There is no better way to appreciate the magic of Studio Ghibli than on the big screen!

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli, GKIDS presents Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki’s epic, hand-drawn fantasy masterpiece PRINCESS MONONOKE in a brand new restoration.

Almost thirty years after its release in 1997, PRINCESS MONONOKE - replete with epic story and breathtaking visuals - remains an undisputed animated triumph and one of the most thrilling adventures ever produced. Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan, the film follows the young warrior Ashitaka; inflicted with a deadly curse, he heads west in search of a cure. There, he stumbles into a bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi, the proud people of Iron Town, and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the humans from destroying her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there. At its core, PRINCESS MONONOKE is something of an "eco-fable," a statement on the natural world's devastation brought on by human advancement that has dazzled audiences worldwide with its breathtaking imagination, exhilarating battles, and deep humanity.

"The film's strength lies in its refusal to paint either its arguments or its characters in black and white: There are no pure heroes, no clear-cut villains and no pat answers." (LA WEEKLY)

"A spellbinding epic with great characters, visuals and pathos." (Film Threat)

Friday, April 18 This screening is the English dub.
Doors 10:30 am | Film 11:00 am *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

The English dub features the voice talents of Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Billy Bob Thornton.

PRINCESS MONONOKE "Mononoke-hime" (Hayao Miyazaki, 1997 / 134 mins / PG) Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Ainu tribe, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict.

Join the party!

Come hang out with us for a FREE #CanFilmDay screening of Oscar-winning Quebecois filmmaker Denys Arcand's JESUS OF MONTREAL. This follow-up to Arcand's hit sex-comedy drama THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE treads familiar waters, as both are sharp social commentaries anchored in contemporary portrayal of a certain class of intellectual, arts-oriented, and mostly urbane Montrealers. JESUS OF MONTREAL enjoyed a similarly warm critical and audience reception, and won numerous accolades including the Genie Award for Best Picture, the Jury Prize at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival, and an Oscar nod for Best Foreign Language Film.

National Canadian Film Day (#CanFilmDay) is a massive, coast-to-coast-to-coast salute to Canadian cinema. From April 16-18, theatres across the country will be opening their doors, dimming the lights, and firing up their projectors for totally free - yes, FREE - screenings of Canadian films. Stand up for Canadian filmmakers and the industry by sitting down - and watching a great Canadian film!

National Canadian Film Day is presented by Reel Canada. Uniting our nation through film!

"Inventive, witty, illuminating: about a contemporary staging of the Passion play, the institutional church's reverence for the status quo, and the false gods of secularism." (Spirituality & Practice)

"It's an original and uncompromising attempt to explore what really might happen, if the spirit of Jesus were to walk among us in these timid and materialistic times." (Chicago Sun-Times)

Friday, April 18
Doors 1:30 pm | Movie 1:55 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

JESUS OF MONTREAL "Jésus de Montréal" (Denys Arcand, 1989 / 120 mins / 18A / In French w/EST) A group of actors put on an unorthodox, but acclaimed Passion Play which incites the opposition of the Catholic Church while the actors' lives themselves begin to mirror the Passion itself.

Join award-winning host Dandy in the rebirth-day party of the century, THE THIRD ANNUAL FABERGÉ BALL. Join in at the bacchanal that folx are calling "a perfect celebration of spring solstice." Every year we offer the gods and goddesses a tribute serving of the hottest drag, burlesque & musical comedy that the iconic Rio Theatre can muster.  Unexpectedly, Mr. Fabergé, the show's billionaire sponsor, has requested to perform a ritual of his own, so 19+ recommended (and required).

Don't want to be crucified on the runway? Then come coutured out in your most pagan solstice symbols or renaissance Saint inspired bedsheets.

Friday, April 18
Doors 7:00 pm | Event 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Main Floor Assigned $30 + s/c | $35+ s/c at the door
VIP – First 4 rows $40 + s/c | $45+ s/c at the door **VIP ticket holders also get an interactive prop bag to be used during the show!**

The Dandy's Disciples 4 Pack $100 + s/c (Available online only)

Early Bird Tickets Available Until Midnight, March 15

Featuring:

Jordy Matheson in the reprisal role of 'Mr. Fabergé'

and Introducing:

Featuring:

Jordy Matheson in the reprisal role of 'Mr. Fabergé'

and Introducing:

Gvil as 'Altar Boy'
Melrose Twist as 'Crocus Flower'
Malandro as 'Saint Deville'
Mx. Black Ice as 'Jesus'
Strawberry Short King as 'Judas'
and Phyllis Hull as 'Drag-Mother Superior'

Deviant Dancers

Sophia Diamond
Gnarleigh
Rebel Valentine
Heidi Holiday
Ms Heart
Dusty Crops
with choreography by Jalebia Majora

About your Host:

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

@dandyandfriends

National Canadian Film Day (#CanFilmDay) is a massive, coast-to-coast-to-coast salute to Canadian cinema. On Wednesday, April 16, theatres across the country will be opening their doors, dimming the lights, and firing up their projectors for totally free – yes, FREE – screenings of Canadian films. Stand up for Canadian filmmakers and the industry by sitting down – and watching a great Canadian film! (We've gone rogue and added a couple more FREE films on April 18th including Jesus Of Montreal and Ginger Snaps!)

Ginger Snaps is a 2000 Canadian supernatural horror film directed by John Fawcett and written by Karen Walton. The film stars Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle as Brigitte and Ginger Fitzgerald, two morbid teenage sisters whose relationship is tested when Ginger (who has started her period for the first time) is attacked and bitten by an unknown animal, and then later, during the next full moon, slowly starts to transform into a werewolf. The supporting cast features Kris Lemche, Jesse Moss, Danielle Hampton, John Bourgeois, Peter Keleghan, and Mimi Rogers.

After premiering at the Munich Fantasy Filmfest in August 2000 and screening at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival, Ginger Snaps received a limited theatrical release in May 2001. Despite modest box office receipts, the film was a critical success. It has since amassed a cult following and has been reexamined for its feminist themes.

"A smart, resourceful, and wickedly funny teen-horror film that reinvents the werewolf myth as a potent metaphor for pubescent angst and humiliation." (AV Club)

"The sharp feminist narrative makes up for the admirable but underwhelming werewolf makeup and other practical effects." (Chicago Reader)

Friday, April 18
Doors 11:00 PM | Film 11:30 PM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Reserve your free ticket(s) now!

GINGER SNAPS (John Fawcett | 2000 | 108 mins | 18A) The story of two outcast sisters, Ginger and Brigitte, in the mindless suburban town of Bailey Downs. On the night of Ginger's first period, she is savagely attacked by a wild creature. Ginger's wounds miraculously heal but something is not quite right. Now Brigitte must save her sister and save herself.

Visionary Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan's latest work casts Amanda Seyfriend as earnest theatre director Jeanine, who has been given the task of remounting her former mentor’s most famous work, the opera "Salome." Haunted by dark and disturbing memories from her past, Jeanine allows her repressed trauma to color the present as she re-enters the opera world after so many years away.

With SEVEN VEILS, the director is diving into his own "art imitating life" pool, as he famously directed the opera, 'Salome,' in 1996 (the first opera in what would be many to come over his career). Best known as a prominent film director since the 1980s, Egoyan has proven he is a master of both mediums. “I’ve been involved with opera for a number of years, doing it parallel to my film work. I always wondered if there was a way to bring the two worlds together,” he says.

More recently, the director was interested in exploring what the production of 'Salome' would mean in our current culture. This interest led him to write the script for SEVEN VEILS, about a remount of Salome that he filmed at the same time the opera was on stage, using the opera singers from Salome in the film. “Salome is a production I’ve done a number of times so when I knew that the Canadian Opera Company was remounting it, I thought this would be an ideal time to fuse the opera singers I knew they had booked with the script I had written,” says Egoyan. “I wanted to try and fuse the themes of the opera with the themes of the screenplay which was dealing with the world around the making of this opera. It’s not really an opera movie, it’s just using the world of the opera as a workplace like any workplace. We see the characters as they float in and out of scenes dealing with the preparation of the opera.”

"Egoyan has always delved right into fraught familial ties without shying away from ugliness, and "Seven Veils" is perhaps his most overt exploration of familial trauma. " (RogerEbert.com)

"Resituating classic operas in updated contexts is, by now, old hat... But with “Seven Veils” Mr. Egoyan has done something more interesting, weaving a new narrative into and around the opera until the two become a dense, dark thicket of their own." (Wall Street Journal)

"Amanda Seyfried gives a dynamic, complex performance as an opera director grappling with trauma in her past and present." (Observer)

"A fascinating film about appropriation – not cultural but personal, the morally dubious territory in which the artist takes your trauma and spins it into gold." (Globe and Mail)

Saturday, April 19
Doors 12:45 pm | Movie 1:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

SEVEN VEILS (Atom Egoyan, 2025 / 107 mins / 14A) After years away, theater director Jeanine re-enters the opera world to stage her former mentor's most famous work. Haunted by dark and disturbing memories from her past, Jeanine allows her repressed trauma to color the present as her personal and professional lives begin to unravel.

The Rio Theatre is delighted to welcome Austin. Texas ensemble The Invincible Czars back to our stage for a double bill night featuring two classics from the silent era  - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI - accompanied with a live, original score.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA The iconic moment when Mary Philbin removed Lon Chaney's mask in The Phantom of the Opera (1925, dir. Rupert Julian) is one of cinema’s most enduring images. Now, The Invincible Czars will bring their signature blend of eclectic instrumentation, adventurous arrangements and sense of  emotional depth to this 100-year-old classic with their new, tastefully modern soundtrack, performing it live with the film in art house cinemas across the US and Canada in 2025.

The tour will celebrate the 100th anniversary of this early American horror film.  The band has been captivating both music and film enthusiasts across North America since 2015 when their soundtrack for Nosferatu earned them accolades in the art house community and made them staple of the silent film circuit.

The Czars’ Phantom of the Opera soundtrack is the culmination of nearly a year of meticulous composition, recording, and collaboration. The group drew inspiration from the film’s gothic visuals and haunting narrative to craft a score using their primary instruments: piano, violin, electric guitar/bass, organ, flute, drums and bass clarinet.  They create a live experience so immersive that it’s easy to forget the music is being played live at times!

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI tells the story of a group of friends who encounter the mysterious Dr. Caligari and his scary, sleepwalking sidekick Cesare at a carnival.  When a series of murders brings the town to its knees, Franzis sets out to prove Caligari is responsible... But is he?

There is simply no better way to experience these icons of of the silent era than on the big screen, accompanied with a live score!

