BOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKK your tickets today.

Friday, September 18
Doors 7:00 pm | Event 8:00 pm

VIP Seating with Meet and Greet
$135.45 + s/c (Rows A, B, C and D)

Orchestra
$103.95 + s/c (Rows E - J)

Main Floor
$82.95 + s/c (Rows K through O)

Balcony
$61.95 + s/c

"No good without Evil.
No Love without Hate.
No innocence without Lust.
I am Evil."

We are dimming the lights and firing up the projector in tribute to the late, great actor Tim Curry with a Friday Late Night Movie screening of one of his most memorable turns that lives forever in the dreams (and nightmares) of 80s kids everywhere, Ridley Scott's darkly romantic fantasy fable LEGEND.

While not recognized as a commercial triumph upon its release in 1985, the film has grown into a cult-classic thanks to Scott's overall stunning and moody production design that brings to life a grand, gothic fairy tale world featuring unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows. The story follows a young, mystical forest-dweller on a quest to stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight, and marrying the woman he loves. With Tim Curry, Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Billy Barty.

"This is a fantasy painting come to life as a movie." (Fat Guys at the Movies)

"Though 'Legend' may never achieve full-on classic motion picture status... Ridley Scott's lovingly-crafted fairytale always deserved better than it got from both film critics and paying audiences alike." (Seattle Film Blog)

"Legend remains a stunning faerie floss fantasy." (Starburst)

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

LATE NIGHT DATE NIGHT! Bring a friend, date, or fellow forest-dweller and get two-for-one entry.

LEGEND (Ridley Scott, 1986 / 95 mins / PG) Darkness seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lili from the hands of Darkness.

Wes Barker is the funniest magician touring today! Wild tricks, hilarious stories, and incredible feats. A magic show like you’ve never experienced. You may recognize Wes from his TV show (Big Trick Energy) or other appearances on Kill Tony, America’s Got Talent, Ellen, Syfy, MTV, and Penn & Teller: Fool Us (which he won). Wes also has numerous viral videos which have gained over a billion views across the internet!

Saturday, September 19
Doors 5:30 pm | Show 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird Tickets $36.75+ s/c (Until June 5)
Tickets $42+ s/c

www.youtube.com/WesBarker

"Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?"

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Batman Day (September 19) for a screening of one of the most iconic superhero movies of all time, Tim Burton's original BATMAN. Released in 1989, Burton's BATMAN was the perfect vehicle for his signature, trademark aesthetic. The result is a deliciously dark, gothic, and claustrophobic visualization of Gotham City, one that has laid the definitive blueprint for the look of the franchise as a whole, if not all of "superhero cinema."

Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton, in a career-defining role) fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman who calls himself The Joker (Jack Nicholson, never better) seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger). And we can't leave out Prince's electric soundtrack, can we? With Billy Dee Williams, Robert Wuhl, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall.

"'Batman' is a giddy, disturbing ride through movies and myths past and present. In short, Batman is terrific -- funny, smart and sensitive too, the perfect cinematic date." (Globe and Mail)

"... A stunning achievement, especially through the incredible and unique visualization of director Tim Burton." (The Hollywood Reporter)

"Dark, haunting and poetic." (Washington Post)

"The result is a film that may please adults more than youngsters, and isn't that refreshing?" (Gene Siskel)

Costumes welcome and encouraged! Show us what you've got, kid.

Saturday, September 19
Doors 9:30 pm | Movie 10:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

BATMAN (Tim Burton, 1989 / 122 mins / 14A) The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being Jack Napier, a criminal who becomes the clownishly homicidal Joker.

The Babes! Babes! Babes! show is a jam-packed, laugh out loud, adults only cabaret! The show combines burlesque, drag, comedy, extravagant costumes, showstopping group numbers and naughty humour in a raucous spectacle that will leave you wanting more! Featuring an award winning cast of cabaret artists, each at the top of their field, the BABES show is the perfect way to spice up your night!

In addition to all the sultry teases, the naughty jokes, and the sparkly thongs, the Babes celebrate sexuality, LGBTQ identities, and body confidence with inspiring performances and heartfelt moments.

The West Coast tour features Shirley Gnome (Juno nominated Canadian Siren of Comedy), Selena Vyle (the host of Canada’s longest running Drag Brunch at Glad Day bookshop) and James & The Giant Pasty (2x Most Comedic winner at the Burlesque Hall of Fame).

Also featuring local guest star: La Dame Derrière

Perfect for a date night, a celebration, or a girls night out! So grab a ticket, grab a beverage and indulge in this special adults only evening of cabaret entertainment!

Sunday, September 20
Doors 7:15 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird (Until September 1) $26.25 + s/c
Adult Entry $31.50 + s/c
VIP (First two rows, centre section + Exclusive SWAG) $36.75 + fees

The Babes are touring to 5 cities in British Columbia this fall. For full details and schedule check out babesburlesque.com.

Praise for the Babes, Babes, Babes Burlesque • Drag • Comedy Tour from audience members:

“Sextacular! Made me laugh, made me wet, and made me alive with joy through their incredible art." (Luna M. - Toronto, ON)

Connect on Instagram:
@babesbabesbabestour
@shirleygnome
@jamesgiantpasty
@selenavyle
@ladamederriere

One of YouTube's most popular comics with over 225 million views and half a billion more on Facebook, Steve Hofstetter is also the host of Finding Babe Ruth on FS1. Hofstetter was the host and executive producer of Laughs (FOX) and he has been on CBS’ The Late Late Show, E! True Hollywood Story, Comics Unleashed, and more. He’s sold out shows in hundreds of cities and dozens of countries. Now is your chance to find out what the fuss is about during this no-holds-barred stand-up performance, featuring some of his unfiltered observations about life.

Wednesday, September 23
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Meet and Greet:  Row A, seats 5-17: $210 + GST + s/c
Gold (Centre Section / Main): $77 + GST + s/c
Silver (Side Sections / Main)  $49 + GST + s/c
Balcony (General Admission)  $42 + GST + s/c

Renowned filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa (CURE, PULSE) turns his lens to the winter of 1578 in feudal Japan with THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER, a stunning adaptation of Honobu Yonezawa's award-winning 2003 historical mystery novel "Kokurôjô."

When Lord Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda (Masaki Suda), he finds himself besieged within the walls of his own castle. Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion. With Oda’s army closing in and a traitor hiding among his ranks, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with Kanbei Kuroda (Masaki Suda), a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls.

"Kiyoshi Kurosawa may have made a Samurai murder mystery, but beneath the armor and political intrigue is a warning about what happens when war convinces people that dying honorably matters more than living at all." (The Nerds of Color)

"Kurosawa has made one of his best films, a work that feels a bit like Agatha Christie, a bit like Shakespeare, and even a bit like Samurai Columbo." (RogerEbert.com)

"What emerges is a samurai picture that feels simultaneously classical and modern, austere and capacious, familiar and surprising." (New York Times)

"There is a patience and commitment on display from Kurosawa that requires an equal investment and energy from his audience. But it also doesn’t take much to fully give in to this intricately constructed world of vengeance and mercy, order and dishonour." (Globe and Mail)

"The Samurai and the Prisoner' may be set centuries earlier, but it’s a Kurosawa movie through and through. The talk is grave, the editing unhurried; the camera holds multiple characters in the frame and watches them from a sedate remove." (The New Yorker)

Thursday, September 24
Doors 5:30 pm | Movie 6:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER "Kokurôjô" (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2026 / 147 mins / 14A / Japanese w. EST) Inside sealed Arioka Castle during a rebellion against Oda Nobunaga, rebel Araki Murashige and captive strategist Kuroda Kanbei engage in a tense battle of wits to solve mysterious crimes.