Saturday, April 19
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Centennial Tour Live
Doors 6:15 pm | Film 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI
Movie 9:15 pm *As this is screening as part of a double feature, the start time is subject to change.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA & DR. CALIGARI Double Feature Pricing - See them BOTH for one incredible price!
Double Feature Kids (Under 12) $22 + s/c
Double Feature Seniors & Students (Must provide ID) $30 + s/c | $35 at the door
Double Feature Adult Assigned (Main Floor) Tickets $35 + s/c | $40 at the door
Double Feature VIP Tickets (Priority Seating in the first 6 rows, centre section) $40 + s/c | $45 at the door

Sorry, single film tickets for 'Phantom' not available. But trust us, once you experience the first film, you won't want to miss the next!

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THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI

Single Feature tickets on sale here: https://riotheatretickets.ca/events/34882-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari-w-the-invincible-czars-single-film-tickets

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Following the film(s) The Invincible Czars will participate in a brief talkback with the audience, meet and greet, and will also be selling their amazing, one-of-a-kind merch!

The iconic moment when Mary Philbin removed Lon Chaney's mask in The Phantom of the Opera (1925, dir. Rupert Julian) is one of cinema’s most enduring images. Now, The Invincible Czars will bring their signature blend of eclectic instrumentation, adventurous arrangements and sense of  emotional depth to this 100-year-old classic with their new, tastefully modern soundtrack, performing it live with the film in art house cinemas across the US and Canada in 2025.

The tour will celebrate the 100th anniversary of this early American horror film.  The band has been captivating both music and film enthusiasts across North America since 2015 when their soundtrack for Nosferatu earned them accolades in the art house community and made them staple of the silent film circuit.

The Czars’ Phantom of the Opera soundtrack is the culmination of nearly a year of meticulous composition, recording, and collaboration. The group drew inspiration from the film’s gothic visuals and haunting narrative to craft a score using their primary instruments: piano, violin, electric guitar/bass, organ, flute, drums and bass clarinet.  They create a live experience so immersive that it’s easy to forget the music is being played live at times!

Who are The Invincible Czars?

Phil Davidson (violin, keyboards, percussion)
Skunk Manhattan (piano, keyboards, bass)
Josh Robins (guitar, bass, samples, percussion)
Louis Landry (drums, percussion, keyboards)
Hampton Rattan (winds, keys)

Hailing from Austin, Texas, The Invincible Czars make cinematic, experimental "rock" for music nerds, horror fans, film lovers, followers of science fiction and fact, comics, cartoons & humor and anyone with a complicated relationship with heavy metal and classical music.

Do you like Primus, Tchaikovsky, Frank Zappa, Steve Martin, Louis Armstrong, Danny Elfman, Ween, Monty Python and Mr. Bungle? 

They do, too, and their revolving door of players keeps them sounding and looking different from project to project.

The Alamo Drafthouse called them, "one of the best silent film orchestras in the nation."

“(The Invincible Czars' soundtrack for Nosferatu is) a brilliantly realized wedding of contemporary musical sensibility and technology with early 20th century cinema.”
Chico News Review 

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Rupert Julian, 1925 / 107 mins) The deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House causes murder and mayhem in an attempt to make the woman he loves a star.

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI "Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari" (Robert Wiene, 1920 / 67 mins) Hypnotist Dr. Caligari uses a somnambulist, Cesare, to commit murders.

The Rio Theatre is delighted to welcome Austin. Texas ensemble The Invincible Czars back to our stage for a double bill night featuring two classics from the silent era  - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI - accompanied with a live, original score.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA The iconic moment when Mary Philbin removed Lon Chaney's mask in The Phantom of the Opera (1925, dir. Rupert Julian) is one of cinema’s most enduring images. Now, The Invincible Czars will bring their signature blend of eclectic instrumentation, adventurous arrangements and sense of  emotional depth to this 100-year-old classic with their new, tastefully modern soundtrack, performing it live with the film in art house cinemas across the US and Canada in 2025.

The tour will celebrate the 100th anniversary of this early American horror film.  The band has been captivating both music and film enthusiasts across North America since 2015 when their soundtrack for Nosferatu earned them accolades in the art house community and made them staple of the silent film circuit.

The Czars’ Phantom of the Opera soundtrack is the culmination of nearly a year of meticulous composition, recording, and collaboration. The group drew inspiration from the film’s gothic visuals and haunting narrative to craft a score using their primary instruments: piano, violin, electric guitar/bass, organ, flute, drums and bass clarinet.  They create a live experience so immersive that it’s easy to forget the music is being played live at times!

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI tells the story of a group of friends who encounter the mysterious Dr. Caligari and his scary, sleepwalking sidekick Cesare at a carnival.  When a series of murders brings the town to its knees, Franzis sets out to prove Caligari is responsible... But is he?

There is simply no better way to experience these icons of of the silent era than on the big screen, accompanied with a live score!

Saturday, April 19
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Centennial Tour Live
Doors 6:15 pm | Film 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

brief intermission

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI
Movie 9:15 pm *As this is screening as part of a double feature, the start time is subject to change.

Double Feature tickets on sale here: https://riotheatretickets.ca/events/34881-the-phantom-of-the-opera-100th-anniversary-silent-sinema-screening-with-the-invincible-czars-live

Sorry, single film tickets for 'Phantom' not available. But trust us, once you experience the first film, you won't want to miss the next!

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THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI Single Film Tickets
Single Feature Kids (Under 12) $20 + s/c
Single Feature Seniors & Students (Must provide ID) $25 + s/c | $30 at the door
Single Feature General Admission Tickets $30 + s/c | $35 at the door

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Following the film(s) The Invincible Czars will participate in a brief talkback with the audience, meet and greet, and will also be selling their amazing, one-of-a-kind merch!

The iconic moment when Mary Philbin removed Lon Chaney's mask in The Phantom of the Opera (1925, dir. Rupert Julian) is one of cinema’s most enduring images. Now, The Invincible Czars will bring their signature blend of eclectic instrumentation, adventurous arrangements and sense of  emotional depth to this 100-year-old classic with their new, tastefully modern soundtrack, performing it live with the film in art house cinemas across the US and Canada in 2025.

The tour will celebrate the 100th anniversary of this early American horror film.  The band has been captivating both music and film enthusiasts across North America since 2015 when their soundtrack for Nosferatu earned them accolades in the art house community and made them staple of the silent film circuit.

The Czars’ Phantom of the Opera soundtrack is the culmination of nearly a year of meticulous composition, recording, and collaboration. The group drew inspiration from the film’s gothic visuals and haunting narrative to craft a score using their primary instruments: piano, violin, electric guitar/bass, organ, flute, drums and bass clarinet.  They create a live experience so immersive that it’s easy to forget the music is being played live at times!

Who are The Invincible Czars?

Phil Davidson (violin, keyboards, percussion)
Skunk Manhattan (piano, keyboards, bass)
Josh Robins (guitar, bass, samples, percussion)
Louis Landry (drums, percussion, keyboards)
Hampton Rattan (winds, keys)

Hailing from Austin, Texas, The Invincible Czars make cinematic, experimental "rock" for music nerds, horror fans, film lovers, followers of science fiction and fact, comics, cartoons & humor and anyone with a complicated relationship with heavy metal and classical music.

Do you like Primus, Tchaikovsky, Frank Zappa, Steve Martin, Louis Armstrong, Danny Elfman, Ween, Monty Python and Mr. Bungle? 

They do, too, and their revolving door of players keeps them sounding and looking different from project to project.

The Alamo Drafthouse called them, "one of the best silent film orchestras in the nation."

“(The Invincible Czars' soundtrack for Nosferatu is) a brilliantly realized wedding of contemporary musical sensibility and technology with early 20th century cinema.”
Chico News Review 

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Rupert Julian, 1925 / 107 mins) The deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House causes murder and mayhem in an attempt to make the woman he loves a star.

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI "Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari" (Robert Wiene, 1920 / 67 mins) Hypnotist Dr. Caligari uses a somnambulist, Cesare, to commit murders.

Since its initial release in 1973, the late, great director Norman Jewison's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR remains a beloved big screen staple adored by movie and musical aficionados the world over. This dazzling rock-opera is adapted from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic Broadway (not to mention biblical) phenomenon, a bold and epic production that recounts the last week in the life of Jesus Christ's final weeks.

Shot entirely on location in Israel, producer-director Jewison creates a brilliant example of modern movie-making with groundbreaking vision, set against the unforgettable songs of Rice and Webber. The film was nominated for several Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. With Ted Neeley, Yvonne Elliman,

"Jewison, a director of large talent, has taken a piece of commercial shlock and turned it into a Biblical movie with dignity." (Roger Ebert)

Sunday, April 20
Doors 1:15 pm | Movie 1:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Norman Jewison, 1973 / 108 mins / G) | Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life, told in an anachronistic manner.

Cheech and Chong’s enduring partnership begins like the start of a classic joke set-up: "a Chicano kid from South Central LA and a half-Chinese Motown musician meet at a strip club in Canada," and ends with one of the most iconic duos in entertainment history.

In the 1970s, Cheech & Chong redefined stand-up comedy, blending drugs, sex, rock’n’roll, and improvisation into a genre-shaping act. Their multicultural, irreverent humor turned them into icons, counterculture rock stars, and Hollywood legends. Raucous, accessible, and explosively funny, their groundbreaking stoner humor has translated into sold-out concerts, platinum-selling records, and box-office-smashing films. The two have reached professional and personal heights well beyond their wildest dreams, while suffering their share of fallouts and stumbles, becoming a comedy rite of passage for multiple generations.

How did Cheech and Chong ignite imaginations and stay relevant over 50 years? Join them for one last ride to find out...

"Their low-key chemistry and obvious affection for each other despite their past issues are still very much on display, delivering a nostalgic kick that you don’t even have to be high to enjoy." (The Hollywood Reporter)

"Any serious comedy fan will probably get something from “Last Movie” even as it overstays its welcome. It’s refreshing that the film never tries to force Cheech and Chong’s comedy to transcend its historical period." (IndieWire)

Sunday, April 20
Doors 3:50 pm | Movie 4:20 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Tickets on sale now!

CHEECH & CHONG'S LAST MOVIE (David Bushell, 2025 / 122 mins / NR) Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong discuss their lifelong friendship and popularity as a comedic duo. Features interviews, sketches and never-before-seen footage spanning their five-decade career.

Making the world safe for beer drinkers everywhere!

Canadian comedy icons Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas star as Doug and Bob MacKenzie, two regular hosers out to save the world--one beer at a time--after they discover a comically nefarious global plot in a mug of a Strange Brew.

In this certified Can-Con cult-classic romp very, very loosely based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, "SCTV" characters Doug and Bob find the job of their dreams at the Elsinore brewery. But something's rotten in the fermentation vats as the MacKenzies find that deranged Brewmeister Smith plans to commit the ultimate sacrilege--tamper with the beer. Now, can Doug and Bob foil Smith's scheme for world domination by inducing mind control through Elsinore's beer? Featuring the voice of Mel Blanc as Mr. McKenzie. With Max Von Sydow, Paul Dooley.

"[A] funny movie about a couple of Canadians who sit around and drink a lot." (Austin Chronicle)

Sunday, April 20
Doors 6:30 pm | Movie 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

STRANGE BREW (Rick Moranis & Dave Thomas, 1983 / PG) In their quest for free beer, bumbling Canadian brothers Bob and Doug McKenzie wind up working at the Elsinore Brewery. The hapless lads uncover a sinister mind-control plot spearheaded by Brewmeister Smith and must stop the scheme, which also involves Uncle Claude (Paul Dooley), a member of the Elsinore family. As Bob and Doug try to prevent Smith from taking over the world, they also manage to drink plenty of their favorite sudsy beverage.

“That’s just, like, your opinion, man.”

In 1998, the Coen brothers delivered THE BIG LEBOWSKI into the movie universe, and we've all been collectively quoting it ever since.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI has really grown into its status as a true "cult classic." A quirky, quasi-neo-noir story, truly glorious visual sequences, some hilarious dialogue and standout performances from an A-list cast really tie the whole thing together, man. Jeff Bridges abides as unemployed stoner Jeff Lebowski (aka, "The Dude"), a laid-back, easygoing burnout who just happens to have the same name as a millionaire whose wife Bunny owes a lot of dangerous people (nihilists?) a whole bunch of money. When some bad guys break into The Dude's house and pee on his rug, he seeks out the other Lebowski, which sends him spiraling into a weird trip through Los Angeles' even weirder underworld. Also starring John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Huddleston, John Turturro, Tara Reid, and Flea.

This fan favourite is best enjoyed chillin' with friends (maybe in your pajamas, an old bathrobe, or a comfy Cowichan sweater - your call, we can abide with however you roll) and maybe an adult beverage (perhaps a delicious White Russian or two - you deserve it! And yes, they will be on special at the bar!)

"A typical Coen brothers film is like no film you've ever seen." (The Globe & Mail)

Sunday, April 20
Doors 8:45 pm | Movie 9:15 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998 / 117 minutes / 14A) | Jeff `The Dude' Leboswki is mistaken for Jeffrey Lebowski, who is The Big Lebowski. Which explains why he's roughed up and has his precious rug peed on. In search of recompense, The Dude tracks down his namesake, who offers him a job. His wife has been kidnapped and he needs a reliable bagman. Aided and hindered by his pals Walter Sobchak, a Vietnam vet, and Donny, master of stupidity.

Six years, traversing the entire 24,000 kms of Canada's land and water trails from sea to sea.

Award-winning director and cinematographer Dianne Whelan is the only person to complete this epic journey of discovery—hiking, biking, paddling, snowshoeing and skiing across the country.

For a woman in her 50s who is not an extreme athlete, it was sometimes gruelling, occasionally harrowing, often exhilarating and always surprising. She started out alone, disillusioned with the state of the world and worried about climate change, to look for different ways of caring for the land and each other. She ended the journey a bit wiser, more hopeful, in love and with a passion to share this story.

Climate change is a silent theme unfolding in the landscapes; melting permafrost in the Arctic, salmon in the Mackenzie river, record-breaking 120°F heat and fires in the BC interior.

Whelan's remarkable feature documentary weaves intimate moments of reflection with adventure and stories of the people and communities she encountered along her way.

Director Dianne Whelan will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.

Monday, April 21
Doors 11:30 am | Movie 12:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

500 DAYS IN THE WILD (Dianne Whelan, 2024 / 120 mins / G) Disappointed with the state of the world, filmmaker Dianne Whelan embarks on a solo, self-recorded journey travelling across Canada.

30 Years of Gut-Busting Laughs with Don Burnstick!

Burnstick Promotions and the Rio Theatre proudly present Don Burnstick live on stage on Monday, April 21. It’s time to celebrate 30 years of belly laughs, side-splitting humor, and the kind of comedy that makes your face hurt from grinning—and not your auntie bum flat from sitting to long.

After performing across North America, selling out thousands of shows, and spreading joy to countless people, Don Burnstick is bringing the funny to you. Expect an unforgettable night of raw, edgy comedy that’ll have you rolling in the aisles and begging for more. A proud Cree from Alexander First Nation, Don’s comedy transcends borders, blending cultural truths with universal laughs. It’s no wonder he’s a global sensation with a schedule so packed he probably tours more than Santa.

From relatable res stories to his razor-sharp satire, Burnstick’s unique brand of humor connects deeply with audiences all over the world. Whether you’ve followed him from his first joke to now, or you’re experiencing his comedy genius for the first time, one thing’s for sure—you’re in for a treat (or maybe a roast).

“Prepare for a night of storytelling so good, even your chattiest cousin will shut up and listen.”

Monday, April 21
Doors 4:00 pm | Show 5:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Balcony Tickets $30+ s/c (Perfect for those who laugh louder with a bird’s-eye view.)
Main Floor $50+ s/c (Front-row splash zone: Comedy tears and laughs guaranteed!)
VIP $80+ s/c (Includes a post show meet and greet, and exclusive merch. Selfies with Don are priceless!).

Warning: This show contains real comedy. May cause tears of joy, sore ribs, and dangerously funny memories you’ll repeat to your friends forever.

Buy your tickets now before they’re gone faster than a bag of bannock at a family gathering!

Elliot (Jeremy Irons), a successful gynecologist, works at the same practice as his identical twin, Beverly (also Irons). Elliot is attracted to many of his patients and has affairs with them. When he inevitably loses interest, he will give the woman over to Beverly, the meeker of the two, without the woman knowing the difference. Beverly falls hard for one of the patients, Claire (Geneviève Bujold), but when she inadvertently deceives him, he slips into a state of madness.

DEAD RINGERS swept the 1989 Genie Awards, taking home 11 trophies including Best Canadian Film, Director, and Actor.

"Cronenberg turns this based-on-fact story into a genuine creep show." (Film Frenzy)

"Irons gives a highly accomplished performance in a chilly knife-swapping psychodrama that remains among the director's leanest, meanest releases." (Film4)

Monday, April 21
Doors 7:15 pm | Movie 7:45 pm *Start time subject to change.  Please arrive on time.

DEAD RINGERS (David Cronenberg, 1988 / 115 mins / 18A) Elliot and Beverly are world-renowned gynaecologists and identical twins. Both are troubled by the seemingly unbreakable bond between them as they share everything from their clinic to their women - until they meet Claire. Whilst Elliot enjoys seducing her, Beverly falls in love and wishes to break away from his brother in order to become closer to her. However, as his attempt to love unravels, so does his sanity and it becomes apparent that the twins are bonded by madness as well as blood.

Fresh out of prison, Billy Skinner returns to his transformed low-income neighbourhood, now populated by Syrian refugees. Struggling to overcome his dark past, Billy forges an unexpected bond with Mo, a compassionate Syrian immigrant determined to build a better life for his family. With Jay Abdo, Lawrence Barry, Kate Corbett.

Official Selection
TIFF INDUSTRY SELECTS 2024 https://tiff.net/events/skeet, ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024, BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024, YELLOWSTONE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024, VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2025
'
Awards
Best Actor (Atlantic International Film Festival), Best Cinematography (Atlantic International Film Festival), Audience Award - (Buffalo International Film Festival), Best Actor (Yellowstone International Film Festival)

Tuesday, April 22
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

SKEET (Nik Sexton, 2025 / 104 mins / NR) Seven years in the making, SKEET tracks the unlikely friendship of an ex-con and a Syrian newcomer as they face their demons and seek a fresh start in Newfoundland.

The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi’gmaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are immune to the zombie plague. Traylor, the tribal sheriff, must protect his son’s pregnant girlfriend, apocalyptic refugees, and reserve riff raff from the hordes of walking white corpses. With Michael Greyeyes, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Devery Jacobs, Forrest Goodluck.

"Barnaby's film rejects the default white gaze of so many horror films, choosing to tell a story through an unapologetically Indigenous lens." (Austin Chronicle)

"You better have a novel wrinkle or two if you expect anyone to enjoy your zombie movie these days, and this one presents a fascinating hook." (Thrillist)

"'Blood Quantum' is a refreshing break from the same sad drama that is usually regurgitated when filmmakers, even those from an Indigenous or Native background, attempt to talk about the Indian experience." (Thrillist)

"With a unique and clever plot twist on the zombie trope, an important place in film history and some badass swordplay, 'Blood Quantum' is one to watch out for." (SciFi Now)

Tuesday, April 22
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

BLOOD QUANTUM (Jeff Barnaby, 2019 / 18A) The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi'kmaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are strangely immune to the zombie plague.

Mountains on Stage is back at the Rio Theatre for its Summer 2025 edition on Wednesday, April 23. This renowned international festival aims to bring the mountains to the city and to share all the beauty of mountain sports!

A selection of the best films related to mountain activities are presented. Details coming soon!

Wednesday, April 23
Doors 6:00 pm | Event 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Nikola Đuričko
Presented by System Entertainment

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Thursday, April 24 for a live performance from actor and comic Nikola Đuričko ("Stranger Things").

Thursday, April 24
Doors 6:00 pm | Event 7:00 pm *Start time subject to to change. Please arrive on time.

Please note: This performance is in the Serbian language.

Nikola Đuričko spremio je novi program pod nazivom ,, Showbiz” i u okviru velike turneje nakon Srbije, Evrope i Amerike dolazi u Vankuver 24. aprila. Novi material kao i prošlog puta Nikola Đuričko je pisao sam a tiče se njegovog života karijere i porodice. I ovaj šou ima za cilj da ispriča na duhovit način zanimljive detalje iz njegovog života i karijere.

Nikola Đuričko: ’’SHOWBIZ?’’ je moj novi stend up šou

Skoro tri godine nisam nastupao pa sam se uželeo ljudi, publike. Imam puno novog materijala, recimo zašto su me hvatali u kragnu, zašto sam morao da prisustvujem porođaju ili zašto sam prijavio sina u policiju.

To su samo neka nova životna iskustva i saznanja koja želim da podelim sa ljudima.”
Džoni zlatousti, čovek koji rečima leči. Humor za duhovite.

www.systementertainment.com

A sinister, twisted twist on the classic Brothers Grimm Cinderella story, THE UGLY STEPSISTER follows Elvira as she battles to compete with her insanely beautiful and enchanting stepsister Agnes in an attempt to earn Prince Julian's affection - at any cost. In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will go to any lengths to win, and conform to the kingdom's ideals of beauty. THE UGLY STEPSISTER is the gory tale of the blood and sweat, grit and gold that goes into making Elvira the belle of the ball.