Doug Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) seems to have it pretty good in 2084 A.D. A heavily muscled construction worker, he boasts a beautiful wife, Lori (Sharon Stone), good friends, and a technologically advanced home featuring video phones and even video walls. But he is haunted by dreams of a mysterious brunette woman and the red wastelands of Mars. Quaid visits Rekall, a unique travel agency that implants the memory of an adventure into its customers’ minds, to get the chance to live out his Martian fantasies. When something goes terribly wrong and a blocked off portion of his mind is activated, Quaid finds himself at the center of a dangerous conspiracy. He must travel to Mars and get to the bottom of why he is being hunted by trigger-happy henchmen. But how can he know that what he’s experiencing isn’t just part of the Rekall experience? Are the mutant revolutionaries on Mars his allies, enemies, or complete fabrications? And is the lovely brunette at his side nothing more than a figment of his imagination?

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox and Michael Ironside, Paul Verhoeven's TOTAL RECALL tells the story of a construction worker who suddenly finds himself embroiled in espionage on Mars and unable to determine if the experiences are real or the result of memory implants. Adapted from Philip K. Dick’s short novel, "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale", TOTAL RECALL is a truly visionary film ahead of its time. Released in 1990, the film features a career best performance from the legendary Schwarzenegger, and for its 30th anniversary in 2020, was restored from a scan of the original 35mm negative at Technicolor LA in tiff 16 bits format. Colour-grading was supervised by Jérome Bigleur at Hiventy. The restoration crew paid particularly high attention to preserve special effect continuity.

"Just because it made loads of money...doesn't mean Total Recall isn't ruggedly individualistic art!" (The Village Voice)

Friday, September 25
Doors 11:00 pm | Movie 11:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Late Night Date Night! All tickets are two-for-one entry.

TOTAL RECALL (Paul Verhoeven, 1990 / 113 mins / 14A) Construction worker Douglas Quaid discovers a memory chip in his brain during a virtual-reality trip. He also finds that his past has been invented to conceal a plot of planetary domination. Soon, he's off to Mars to find out who he is and who planted the chip.

Renowned filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa (CURE, PULSE) turns his lens to the winter of 1578 in feudal Japan with THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER, a stunning adaptation of Honobu Yonezawa's award-winning 2003 historical mystery novel "Kokurôjô."

When Lord Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda (Masaki Suda), he finds himself besieged within the walls of his own castle. Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion. With Oda’s army closing in and a traitor hiding among his ranks, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with Kanbei Kuroda (Masaki Suda), a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls.

"Kiyoshi Kurosawa may have made a Samurai murder mystery, but beneath the armor and political intrigue is a warning about what happens when war convinces people that dying honorably matters more than living at all." (The Nerds of Color)

"Kurosawa has made one of his best films, a work that feels a bit like Agatha Christie, a bit like Shakespeare, and even a bit like Samurai Columbo." (RogerEbert.com)

"What emerges is a samurai picture that feels simultaneously classical and modern, austere and capacious, familiar and surprising." (New York Times)

"There is a patience and commitment on display from Kurosawa that requires an equal investment and energy from his audience. But it also doesn’t take much to fully give in to this intricately constructed world of vengeance and mercy, order and dishonour." (Globe and Mail)

"The Samurai and the Prisoner' may be set centuries earlier, but it’s a Kurosawa movie through and through. The talk is grave, the editing unhurried; the camera holds multiple characters in the frame and watches them from a sedate remove." (The New Yorker)

Saturday, September 26
Doors 2:30 pm | Movie 3:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER "Kokurôjô" (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2026 / 147 mins / 14A / Japanese w. EST) Inside sealed Arioka Castle during a rebellion against Oda Nobunaga, rebel Araki Murashige and captive strategist Kuroda Kanbei engage in a tense battle of wits to solve mysterious crimes.

DreamBoard Production House and the Rio Theatre are joining forces to present the Vancouver Short Film Showcase: Volume Two!  