"'Cinderella' meets Cronenberg... Emilie Blichfeldt knows the exact point of queasiness to which she can push an audience and gradually tests how much further she can move that mark with each successive scene." (Slant Magazine)

"Blends the more brutal folktale elements with phantasmatic longing to create a version of Cinderella where beauty is pain for some women, but life is pain for all of them." (Sight & Sound)

"[Director] Blichfeldt is able to pointedly and scarily address her of-the-moment themes without breaking the finely crafted period spell her movie casts." (Rue Morgue Magazine)

"The Ugly Stepsister ... the work of a bold, fearless filmmaker willing to explore the darkest, grimmest, and goriest aspects of physical beauty, what it means, how it’s for, and how it’s weaponized against women." (ScreenAnarchy)

Thursday, April 24
Doors 9:10 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE UGLY STEPSISTER "Den stygge stesøsteren" (Emilie Blichfeldt, 2025 / 105 / NR / Norwegian w/EST) Elvira dreams of the weak-kneed virgin, Prince Julian, and is willing to go to great lengths to conform to the kingdom's ideals of beauty. A surprising and raw twist on the fairy tale `Cinderella', seen from her stepsister's point of view.

At the prestigious Mayflower Dog Show, a "documentary film crew" captures the excitement and tension displayed by the eccentric participants in the outrageously hilarious satire BEST IN SHOW.

This biting send-up (shot in Vancouver!) from the genius comedic minds of Christopher Guest (THIS IS SPINAL TAP) and Eugene Levy (SCTV) exposes the wondrously diverse dog owners who travel from all over America to showcase their four-legged contenders.

Mild-mannered salesman Gerry Fleck and his vivacious wife, Cookie, happily prepare their Norwich Terrier, while shop owner Harlan Pepper hopes his Bloodhound wins top prize. As two upwardly mobile attorneys anxiously ready their neurotic Weimaraner and an ecstatically happy gay couple dote on their tiny Shih Tzu, inept commentator Buck Laughlin vainly attempts to provide colorful tidbits about each breed. Now, with the championship at stake, the owners and the canine competitors strut their stuff for the judges in hopes of taking home the ultimate prize--Best In Show. With Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Michael McKean, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge, Parker Posey, Bob Balaban, Will Sasso.

"The dogs may be cute, but it's the people who steal the show." (Salon.com)

"A wickedly funny mockumentary." (Roger Ebert)

"... a well-organized, exquisitely nuanced skit comedy." (New York Times)

Friday, April 25
Doors 5:50 pm | Movie 6:20 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

BEST IN SHOW (Christopher Guest, 2000 / ) A behind-the-scenes look into the highly competitive and cut-throat world of dog shows through the eyes of a group of ruthless dog owners.

"Describe your perfect date...?"

Join us at the Rio Theatre for a 25th Anniversary screening of MISS CONGENIALITY on Friday, April 25... It's the perfect date, because it's it's not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.

The full range of Sandra Bullock's magnetic charisma and comedic chops are on full display in this hilarious action-comedy about Grace, an FBI agent who goes undercover and a beauty contestant to capture a terrorist. After credible threats are made to bomb the Miss United States pageant, the FBI rushes to find a female agent to cosplay and infiltrate the organization. Unfortunately, Grace is the only female FBI agent who can "look the part," despite her complete lack of refinement and femininity. She prides herself in being, "just one of the boys" and is horrified at the idea of becoming a girly-girl. With Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine, William Shatner, Ernie Hudson, and Candice Bergen.

Friday, April 25 The Perfect Date!
Doors 8:15 pm | Movie 8:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Girls Night Out (Group of 4 tickets - $12 per person, all in)

MISS CONGENIALITY (Donald Petrie, 2000 / 110 mins / 14A) Gracie Hart, a tomboyish detective, is forced to infiltrate the Miss United States beauty pageant as a contestant after her department learns that the event is under threat from an anonymous bomber.

"Just one man can make a difference."

The Rio Theatre's Friday Late Night Movie series continues on April 25 (aka ANZAC Day) with a screening of one of the biggest action movies from one of the biggest action franchises ever, Australian filmmaker George Miller's 1981 blockbuster MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR.

This wildly successful sequel to Miller's original 1979 cult-classic MAD MAX finds Mel Gibson reprising his role as Max Rockatansky, who, after avenging the death of his wife and young son at the hands of a vicious gang leader, drives the post-apocalyptic highways of the Australian outback while fending off attacks from nomadic tribes that prey on outsiders. Falling into an encampment led by the relatively peaceful Pappagallo, Max at first schemes to steal their oil, but soon becomes the group's reluctant defender against the hulking Humungus and his ruthless marauders. With Mike Preston, Kjell Nilsson.

"Out of the countless action movies produced in the 1980s, there only a few genuine works of art; [this film] might very well be the best of that extremely rarefied company." (Antagony & Ecstasy)

"Miller's choreography of his innumerable vehicles is so extraordinary that it makes Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark look like a kid fooling with Dinky Toys." (Time Out)

"'The Road Warrior' isn't 'Citizen Kane,' but it has a lot of things -- power, speed, brains and energy -- in massive quantities and at a high degree of quality that many films can only dream of." (The Wrap)

Friday, April 25
Doors 10:30 pm | Movie 11:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Late Night Date Night! Bring a friend, or maybe your best Aussie mate your best Kiwi pal and get two-for-one entry!

MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (George Miller, 1981 / 94 mins / ) Max Rockatansky returns as the heroic loner who drives the dusty roads of a postapocalyptic Australian Outback in an unending search for gasoline. Arrayed against him and the other scraggly defendants of a fuel-depot encampment are the bizarre warriors commanded by the charismatic Lord Humungus, a violent leader whose scruples are as barren as the surrounding landscape.

TALK ABOUT LONELY (Charles Wilkinson | 2025 | 75 min | NR) Charles Wilkinson and the team that produced films like Oil Sands Karaoke and Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World have turned their attention to an issue over forty percent of the population experiences – chronic loneliness. Talk About Lonely examines the historical, economic, political and personal causes of this widespread social epidemic. The film presents a cast of knowledgeable, insightful and surprisingly entertaining individuals. The problem is global, the practical solutions are everywhere.

“Filmmakers Charles Wilkinson and Tina Schliessler are favourites in the Canadian festival circuit for their documentaries that look to the environment. Films like Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World and Oil Sands Karaoke have found acclaim with critics and audiences alike as they offer engaging case studies about the impact of resource extraction and landscapes worth preserving. Their latest film, Talk About Lonely, marks something of a departure by considering a different epidemic: loneliness. The doc explores the rise and impact of isolation as people shift to work-from-home plans and find communities on their phones with dwindling encounters IRL. Talk About Lonely offers an ideal gathering place to revisit this idea of community, since there’s nothing quite like taking in a movie with a packed crowd.” (POV)

Filmmakers Charles Wilkinson and Tina Schliessler will be onstage for a Q&A after the film. Also in attendance will be many of the film’s on-screen contributors.

Saturday, April 26
Doors 11:00 AM | Film 11:45 AM *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Tickets $12 (includes taxes & fees)

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APPLE PIE PICTURES presents a SHORE FILMS production of TALK ABOUT LONELY featuring PHILOSOPHERS, a ghetto street VENDOR, PSYCHOLOGISTS, an adult CONTENT CREATOR, a GERONTOLOGIST, stand- up COMICS, teen STUDENTS, a NEUROLOGIST, a CHOIR, a Japanese CYBER-TEEN, a PSYCHOTHERAPIST, ELDERS, a jazz SINGER, an Anglican BISHOP,
an adult TOY DEALER, a town PLANNER, a ninety-two year old YOGA INSTRUCTOR, countless public SMARTPHONE USERS, a COOK, a WAITRESS and a SAINT. Filmed, edited, and scored by Producer TINA SCHLIESSLER and Director CHARLES WILKINSON.

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*Must be 18+ with ID for entry.. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service. No outside food or drink permitted. 
*Sorry, Rio Theatre Groupons and passes n/a for this event.
*We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance at www.riotheatretickets.ca. If a screening or live event is not sold out, the remaining tickets will be available for in-person purchase at the Rio Theatre’s Box Office on the day of the show, prior to showtime (subject to availability). Our box office is typically open 30 minutes before showtime.
*Seating for this event is main floor – assigned ; balcony – general admission. Please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to showtime to ensure great seats, and time for treats at concession.

*All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale. No refunds or exchanges.

旦夕艺术片展映｜《出走的决心》中英双字幕 加拿大首映 - Screened by AMoment Books｜LIKE A ROLLING STONE

李红一生都奉献给家庭，恪守“好女儿”、“好妻子”、“好母亲”的角色。如今，她即将迎来人生中新的身份——外婆。正当她准备安于一成不变的生活时，一封突如其来的高 中同学会邀请唤醒了她内心尘封已久的青春梦想。

她小心翼翼地提出想参加聚会，却遭到丈夫孙强的强烈反对。多年来被压抑的问题随之爆发。孙强有一套固守不变的家庭幸福定义，并固执地捍卫自己所谓的“正确”。为了怀孕的女儿，李红再次压抑自己的愿望，投入到“好外婆”的新角色中。然而沉重的家务与看不到尽头的生活让她陷入抑郁。在绝望中，她开始意识到，人生也许还有另一种可能。

她悄悄策划一段新的旅程，在过程中一点点找回那个真正的自己。

LI Hong has dedicated her life to her family, dutifully fulfilling her roles as a good daughter, wife, and mother. Soon, she is set to become a grandmother. Just as LI Hong is about to resign herself to a stagnant life, an unexpected invitation to a high school reunion rekindles her youthful dreams. Tentatively, she asks to attend the reunion, but her husband vehemently opposes the idea,  stirring up decades of unresolved issues between them. Her husband, SUN, has his own rigid definition of marital and familial happiness and fiercely defends what he believes to be right.

For the sake of her pregnant daughter, LI Hong suppresses her dreams once again, fully dedicating herself to the new role of a "good grandmother" The burden of heavy household chores and a hopeless life drives her into depression. In her despair, she discovers another option for her life. She begins to carefully plan a new journey, gradually rediscovering her true self.

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导演寄语 DIRECTOR'S NOTES
这部电影改编自真实故事：一位来自中国中部的普通女性，在56岁那年离开了家庭和生活了一辈子的城市，独自开启了一场自驾之旅——至今，她仍在路上。

影片中的她名叫“李红”——一个曾经再普通不过的名字。因为在我们身边，有成千上万个“李红”：外婆、母亲、我们自己，甚至我们的女儿，都可能是“李红”。她们都在面对女性所处的结构性困境，或类似的个人难题；她们都渴望拥有改变的勇气。

这不是一部宏大风光的公路片，我们更在意的是：她为什么要离开，以及她在这条路上经历的挣扎与冲突。这不是一个非黑即白的世界。李红面对的，不只是一个缺乏爱的婚姻或一个强势的丈夫，更艰难的，是那些根植于她内心的传统与社会期待，是家庭的需要，是她与自己觉醒意识的碰撞。她最终选择聆听内心的声音：“我想看看更广阔的世界，找回最真实的自己。”

挣扎不分性别、身份与年龄，改变亦然。我们希望这部电影能为每一位观众带来温暖与力
量。

This film is based on a true story: an ordinary woman from the Central China, at the age of 56, left her family and city behind to embark on a self-driving journey, and she is still on the road today.
In the film, she is called "LI Hong,: once the most common name. Because around us, there are tens of thousands of LI Hong's: grandmothers, mothers, ourselves, and our daughters, all could be LI Hong. They all face structural challenges of women or similar personal difficulties, and they all hope to have the courage to bring about change. Instead of choosing to create a grand, scenic road movie, we focus on why she left and the struggles and conflicts she faced. This is not a world of clear-cut rights and wrongs. LI Hong is not only confronting a loveless marriage and an
oppressive husband; her biggest challenge is the traditional and societal expectations that have shaped her, the demands of her family, and her own self awareness. She chooses to listen to the voice within: "I want to explore a broader world and find my truest self."; Struggles transcend gender, identity, and age, and so does change. We hope this film can offer warmth and encouragement to all who watch it.

周六 Saturday, April 26
影院开门 Doors 2:00 pm | 电影开始 Movie 2:30 pm *开场时间可能会有变动，请准时到
达。Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

出走的决心 LIKE A ROLLING STONE (2024 | 中国大陆 Mainland China | 尹丽川 Yin, Li Chuan | 中文 配双语字幕 Chinese with Chinese and English Subtitle | 106 minutes)

在履行了30年的家庭角色后，一位56岁的女性决定卸下“妻子”、“母亲”和“祖母”的
身份，暂时抽身离开原本的生活。她踏上一场没有归期的公路之旅……
After 30 years of enduring her family roles, a 56-year-old woman decides to step away from her life as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She embarks on a road trip with no set return date...

关于旦夕书店 About AMOMENT BOOKS

旦夕书店成立于2018年，是一家位于多伦多的独立中文线上书店，致力于为北美读者提供
纸质书籍的阅读选项。 全北美发货，多伦多热门社区免运费pickup服务。旦夕书店专注
书籍，读书会，艺术，电影，与阅读相关的其他。

AMOMENT BOOKS, founded in 2018, is an independent online Chinese bookstore based in Toronto. Dedicated to providing reading options for readers across North America, the store offers shipping service in Canada & US and free pickup services in popular Toronto neighborhoods. AMOMENT BOOKS focuses on books, reading clubs, art, film, and all things related to the reading life.

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary!

An astounding collection of top notch Vancouver burlesque performers will take to the Rio Theatre‘s stage on Saturday April 26th for Burlesque Long Form. In an artistic challenge set by producer and noted performer April O’Peel, local luminaries will have one chance to perform a full ten minute act.

Will the performers be able to please, tease and captivate their audience for a full ten minutes? Expect outlandish props, projections, and over- the-top narratives as a stunning variety of unique and spectacular burlesque performers push the boundaries at Burlesque Long Form!

Saturday, April 26
Doors at 8:00 pm | Show at 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Tickets $30 + s/c in advance | $35 + s/c at the door
VIP Seating $40 + s/c

Featuring performances by

Scarlet Delerium
Portia Favro
Monday Blues
Jungle Kat
Cherry Ontop
April O'Peel

Hosted by Diva The Violet Femme

There is no better way to appreciate the magic of Studio Ghibli than on the big screen!

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli, GKIDS presents Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki’s epic, hand-drawn fantasy masterpiece PRINCESS MONONOKE in a brand new restoration.

Almost thirty years after its release in 1997, PRINCESS MONONOKE - replete with epic story and breathtaking visuals - remains an undisputed animated triumph and one of the most thrilling adventures ever produced. Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan, the film follows the young warrior Ashitaka; inflicted with a deadly curse, he heads west in search of a cure. There, he stumbles into a bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi, the proud people of Iron Town, and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the humans from destroying her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there. At its core, PRINCESS MONONOKE is something of an "eco-fable," a statement on the natural world's devastation brought on by human advancement that has dazzled audiences worldwide with its breathtaking imagination, exhilarating battles, and deep humanity.

"The film's strength lies in its refusal to paint either its arguments or its characters in black and white: There are no pure heroes, no clear-cut villains and no pat answers." (LA WEEKLY)

"A spellbinding epic with great characters, visuals and pathos." (Film Threat)

Sunday, April 27 This screening is in Japanese with English subtitles.
Doors 12:00 pm | Film 12:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

The English dub featuring the voice talents of Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Billy Bob Thornton.

PRINCESS MONONOKE "Mononoke-hime" (Hayao Miyazaki, 1997 / 134 mins / PG) Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Ainu tribe, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict.

Bappa Mazumder & Elita Karem
Presented by Dhaka Club Vancouver

Bangladeshi stars Bappa Mazumder and Dilshad Karim Elita will be coming to perform with Bappa Mazumder’s band, Dalchhut, live onstage at the Rio Theatre on Sunday, April 27. Get ready, and let’s all make the lasting memories together.

Bappa Mazumder is a versatile Bangladeshi singer, lyricist and music composer who won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Music Composer for the song "Na Jani Kon Oporadhey" in the 2017 film, SWATTA.

Dilshad Karim Elita, better known as Elita Karim, is a Bangladeshi singer, versatile performer, anchor and voice artist.

Sunday, April 27
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Balcony (General Admission) $30+ s/c
Main Floor (Assigned) $45+ s/c

PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII - MCMLXXII, the groundbreaking 1972 film directed by Adrian Maben, returns to cinemas this spring. Featuring iconic songs, stunning visuals, and behind-the-scenes moments, this beautifully restored create a timeless masterpiece of sight & sound. Digitally re-mastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage, with enhanced audio newly mixed by Steven Wilson, the upcoming theatrical release presents the definitive version of this
pioneering film.

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

PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII pre-dates the release of "The Dark Side of the Moon." The film documents what the band did before they became giants of the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic - where their music remains celebrated to this day. Set in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy, this unique and immersive film captures Pink Floyd performing an intimate concert without an audience. Filmed in October 1971, the performance marked the very first live concert to take place at Pompeii, and features the vital ‘Echoes,’ ‘A Saucerful of Secrets,’ and ‘One of These Days.’ The breathtaking visuals
of the amphitheatre, captured both day and night, amplify the magic of the performance. Additionally, the film includes rare behind-the-scenes footage of the band beginning work on The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios.

The film has been meticulously hand restored, frame-by-frame, from the original 35mm cut negative - discovered in five dubiously labelled cans within Pink Floyd's own archives. This momentous breakthrough unearthed the very film that rolled through the cameras during those sweltering days amidst the ruins of Pompeii over 50 years ago.

Led by Lana Topham, Director of Restoration for Pink Floyd, the team’s mission was to preserve the integrity and beauty of the original picture. The film was scanned in 4K using advanced techniques to ensure the finest, sharpest detail. Colors were enhanced, and every frame was meticulously reviewed and repaired, maintaining a natural and vivid appearance
with minimal grain adjustments.

“Since 1994, I have searched for the elusive film rushes of Pink Floyd At Pompeii, so the recent discovery of the 1972 original 35mm cut negative was a very special moment. The newly restored version presents the first full 90-minute cut, combining the 60-
minute source edit of the performance with the additional Abbey Road Studios documentary segments filmed shortly after,” said Topham. The film also features stunning sound quality with a new theatrical and home entertainment mix by Steven Wilson in 5.1 and Dolby Atmos that enhances the film's depth and clarity, preserving the authenticity and spirit of the original 1972 release. Wilson’s aim was to remain faithful to how the band would have sounded on those scorching hot days in 1971.

PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII (Adrian Maben, 1971 / 92 mins / G) British progressive rock band Pink Floyd perform at the ancient Roman Amphitheater in the ruins of Pompeii, Italy in 1971. Although the band perform a typical live set from the era, there is no audience beyond the basic film crew.

A sinister, twisted twist on the classic Brothers Grimm Cinderella story, THE UGLY STEPSISTER follows Elvira as she battles to compete with her insanely beautiful and enchanting stepsister Agnes in an attempt to earn Prince Julian's affection - at any cost. In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will go to any lengths to win, and conform to the kingdom's ideals of beauty. THE UGLY STEPSISTER is the gory tale of the blood and sweat, grit and gold that goes into making Elvira the belle of the ball.

"'Cinderella' meets Cronenberg... Emilie Blichfeldt knows the exact point of queasiness to which she can push an audience and gradually tests how much further she can move that mark with each successive scene." (Slant Magazine)

"Blends the more brutal folktale elements with phantasmatic longing to create a version of Cinderella where beauty is pain for some women, but life is pain for all of them." (Sight & Sound)

"[Director] Blichfeldt is able to pointedly and scarily address her of-the-moment themes without breaking the finely crafted period spell her movie casts." (Rue Morgue Magazine)

"The Ugly Stepsister ... the work of a bold, fearless filmmaker willing to explore the darkest, grimmest, and goriest aspects of physical beauty, what it means, how it’s for, and how it’s weaponized against women." (ScreenAnarchy)

Monday, April 28
Doors 8:15 pm | Movie 8:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE UGLY STEPSISTER "Den stygge stesøsteren" (Emilie Blichfeldt, 2025 / 105 / NR / Norwegian w/EST) Elvira dreams of the weak-kneed virgin, Prince Julian, and is willing to go to great lengths to conform to the kingdom's ideals of beauty. A surprising and raw twist on the fairy tale `Cinderella', seen from her stepsister's point of view.

Kyivska Perepichka
Presented by Ukraine Harmony Foundation

Tuesday, April 29
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Please note: This play is performed in the Ukrainian language)

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Про виставу:

«Київська перепічка» - щемка і провокативна моновистава-гойдалка Ірми Вітовської в якій через особистий досвід розповідається про життя і мрії українців після повномасштабного вторгнення.