Make some plans and join us on Sunday, September 27 for an incredible lineup of filmmakers with a mix of established and emerging directors exhibiting their work. Spend the afternoon watching films from Alex Caulfield, Ed Douglas, Tom Affolter, Jay Kamal and many more. We will cover a mix of genres, so grab your seat and enjoy incredible shorts from local filmmakers!

Sunday, September 27
Doors 11:30 am | Event 12:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Guess who's back to keep Vancouver laughing in 2026... The East Van Laugh RioT is pleased to welcome back comedian Sammy Obeid - with all-new material! We just can't keep him off our stage!

Sunday, September 27
Doors 4:00 pm | Show 5:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adult Balcony (General Admission) $44 + s/c
Adult Main Floor (Assigned Seating) $55+ s/c
VIP Meet n' Greet (Rows 2-6, centre section) $69+ s/c
VVIP Meet n' Greet (Front Row, centre section) $85+ s/c
Group Ticket Pricing (Minimum 4) $49 (ea)+ s/c (online only)

Lebanese-Palestinian American and born in Oakland California, Sammy Obeid double-majored in Business and Mathematics at UC Berkeley and then turned down a job at Google to be a comedian.

Now the host of 100 Humans on Netflix, he’s also appeared on NBC's Last Comic Standing and America's Got Talent, as well as TBS’s Conan, and is best known for his world record of performing comedy 1,001 nights in a row, a story featured in both Time Magazine and The New York Times.

Connect on Instagram @sammyobeid
Connect on Facebook
Connect on TikTok @sammyobeidthem
Connect on X @sammyobeid

Guess who's back to keep Vancouver laughing in 2026... The East Van Laugh RioT is pleased to welcome back comedian Sammy Obeid - with all-new material! We just can't keep him off our stage!

Sunday, September 27
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adult Balcony (General Admission) $44 + s/c
Adult Main Floor (Assigned Seating) $55+ s/c
VIP Meet n' Greet (Rows 2-6, centre section) $69+ s/c
VVIP Meet n' Greet (Front Row, centre section) $85+ s/c
Group Ticket Pricing (Minimum 4) $49 (ea)+ s/c (online only)

Lebanese-Palestinian American and born in Oakland California, Sammy Obeid double-majored in Business and Mathematics at UC Berkeley and then turned down a job at Google to be a comedian.

Now the host of 100 Humans on Netflix, he’s also appeared on NBC's Last Comic Standing and America's Got Talent, as well as TBS’s Conan, and is best known for his world record of performing comedy 1,001 nights in a row, a story featured in both Time Magazine and The New York Times.

Connect on Instagram @sammyobeid
Connect on Facebook
Connect on TikTok @sammyobeidthem
Connect on X @sammyobeid

Guess who's back to keep Vancouver laughing in 2026... The East Van Laugh RioT is pleased to welcome back comedian Sammy Obeid - with all-new material! We just can't keep him off our stage!

Monday, September 28
Doors 5:30 pm | Show 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adult Balcony (General Admission) $44 + s/c
Adult Main Floor (Assigned Seating) $55+ s/c
VIP Meet n' Greet (Rows 2-6, centre section) $69+ s/c
VVIP Meet n' Greet (Front Row, centre section) $85+ s/c
Group Ticket Pricing (Minimum 4) $49 (ea)+ s/c (online only)

Lebanese-Palestinian American and born in Oakland California, Sammy Obeid double-majored in Business and Mathematics at UC Berkeley and then turned down a job at Google to be a comedian.

Now the host of 100 Humans on Netflix, he’s also appeared on NBC's Last Comic Standing and America's Got Talent, as well as TBS’s Conan, and is best known for his world record of performing comedy 1,001 nights in a row, a story featured in both Time Magazine and The New York Times.