Ця вистава – суміш протилежних емоцій і жанрів: від сліз до сміху, від лірики до помсти, від інтимної сповіді до радикальної фантасмагорії.

Про акторку Ірму Вітовську:

Заслужена артистка України Ірма Вітовська відома своїми численними ролями у театрі та кіно. Вона посідає особливе місце в серцях де-кількох поколінь українців у всьому світі. Оскільки крім своєї акторської діяльності, пані Ірма веде активну громадську та волонтерську діяльність. Вона є однією з провідних лідерок думок, яка надихає та своїм прикладом виховує в українцях глибокий патріотизм та любов до українського.

Про сценаристу вистави Наталку Ворожбит:

Сценаристка вистави «Київстка Перепічка» Наталка Ворожбит. Саме вона колись написала сценарій до популярного серіалу «Спіймати Кайдаша»

Пʼєса Наталки Ворожбит «Погані дороги» з 2017 року у постановці лондонського Crow’s Theatre успішно демонструється на Бродвеї, та проводить гастролі по всьому світі.

У 2020 році Наталка стала режисеркою та екранізувала пʼєсу. На екрани вийшов надпотужний фільм «Погані Дороги», який згодом боровся за Оскар як представник від України.

Ця сінергія двох жіночих талантів гарантувала, що їхня спільна робота відгукнеться в душі кожного українця. Так і сталось. Аншлаги в кожному місті і безперервний графік гастролів, запрошення та планування вистави в коженому куточоку світу. Черга Канади у квітні 2025 року. Приходьте і відчуйте потужну силу, яку можуть створити дві талановиті українські жінки.

ВХІД ВІДКРИТИЙ О 18:00 | ПОЧАТОК ВИСТУПУ: 19:00

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"Kyivska Perepichka" is a poignant and provocative solo show-swinger by Irma Vitovska, which tells about the life and dreams of Ukrainians after a full-scale invasion through personal experience.

This performance is a mixture of opposing emotions and genres: from tears to laughter, from lyrics to revenge, from intimate confession to radical phantasmagoria.

About actress Irma Vitovska:

Honored Artist of Ukraine Irma Vitovska is known for her numerous roles in theater and cinema. She holds a special place in the hearts of several generations of Ukrainians around the world. Because in addition to her acting career, Ms. Irma is actively involved in public and volunteer activities. She is one of the leading thought leaders who inspires and, by her example, cultivates deep patriotism and love for the Ukrainian language in Ukrainians.

About the play's scriptwriter Natalka Vorozhbyt:

The scriptwriter of the play "Kyivstka Perepichka" is Natalka Vorozhbyt. She once wrote the script for the popular TV series "Catch Kaidash"

Natalka Vorozhbyt's play "Bad Roads" has been successfully shown on Broadway since 2017, staged by London's Crow's Theatre, and has toured around the world.

In 2020, Natalka became a director and adapted the play into a film . The powerful film “Bad Roads” was released, which later competed for an Oscar as the representative of Ukraine.

This synergy of two female talents guaranteed that their joint work would resonate in the soul of every Ukrainian. And so it happened. Full houses in every city and a non-stop tour schedule, invitations and planning of performances in every corner of the world. Canada's turn in April 2025. Come and feel the powerful force that two talented Ukrainian women can create.

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

The live, smash hit epic comedy returns for more monstrous merriment (and snacks!) - it's THE CRITICAL HIT SHOW! Join Vancouver's best comedic performers at the Rio Theatre for your favorite #DNDLive improv night inspired by the world's most popular role-playing game. As always, our intrepid performers will venture on a quest for comic glory (and snacks!) in a live, hilariously improvised spectacular - an adventure saga that has been running continuously since 2012.

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

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

Wednesday, April 30
Doors 6:15 pm | Show 7:00 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.
Advance tickets $17 +s/c | $20+ s/c at the door

THE ADVENTURERS

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

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

PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII - MCMLXXII, the groundbreaking 1972 film directed by Adrian Maben, returns to cinemas this spring. Featuring iconic songs, stunning visuals, and behind-the-scenes moments, this beautifully restored create a timeless masterpiece of sight & sound. Digitally re-mastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage, with enhanced audio newly mixed by Steven Wilson, the upcoming theatrical release presents the definitive version of this
pioneering film.

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

PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII pre-dates the release of "The Dark Side of the Moon." The film documents what the band did before they became giants of the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic - where their music remains celebrated to this day. Set in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy, this unique and immersive film captures Pink Floyd performing an intimate concert without an audience. Filmed in October 1971, the performance marked the very first live concert to take place at Pompeii, and features the vital ‘Echoes,’ ‘A Saucerful of Secrets,’ and ‘One of These Days.’ The breathtaking visuals
of the amphitheatre, captured both day and night, amplify the magic of the performance. Additionally, the film includes rare behind-the-scenes footage of the band beginning work on The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios.

The film has been meticulously hand restored, frame-by-frame, from the original 35mm cut negative - discovered in five dubiously labelled cans within Pink Floyd's own archives. This momentous breakthrough unearthed the very film that rolled through the cameras during those sweltering days amidst the ruins of Pompeii over 50 years ago.

Led by Lana Topham, Director of Restoration for Pink Floyd, the team’s mission was to preserve the integrity and beauty of the original picture. The film was scanned in 4K using advanced techniques to ensure the finest, sharpest detail. Colors were enhanced, and every frame was meticulously reviewed and repaired, maintaining a natural and vivid appearance
with minimal grain adjustments.

“Since 1994, I have searched for the elusive film rushes of Pink Floyd At Pompeii, so the recent discovery of the 1972 original 35mm cut negative was a very special moment. The newly restored version presents the first full 90-minute cut, combining the 60-
minute source edit of the performance with the additional Abbey Road Studios documentary segments filmed shortly after,” said Topham. The film also features stunning sound quality with a new theatrical and home entertainment mix by Steven Wilson in 5.1 and Dolby Atmos that enhances the film's depth and clarity, preserving the authenticity and spirit of the original 1972 release. Wilson’s aim was to remain faithful to how the band would have sounded on those scorching hot days in 1971.

PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII (Adrian Maben, 1971 / 92 mins / G) British progressive rock band Pink Floyd perform at the ancient Roman Amphitheater in the ruins of Pompeii, Italy in 1971. Although the band perform a typical live set from the era, there is no audience beyond the basic film crew.

Writer-director Don McKellar captured the collective, generational existential angst felt by everyone on the planet as it hurtled towards the potential apocalypse of Y2K doom with, naturally, a darkly comic romantic satire with his 1998 offering, LAST NIGHT.

Perfectly capturing the sense of quiet dread and malaise that veiled the era, the story unfolds among various citizens of Toronto as they anxiously await the end of the world, which is occurring, for reasons explained - at midnight. While widower Patrick Wheeler braces for his fate, he meets Sandra, the wife of a businessman, who is intent on committing suicide. Meanwhile, Patrick's friend Craig, embracing a hedonistic approach to the apocalypse, decides to have as much sex as he can while there is still time.

A modest hit upon its release, the film garnered international accolades and awards, (including from the Cannes Film Festival for McKellar and actors Sandra Oh and Callum Keith Rennie), and features a veritable who's-who of A-list Canadian talent including Sarah Polley, Tracy Wright, David Cronenberg, Arsinée Khanjian, and Jackie Burroughs.

Canadian filmmaking icons Don McKellar and Bruce McDonald will be joining us via Zoom for a post-screening Q&A.

"It's the End of The World as We Know It, and this crafty Canadian film chronicles the end times in smart, snappy fashion." (The Wrap)

"Bare-bones filmmaking, 'Last Night'... has a witty, trenchant script, lots of complicated characters, and a few actors who turn human frailty into something nearly sublime." (Village Voice)

"McKellar's able cast and strange vision of a community struggling to come to terms with its limitations prove deeply affecting." (OUT Magazine)

"... paints a picture more bittersweet than violent, with moments of startling poignancy." (Roger Ebert)

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

LAST NIGHT (Don McKellar, 1998 / 97 mins / 14A )A group of very different individuals with different ideas of how to face the end come together as the world is expected to end in six hours at the turn of the century.

Thursday, May 1
LAST NIGHT
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

HIGHWAY 61
9:00 pm *Apx start time

Catch a Don McKellar double bill featuring LAST NIGHT followed by HIGHWAY 61. Following LAST NIGHT, McKellar will be joining us via Zoom chat alongside his frequent collaborator and HIGHWAY 61 director, Bruce McDonald.

LAST NIGHT (Don McKellar, 1998 / 97 mins / 14A )A group of very different individuals with different ideas of how to face the end come together as the world is expected to end in six hours at the turn of the century.

HIGHWAY 61 (Bruce McDonald, 1991 / 102 mins / 14 A) A small-town barber goes on a road trip from Thunder Bay to New Orleans with an unpredictable woman and a coffin.

Canadian film icon Bruce McDonald followed-up his debut feature ROADKILL with the quirky road-trip comedy HIGHWAY 61, a "spiritual sequel" that had him re-teaming with actors Don McKellar and Valerie Buhagier.

Pokey Jones (McKellar), a Canadian barber who plays jazz on the side, has his life turned upside down when a corpse turns up near his home. Jackie (Buhagier), a roadie, says that the dead man is her sibling and begs Pokey to help get the body back to New Orleans. Pokey agrees, completely unaware that Valerie's real plan is to transport drugs across the border. They are followed by the satanic Mr. Skin (Earl Pastko), who claims ownership of the body and the soul contained therein. With Earl Pastko, Art Bergmann, Jello Biafra, Tracy Wright.

"'Highway 61' is an example of unconditional love. It acknowledges every wart, pockmark, pimple and pustule on its subject, and refuses to disguise even a single freckle, but it simultaneously finds the beauty in every blemish." (Globe and Mail)

"What's good about it are the performances by McKellar and Buhagiar, who look surprisingly like real people and not like movie actors, and a rock sound track by Nash the Slash, a group (or person) previously unknown to me, that's fun to listen to." (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times)

As part of the double bill with LAST NIGHT, director Bruce McDonald and actor Don McKellar will be joining us via Zoom to talk about their films on May 1. The Q&A will happen immediately following LAST NIGHT.

Thursday, May 1
Movie 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

You’ve watched his clips on Instagram, you’ve shared his standup with your friends and loved ones, now it’s time to see Manhar Seth’s poetic bits live and in-person.

Manhar Seth is one of the most viral and sensational figures on Instagram known for his unique fusion of poetry (shayari) and comedy. He has captivated audiences with his remarkable ability to blend heartfelt shayari with humor creating a refreshing and relatable experience for fans across the globe. Manhar doesn’t just perform on stage—he connects with his audience through interactive crowdwork making each show a dynamic and personal experience.

With a strong fanbase of 2 Million Followers that spans across India and internationally he has toured over 45 cities in his home country and garnered overwhelming responses during his recent tours in Dubai and the UK. His Canada tour is already generating huge excitement with pre-sale registrations amassing around 500 responses and early ticket sales estimated at 1500 tickets across multiple cities.

Presented by Reality Entertainment

Friday, May 2
Doors: 6:30 pm | Show: 7:30 pm
Language: English, Hindi | Age: 16+

Early Bird Ticket Pricing! (Limited Number Available)

First two rows: $60+Fees
Other Rows(Middle Section): $45+Fees
Other Rows(Left & Right Section): $35+Fees
Balcony(General Seating):$30+Fees

For Group Bookings & Sponsorships:
Reality Ent - (639) 999 0390
ContactRealityEntertainment@gmail.com

"Work hard, increase production, prevent accidents, and be happy."

George Lucas' directorial debut THX 1138 presents a cold, minimalist dystopian future in which individual thought and love are forbidden... But two citizens dare to rebel against their society's rigid laws of conformity.

Set in an Orwellian 25th century where people are nameless, mankind lives in vast underground cities and free will is outlawed by means of mandatory medication that controls human emotion, a disenchanted surveillance worker, consciously stops taking her mandatory drugs — medication that suppresses emotions — and gives placebos to her roommate. Once they stop taking their meds, they wake up to the bleak reality of their own existence and fall in love with each other in the process. Naturally in this sci-fi drama, love is also illegal, and the act of making love itself has made both of them outlaws on the run from an army of robotic police for breaking laws of conformity. Starring Robert Duvall, Maggie McOmie, and Donald Pleasance.

"The empty space surrounding the vulnerable man emphasizes the exertion involved rather than the goal of escape: like the hologram who came to life because he wanted to, THX finally achieves his humanity by an assertion of will." (Village Voice)

"With political paternalism rampant at both extremes of the spectrum, Lucas is onto something. In any case, we'll know for sure in about a generation." (Variety)

"The whole thing feels like a hypnotic dreamscape, so luminously stark, from its white-on-white abstract sets to the wide-eyed, bald, near catatonic residents of this world." (Washington Post)

Friday, May 2
Doors 10:30 pm | Movie 11:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Late Night Date Night! Bring a friend, date, or non-conforming lover from the future and get two-for-one entry

THX 1138 (George Lucas, 1971 / 86 minutes / 14A) In the 25th century, a time when people have designations instead of names, a man, THX 1138, and a woman, LUH 3417, rebel against their rigidly controlled society.

Amid the rise of the far-right in Germany, as the spoils of post-WW2 collections hit the world art market afresh, lawyers, curators,
politicians, and Jewish groups the world round are duking it out, painting by painting, sketch by sketch, over questions of ownership, history, and morality.

A series of failed attempts by the city of Düsseldorf to honour German-Jewish art dealer Max Stern, who barely escaped the war, settled in Montreal and became Canada’s most successful art dealer, cuts to the heart of the current crisis in Germany and the art world beyond around the restitution of Nazi-looted art.

Through a combination of exclusive interviews, actuality captured over a four-year period, and a gold-mine of rarely seen stock footage, THE SPOILS traces the betimes tragic, often irony-laced strokes in this ongoing battle.

This screening will be followed by a Q&A hosted by Globe and Mail columnist Marsha Lederman and historian Dr. Sharon Meen.

Saturday, May 3
Doors 1:30 pm | Event 2:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Dr. Sharon Meen is a historian of German and Canadian history and has been a professor, lecturer and researcher at UBC for some decades. She served as the historical consultant for the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre's exhibit, Treasured Belonging: The Hahn Family & the Search for a Stolen Legacy and is the lead researcher on the Hahn family collection, a position which included documenting the efforts to trace and restitute the art objects from Max Hahn’s spectacular collection of art and Judaica. As a result, Sharon established contact with some of the organizations and individuals involved with tracing stolen art objects in Germany and became very well informed about the whole art-restitution process.

THE SPOILS (Jamie Kastner, 2025 / 104 mins / NR) A richly ironic tale framed by Germany’s botched recent attempts to honour Jewish art dealer Max Stern, exposes the still-raging battle over the restitution of Nazi-looted art.

"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

Listen up, all you... Stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf-herders of East Vancouver! To mark one of cinema's most high holy of holidays - May (the) 4 - the Rio Theatre will be screening George Lucas' Original Trilogy STAR WARS films.... Back. To. Back.

YES! A NEW HOPE, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and RETURN OF THE JEDI are currently navigating their way through an asteroid field to land on our big n' beautiful screen and with our big n' beautiful sound - so buckle up.

Sunday, May (the) Fourth
The Original Star Wars Trilogy Marathon Tickets

Regular Ticket $35+ s/c | $40 + s/c at the door
Rogue Squadron Group Pass (Minimum of 4 tickets - online only)
Rebel Alliance Mega Group Pass (Minimum of 6 tickets - online only)

Individual film movie tickets are not available for purchase in advance. If tickets for any individual film are available on the day of the event, they can only be purchased at the box office (subject to availability).

A NEW HOPE
Doors 12:15 pm | Movie 1:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

(Break)

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Movie 3:30 pm *Apx. start time

(Break)

RETURN OF THE JEDI
Movie 6:00 pm *Apx. start time

STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE (George Lucas, 1977 / 124 mins / PG / 1997 Re-Release) Young farm boy Luke Skywalker is thrust into a galaxy of adventure when he intercepts adistress call from the captive Princess Leia. The event launches him on a daring mission to rescue her from the clutches of Darth Vader and the evil Empire.

STAR WARS: EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (Irvin Kershner, 1980 / 124 mins / PG / 1997 Re-Release) The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.

STAR WARS: EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI (Richard Marquand, 1983 / 131 mins /PG / 1997 Re-Release) When the Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with more powerful Death Star, the Rebel fleet counters with a massive attack on the space station. In a final climatic duel, Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents a special 40th Anniversary screening of the cult-classic VAMPIRE HUNTER D. In the year 12,090 AD, technology and the supernatural have overtaken the world, leaving the land desolate and despotic. The remnants of humanity are scattered into small communities and live in fear of vampires who compose the ruling Nobility. When Count Magnus Lee tastes the blood of Doris Lang, she is forcibly chosen to be his next wife. In an effort to escape her ill-gotten fate, she hires a mysterious vampire hunter known only as D, who comes from a peculiar lineage.

VAMPIRE HUNTER D is a prime example of old-school cult-classic 80's Japanimation, and a title that has been requested by Rio Theatre fans for years. So get ready for it - beautifully restored for its 40th anniversary! This mythical anime is set in a post-nuclear holocaust dystopia, when the Earth is ruled by the supernatural and vampires, mutants and demons, "slither through a world of darkness" (in the words of the film's opening introduction). Starring Kaneto Shiozawa, Michie Tomizawa, Seizô Katô, Satoko Kifuji, Kazuyuki Sogabe, Motomu Kiyokawa.

"This is the D that your body craves. This is the D that takes place in a far-flung, post-nuclear hellscape where vampires, werewolves, and all manner of things that go bump in the night reign supreme." (Nerdist)

Sunday, May 4
Doors 8:45 pm | Movie 9:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

This screening includes bonus content, including a special introduction to the film by HIDIVE's Star Butler and Shudder's Head of Programming, Sam Zimmerman.

VAMPIRE HUNTER D (Toyoo Ashida, 1985 / 90 mins / 18A / Japanese with English subtitles) The film follows the story of a young lady after she is bitten by an evil vampire in medieval Romania, and asks for the help of a mysterious stranger known only as "D" to kill the vampire, thus sparing her a similar fate. Battling gothic creatures along the way, the mystery of who "D" really is soon becomes apparent, to himself and the viewer.

An expansive and revelatory inside look at John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s life in Greenwich Village in the early 1970s, ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO delivers an immersive cinematic experience that brings to life electrifying, never-before-seen material and newly restored footage of John and Yoko’s only full-length concert.

Featuring mind-blowing music newly remixed and produced by Sean Ono Lennon, the film is a seismic revelation that will challenge pre-existing notions of the iconic couple. On August 30, 1972, in New York City, John Lennon played his only full-length show after leaving The Beatles, the One to One benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, a rollicking, dazzling performance from him and Yoko Ono.

Oscar®-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald’s (ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND) riveting documentary takes that legendary musical event and uses it as the starting point to explore eighteen defining months in the lives of John and Yoko. By 1971 the couple was newly arrived in the United States— living in a tiny apartment in Greenwich Village and watching a huge amount of American television. The film uses a riotous mélange of American TV to conjure the era through what the two would have been seeing on the screen: the Vietnam War, 'The Price is Right', Nixon, Coca-Cola ads, Cronkite, 'The Waltons'. As they experience a year of love and transformation in the US, John and Yoko begin to change their approach to protest — ultimately leading to the One to One concert, which was inspired by a Geraldo Rivera exposé they watched on TV.

Filmed in a meticulously faithful reproduction of the NYC apartment the duo shared, ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO offers a bold new take on a seminal time in the lives of two of history’s most influential artists.

"It’s the movie you didn’t think you’d want that turns out to be one of the few recent Beatles products you’ll need." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

"What could only be partially heard on Lennon’s posthumous 1986 album 'Live in New York City' can now be seen and heard in crisp, clear beauty across one giant, riveting, unforgettable cinematic experience." (The Film Stage)

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

ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO (Kevin McDonald & Sam Rice-Edwards, 2024 / PG / 100 mins) An expansive and revelatory inside look at the 18 months John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent living in Greenwich Village in the early 1970s, ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO delivers an immersive cinematic experience that brings to life electrifying, never-before-seen material and newly restored footage of Lennon's only full-length, post-Beatles concert. With mind-blowing remastered audio overseen by their son, Sean Ono Lennon, the film is a seismic revelation that will challenge pre-existing notions of the iconic couple.

In 2003, eight Rhode Island artists created a secret apartment inside the busy Providence Place Mall and lived there for four years, filming everything along the way. They snuck in furniture, tapped into the mall’s electricity, and even constructed a wall, smuggling in more than two tons of cinderblock.

Far more than just a wild prank, the secret apartment became a deeply meaningful place for its inhabitants. It was a personal expression of defiance against local gentrification, a boundary-pushing work of public/private art, a clubhouse in which large-scale charitable art projects were planned, and, finally, a 750 square-foot "F you" to The Man.

Featuring never-before-seen footage of the space and revealing the identities of all the participants for the first time, SECRET MALL APARTMENT is more than just a bonkers true story. Director Jeremy Workman, whose LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD won the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW 2021, delivers a poignant exploration of a group of artists who discovered their purpose within the most commercial and improbable places.