Connect on Instagram @sammyobeid
Connect on Facebook
Connect on TikTok @sammyobeidthem
Connect on X @sammyobeid

WestBeth Entertainment Presents
Schalk Bezuidenhout: Hey Hey Divorcè

Fresh from a sell-out world tour, a hit Netflix stand-up special, hosting Amazon Prime series "The World’s Strangest Jobs," and an arena run supporting Trevor Noah, South African comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout brings his acclaimed new show Hey Hey Divorcé to Canada this fall.

Tuesday, September 29
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Adult Assigned Tickets: $42+ s/c

Following a successful run across the UK, Ireland and Europe earlier this year, Hey Hey Divorcé arrives in Canada after earning rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The show marks Schalk's first stand-up hour in the wake of a marriage breakdown and sees him at his most personal, honest, and unfiltered, while remaining just as side-splittingly funny.

‘Rapid-fire gags and manic energy. Highly recommended.’ ★★★★ - The Age.

★★★★★ Ed Fringe Review  ★★★★ Mervyn Stutter  ★★★★ Broadway Baby

‘Fast-rising talent’ The Guardian

Lloyd Cole will take to the road in 2026 with a run of solo shows in North America, including a stop in Vancouver at the Rio Theatre on Thursday, October 15. His elegant solo live performances in recent years have been predominantly acoustic, but for these concerts he has decided to go electric. The performance will run the gamut from his masterful debut with the Commotions ‘Rattlesnakes’ right up to 2023’s acclaimed ‘On Pain’ touching on all points in between.

Says Lloyd: “In 1999, in retreat from mainstream ambivalence, the idea of becoming a troubadour was perversely alluring. Two acoustic guitars, a suitcase, and a round the world ticket. It took a while for me to become comfortable with it, but The Folksinger Show became my staple. And then, somehow or other, twenty-five years were gone, and now I find myself approaching the end of my career, and wanting to be seen more as just a singer, who wrote a body of work, very little of which one would reasonably label ‘folk’. So I’m back with my Telecaster, my Princeton amp, and my solo show is now electric.”

Thursday, October 15
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

VIP / Artists Circle (Rows A-D, Centre) $65+ s/c
Main Floor (Assigned Seating) $50+ s/c
Balcony (General Admission) $50+ s/c

ABOUT THE ARTIST

In 2023 Lloyd Cole released ‘On Pain’, his twelfth album as a solo artist. He has released 17 studio albums including three with The Commotions [‘Rattlesnakes’ (84), ‘Easy Pieces’ (’85), Mainstream (’87)] twelve solo albums [‘Lloyd Cole’ (’90), ‘Don’t Get Weird On Me Babe’ (’91), ‘Bad Vibes’ (’93), ‘Love Story’ (95), ‘Plastic Wood’ (’01), ‘Music In A Foreign Language’ (’03), ‘Anti Depressant’ (’06), ‘Broken Record’ (’10), ‘Standards’ (’13), ‘1D’ (’15), ‘Guesswork’ (’19), ‘On Pain’ (’23)],  one with The Negatives [‘The Negatives (2000)] and one with Hans Joachim Roedelius  [‘Selected Studies Vol. 1’ (’13)].

WHAT THE PAPERS SAID ABOUT LLOYD COLE’S 2023 ALBUM ‘ON PAIN’

“Ghostly electronica accompanies meditations on loss, mortality and the passage of time on Cole’s absorbing new album.” 4 **** Sunday Times

“Grappling with the ineffable…a richly detailed synth-pop LP of admirable sophistication…it’s Cole’s growing sound design expertise – and ever unique lyrical voice – that ensure his 40-year career still has legs.” (4**** MOJO)

“’A storied songwriter comes of age (again)… He too has become more of what he always was. And somehow he’s achieved that by paring his music down to its rawest essence.” (8/10 Uncut)

“…beautiful and special, the kind of miminalist adventure we hoped Mark Hollis would return with one day, only with added tales of bloodthirsty wolves and drug-addled rockers...Cole is on a roll. He’s still making erudite melodies, but now there’s something new and other to them. At 62, ‘On Pain’ is the sound of a man just getting started.” (8/10 Classic Pop)

“Cole’s ruminations on the human condition have rarely been as finely tuned as this.” (4***  The Sun)

One night. Killer comics. No safe route.

LOWROAD’S Comedy Extravaganza brings together some of the funniest, sharpest and most unpredictable comics working today for one night at the Rio Theatre.

This isn’t watered-down comedy designed to make everybody comfortable. These are fearless, original comedians who dance right on the line of what’s politically correct — and occasionally take a running leap over it.

Featuring comics you’ve seen on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Netflix, Funny AF, and the Just For Laughs Festival, LOWROAD’S Comedy Extravaganza is a showcase of stand-up with an edge: smart, ridiculous, honest and completely uncensored.

Presented by award-winning comedian Dino Archie and the Rio Theatre, the show brings together different voices, different perspectives and one shared philosophy: If it’s funny, it’s fair game.

No lectures. No walking on eggshells. Just a theatre full of people laughing at the things we probably shouldn’t be laughing at.

Come see why the LOWROAD is usually the funniest way to get there.

Friday, October 16
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird Tickets (Until September 4) $22+ fees
Adult Entry $29+ fees
VIP $39+ fees (Rows A-B, Centre Section)
Groups of 4 $25 each+ fees

DINO ARCHIE
Dino Archie is a previous winner of the Seattle International Comedy Competition. He has also won Best Crowd Work at the Just For Laughs New West festival. He was selected for the prestigious Just For Laughs Montreal Nasty Show and later returned as the host of the Just For Laughs NW Nasty Show.
He has been featured on Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Crave Roast Battles, and YouTube’s Don’t Tell Comedy.
Dino has released seven comedy albums: Choosy Lover, Settling Old Scores, I’ve Changed, Live From Lockdown, Toxic But Safe, The Lord’s Work, and Beautiful Burden. Two of his specials, Toxic But Safe and The Lord’s Work, are currently available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. He is currently on his Breaking Even Tour Headlining some of the best Comedy Clubs in North America.
He has performed alongside Bill Burr, Andrew Schulz, Bruce Bruce, Eddie Griffin, Tommy Davidson, and Hannibal Buress.

“Dino Archie’s Choosy Lover is a timeless gem among this generation of comedians.”

EELAND STRIBLING
Eeland Stribling, your aunty’s favorite stand-up comedian! Based in New York from Denver, CO
Winner of the 2025 Don’t Tell Comedy competition and 2023 and 2024 New Faces winner at Comedy Works. Recently chosen for Kevin Hart’s FunnyAF on Netflix! You can also catch him with Nate Bargatze on Nateland.
He used to be a wildlife biologist and environmental educator. Has been called the “Black Steve Irwin,”. Chosen to share his story on an episode of Roots of Comedy on PBS with Jesus Trejo. He also has written and acted in award winning short films.
He decided to combine his two passions in his hit series, Comedians on the Fly, where he takes your favorite comedians fly-fishing. Eeland regularly tours across the country.
Don’t be fooled by his silly and grumpy demeanor, Eeland’s got a heart of gold buried under all the sarcasm. And he’ll make sure you leave his show full of laughs, an animal fact and a brand new opinion on everything from politics to penguins. Grab your tickets now, and treat yourself.

YUMI NAGASHIMA
Yumi Nagashima is a Tokyo-born actress, writer, and international stand-up comedian known for her magnetic stage presence and sharp, globally informed perspective. Blending cultural insight with playful elegance and bold timing, she captivates audiences worldwide. Her work has been featured at Just For Laughs Montreal, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Halifax Comedy Festival, CBC Gem’s New Wave of Stand-Up, and Comedy Central Asia. Her viral comedy clips across social media and YouTube continue to reach a
rapidly growing global audience.

JAMES TROTTER
....has been voted Top 5 local comics.  House of Comedy Laugh off Winner and one of the best up and coming comedians in Canada.

Dreadful Delights
A Nightmarish Cabaret to Tingle One's Spine!

To creep into the spooky season, Melody Mangler has assembled a collection of her favorite performing artists to create a macabre evening of music, circus, dance, theater, burlesque, drag, and magic. This tapestry of terror will feature top Vancouver artists performing original collaborative works to create an experience you should be scared to miss.

Sunday, October 18
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird Pricing $25 + s/c (Until September 1) 
Adult Entry $30 + s/c | $40 + s/c at the door
VIP (Rows A & B, Centre) - $40 + s/c

Sleepaway camp is officially IN SESSION—and YOU’RE INVITED to the hilarious, award-winning drag cabaret DANDY’S CABIN IN THE WOODS, nominated for Best of Vancouver 2026!

Your camp counselor for the evening? TikTok personality and Emmy-winning DANDY, leading you deep into the woods for a night of thrills, chills, campfire tales, and killer entertainment.

Featuring a cast of horror-movie tropes, sexy murderesses, and movie monsters, this camp experience is guaranteed to SLAY!

Can YOU survive a night at Dandy’s Cabin in the Woods?

Friday, October 23
Doors 7:00 pm | Event 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Save with EARLY BIRD tickets available till September 27!

Main Floor Assigned $30 + s/c | $35 at the door
VIP - First 4 rows $40 + s/c **VIP ticket holders also get an interactive prop bag to be used during the show!**
The 'We Are Family' 4 Pack $25 a ticket + s/c (Available online only)

Behind the Emmy award winning costumes and make-up:

Ryan Leslie Fisher plays Dandy (he/him) the revelous cabaret 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, BC. His Emmy-winning series Dandyland, which highlights businesses, organizations, and artists in the LGBT Community, is now streaming on Optik TV.
@dandyandfriends

Rafaella Rabinovich is an internationally trained, award-winning costume designer working across film, television, and live performance. A proud queer artist, she is known for her bold, character-driven approach to storytelling and her ability to elevate the visual language of every project. Trained in costume and set design, Rafaella further specialized and furthered her educetion in theatrical prosthetics, advanced pattern-making and shoe making. Her credits span major studios and networks including Netflix, The CW, ABC, TBS, Disney, Lifetime, Discovery Channel, and Sony, with notable projects including To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Project Mc2, Kung Fu, Stranger in Town, and the upcoming thriller Harmonia staring Carrie Coon, Lily James, Bella Ramsey, and Odessa Young. Her work has earned multiple CAFTCAD Awards, Leo honors, a Costume Society of America Design Award, a Day Time Creative Emmy nomination as well as a Children’s & Family Emmy Award win and recognition at the 27th and 28th Costume Designers Guild Awards for Dandyland. @costume_designer101

The iconic “Half Italian, Half Jersey Boy” brings his viral dating stories and emotional reflections to live audiences this fall.

Outback Presents is proud to announce that viral storyteller, author, and live performer Davide de Pierro will bring his unique live storytelling experience to Canada this fall with three special performances, including at the Rio Theatre on Sunday, November 1.

Known for his candid reflections on relationships and the everyday moments that define the human experience, De Pierro has built a devoted online following of more than 6 million across TikTok and Instagram, where his commentary on dating, personal growth, and modern life regularly reaches millions of viewers.

Inspired by his newly released novel The Letters I Never Sent, the live show blends personal storytelling, humor, and audience conversation. Throughout the night, De Pierro will deliver a monologue and read selections from the book, followed by an open Q&A with the audience. Limited meet-and-greet opportunities will also be available for those who purchase in advance.

“The show is a night out together,” said De Pierro. “It’s storytelling, conversation, some laughs, and hopefully a reminder that we’re all navigating a lot of the same things — relationships, personal growth, and the moments in life that connect us. If people leave feeling a little lighter and a little less alone, then it was a good night.”

Sunday, November 1 - LOW TICKET ALERT!
Doors 2:00 pm | Show 3:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Platinum (Rows A & B, Centre Section) $85.75 + s/c
Main Floor  $55.75 + s/c
Main Floor (Aisle Seats) $65.75 + s/c
Balcony (General Admission) $45.75 + s/c

The iconic “Half Italian, Half Jersey Boy” brings his viral dating stories and emotional reflections to live audiences this fall.

Outback Presents is proud to announce that viral storyteller, author, and live performer Davide de Pierro will bring his unique live storytelling experience to Canada this fall with three special performances, including at the Rio Theatre on Sunday, November 1.

Known for his candid reflections on relationships and the everyday moments that define the human experience, De Pierro has built a devoted online following of more than 6 million across TikTok and Instagram, where his commentary on dating, personal growth, and modern life regularly reaches millions of viewers.

Inspired by his newly released novel The Letters I Never Sent, the live show blends personal storytelling, humor, and audience conversation. Throughout the night, De Pierro will deliver a monologue and read selections from the book, followed by an open Q&A with the audience. Limited meet-and-greet opportunities will also be available for those who purchase in advance.

“The show is a night out together,” said De Pierro. “It’s storytelling, conversation, some laughs, and hopefully a reminder that we’re all navigating a lot of the same things — relationships, personal growth, and the moments in life that connect us. If people leave feeling a little lighter and a little less alone, then it was a good night.”

Sunday, November 1
SOLD OUT!
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Platinum (Rows A & B, Centre Section) $85.75 + s/c
Main Floor  $55.75 + s/c
Main Floor (Aisle Seats) $65.75 + s/c
Balcony (General Admission) $45.75 + s/c

The iconic “Half Italian, Half Jersey Boy” brings his viral dating stories and emotional reflections to live audiences this fall.

Outback Presents is proud to announce that viral storyteller, author, and live performer Davide de Pierro will bring his unique live storytelling experience to Canada this fall with three special performances, including at the Rio Theatre on Sunday, November 1 - Monday, November 2.

Known for his candid reflections on relationships and the everyday moments that define the human experience, De Pierro has built a devoted online following of more than 6 million across TikTok and Instagram, where his commentary on dating, personal growth, and modern life regularly reaches millions of viewers.

Inspired by his newly released novel The Letters I Never Sent, the live show blends personal storytelling, humor, and audience conversation. Throughout the night, De Pierro will deliver a monologue and read selections from the book, followed by an open Q&A with the audience. Limited meet-and-greet opportunities will also be available for those who purchase in advance.

“The show is a night out together,” said De Pierro. “It’s storytelling, conversation, some laughs, and hopefully a reminder that we’re all navigating a lot of the same things — relationships, personal growth, and the moments in life that connect us. If people leave feeling a little lighter and a little less alone, then it was a good night.”

Monday, November 2
Doors 6:00pm | Show 7:00pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Platinum (Rows A & B, Centre Section) $85.75 + s/c
Main Floor  $55.75 + s/c
Main Floor (Aisle Seats) $65.75 + s/c
Balcony (General Admission) $45.75 + s/c

LIMITED EXCLUSIVE Meet n' greet add-on option available! (Select during checkout.)

Composer Claudio Simonetti has written and recorded some of the most influential scores and soundtracks in horror, including SUSPIRIA, DAWN OF THE DEAD, DEEP RED / PROFONDO ROSSO, DEMONS and many others, with his seminal work still informing the genre to this day.

This year, Simonetti's Goblin returns to the Rio Theatre to celebrate Dario Argento's critically-acclaimed 1982 classic, TENEBRE, with a live performance of the score set to a screening of the film. Following the finale of the movie, the collective will return after a brief intermission to deliver an additional performance of quintessential Goblin material and "best of" songs and scores set to their cinematic counterparts.

Friday, November 6
Doors 7:15 pm | Event 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Artists Circle (First two rows, centre section) $85+ s/c
Adult Entry $65+ s/c