"'Secret Mall Apartment' makes a compelling case that the project reverberates through the lives of the artists, and maybe even the city, to this day." (New York Times)

"This is a delightful, thought-provoking movie that’s about a lot of things at the same time. It’ll make you see the world with fresh eyes, and probably wonder why there isn’t more art in it." (RogerEbert.com)

"Like any fascinating meditation on the meaning of art and its potential as a political force, Workman’s doc asks more questions than it answers, which is a very good thing." (POV Magazine)

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

SECRET MALL APARTMENT (Jeremy Workman, 2025 / 104 mins / NR) In 2003, eight Rhode Islanders created a secret apartment inside a busy mall and lived there for four years, filming everything along the way. Far more than a prank, the secret apartment became a deeply meaningful place for all involved.

Reel Green™ presents
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING

The first 100 people to arrive will receive a free medium popcorn.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING (Avi Lewis, 2015 / 89 mins / PG) A look at seven communities around the world with the proposition that we can seize the crisis of climate change to transform our failed economic system into something radically better.

Parker Posey's cult-classic 1995 comedy PARTY GIRL has just been given a gore-geous restoration, and it's hitting the Rio Theatre's screen for a 30th Anniversary screening on Wednesday, May 7.

PARTY GIRL tells the story of Mary (Posey), a NYC nightclub scenester and social butterfly who rules the underground party scene. By day, however, she lacks purpose and enough funds to make rent. When her aunt gets her a job at the local library, Mary initially waffles under the constraints of the system, but then unexpectedly flourishes as a librarian (and does a lot of growing up along the way). The film features a laundry list of notable actors, including Liev Schreiber, Guillermo Diaz ("Scandal"), and John Ventimiglia ("The Sopranos"), and is brilliantly shot on location in pre-gentrification Lower Manhattan.

"What makes it delicious fun is Posey, a party girl for the ages." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

"'Party Girl' aspires to be cinematic champagne but comes out tasting more like sparkling cider." (Variety)

"'Party Girl', a rambunctious cartoon of a movie, creates a small but zesty inside portrait of a time-honored New York scene-maker: the haughty young queen of the demimonde, flitting from party to party, from dance club to dance club, gliding through the champagne night on her looks, her clothes, her kitschy downtown élan." (Entertainment Weekly)

Wednesday, May 7
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

PARTY GIRL (Daisy von Scherler Mayer, 1995 / 95 mins / 14A) A 20-something, irresponsible party girl is bailed out of jail by her librarian godmother. To repay the loan, she starts working at the library and gradually turns her life around.

Fabled English record producer Mark Pritchard, luminary songwriter Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and groundbreaking visual artist Jonathan Zawada present TALL TALES – a debut collaborative visual and audio cinema experience a decade in the making.

Landscapes of synth-pop, prog, dub, 70s synth, Joe Meek, Ivor Cutler, Library, kraut and classic Warp™️ – TALL TALES sounds like musicians meeting in the Hinterland. Transmitted by Australian visual artist Jonathan Zawada, TALL TALES is a fairy tale for the modern world; depicting rising tides, kings & queens, amazon logistics and robotic arms under iridescent skies. We wanted computers to do our accounting – instead, they try to paint our pictures and sing our songs. Like all good fairy tales – this work edges light with the dark as Thom's echoed chants intertwine with Mark's shimmering electronics. On TALL TALES, we hear seasoned musicians continue down the path of experimentation.

A prophetic visual album, TALL TALES has been years in the making, but delivered right on time.

Thursday, May 8 One Night Only!
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Sign up for more info here:
http://tall-tales.info/

TALL TALES (Jonathan Zawada, 2025 / 65 mins, NR)

All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream.

Beautifully restored for is 50th Anniversary, PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK is a sensual and striking chronicle of a disappearance and its aftermath that put director Peter Weir on the map, and helped usher in a new era of Australian cinema.

Based on an acclaimed 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay, Weir's enigmatic adaptation is set at the turn of the twentieth century, and concerns a small group of students from an all- female college who vanish, along with a chaperone, while on a St. Valentine’s Day outing. Less a mystery than a journey into the mystic, as well as an inquiry into issues of class and sexual repression in Australian society, Weir’s gorgeous, disquieting film is a work of poetic horror whose secrets haunt viewers to this day. With Rachel Roberts, Anne Lambert, Jacki Weaver, Vivean Gray.

"Visually mesmerizing, 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' is moody, unsettling, and enigmatic -- a masterpiece of Australian cinema and a major early triumph for director Peter Weir." (Rotten Tomatoes)

"This is a film that seems somehow subtly different every time you watch it, full of tantalising possibilities." (Eye For Film UK)

"By turns fascinating and mysterious." (Empire Magazine)

"The “readings” are endless, the mood impossibly eerie and the legacy untouchable." (Times UK)

Thursday, May 8
Doors 7:50 pm | Movie 8:20 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK (Peter Weir, 1975 / 14A / 115 mins) In the early 1900s, Miranda (Anne Lambert) attends a girls boarding school in Australia. One Valentine's Day, the school's typically strict headmistress (Rachel Roberts) treats the girls to a picnic field trip to an unusual but scenic volcanic formation called Hanging Rock. Despite rules against it, Miranda and several other girls venture off. It's not until the end of the day that the faculty realizes the girls and one of the teachers (Vivean Gray) have disappeared mysteriously.

Welcome to a world where cult cinema intersects with the sultry art of burlesque. Where strange storylines unfold and your favorite characters are parodied unlike ever before! At MOVIE BUFF 2: A Cult Movie Burlesque Show, the stage will come alive with fierce performances that will make you want to watch this show on repeat!

THE BRIDE OF CHUCKY is back, and she’s ready to cut loose! Johnny from cult-classic THE ROOM will show you his heart is as big as… something else - just don’t expect it to make sense. Rebellious Wanda Woodward from CRY BABY will show off the dance moves that remind us all why she’s the ultimate bad girl with a heart of gold. That’s not all, we’ve got some iconic character duets who will blow your mind and the ultimate seductive trickster, LABYRINTH's Jareth The Goblin King, will leave you spellbound playing with his magic balls.

Come for the nostalgia, stay for the giggles, and prepare to be entertained! Grab your tickets now and let the bizarre brilliance of MOVIE BUFF 2 unveil before your eyes!

Friday, May 9
Doors 7:15 pm | Event 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Early Bird Prices! $25+ s/c (Until April 18)
Tickets $30+ s/c | $40+ s/c at the door
VIP Seating (Rows 1-3, centre section) $35+ s/c

Featuring Performances by:

Maria Madruga
Gnarleigh
Sensi Kat & Peter Packer
Hella Hysteria
Angora Phobia
Mia Storm & Miss Fanny Pack
Glory S Gamms
Lana B Luschious
Buttercup VonDingus & Clare Voyeur

Please note: This is a parody production. MOVIE BUFF 2 is not sponsored, endorsed by or affiliated with any film’s creators, affiliated companies and/or third party licensors.

*Performers and acts subject to change.

We're paying tribute to the late, great Val Kilmer by dimming the lights and firing up the projector with a Friday Late Night Movie tribute screening of one of his most memorable roles (and one of the Rio Theatre's most requested cult-classic films), in the TOP SECRET!

Popular and dashing American singer Nick Rivers travels to East Germany to perform in a music festival. When he loses his heart to the gorgeous Hillary Flammond, he finds himself caught up in an underground resistance movement. Rivers joins forces with Agent Cedric, and Flammond to attempt the rescue of her father, Dr. Paul, from the Germans, who have captured the scientist in hopes of coercing him into building a new naval mine. With Omar Sharif, Lucy Gutteridge, Michael Gough.

"This movie will cheerfully go for a laugh wherever one is even remotely likely to be found." (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times)

"Kilmer never breaks... it’s a work of near-sorcery, anchoring an actually serious movie that the filmmakers smother with jokes until it becomes a completely different thing." (Washington City Paper)

Friday, May 9
Doors 11:00 pm | Movie 11:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets HERE

Late Night Date Night! Bring a friend, date, or bestie and get two-for-one entry HERE!

TOP SECRET! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker & Jerry Zucker, 1984 / 90 mins / 14A) An American rock and roll singer is invited to a cultural festival in East Germany in order to distract from a plot to destroy NATO submarines, but he accidentally becomes involved in a resistance plot to rescue an imprisoned scientist.

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, May 10 for the version of the blockbuster hit musical WICKED that you've been waiting for - the SING ALONG! Find all your most fun, popular pals and defy some gravity and support of the gang at the Terminal City Roller Derby. Support your local league!

WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (HARRIET, Broadway's 'The Color Purple') as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. With Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage.

Wicked was nominated for an incredible 10 Academy Awards and won the Oscars for Best Achievement in Production Design and Best Achievement in Costume Design.

"Cynthia Erivo has already established herself as a singer, a stage performer, and a screen presence extraordinaire, whether she’s a supporting-role dynamo or the best part of an otherwise so-so project. What she’s doing here with Elphaba is, quite simply, magical." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

"Indulgent and unwieldy as it is, 'Wicked' is a thrill, at times wildly funny, heart-soaring, and ultimately inspirational in spite of itself." (Mashable)

"What viewers want from 'Wicked' is not to "defy gravity," but to placate fans and entertain newcomers with a by-the-book silver screen adaptation. Because that’s exactly what 'Wicked' does so impeccably well, with style, grace and a sweeping vision." (Seattle Refined)

Saturday, May 10
Doors 12:30pm | Movie 1:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets $20 advance | $25 at the door

Partial proceeds from this screening to benefit The Terminal City Roller Derby.
This film screens with a brief intermission.

WICKED (John M. Chu, 2024 / 160 mins / PG) Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.

Outrageous and controversial, this is the story of legendary movie star Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway, in one of her most iconic performances) as she struggles for her career and battles the inner demons of her private life. This torment was manifested in her relationships with her adopted children, Christina and Christopher. The public Crawford was a strong-willed, glamorous object of admiration, but Mommie Dearest reveals the private Crawford, the woman desperate to be a mother, adopting her children when she was single and trying to survive in a devastating industry that swallows careers thoughtlessly.

The rage, the debilitating strain, and the terrifying descent into alcoholism and child abuse are graphically - and unforgettably - depicted in this film, based upon Christina Crawford's best-selling book. With Diana Scarwid, Xander Berkeley.

"Faye Dunaway gives a startling, ferocious performance in 'Mommie Dearest.' It’s deeper than an impersonation; she turns herself into Joan Crawford, all right, but she’s more Faye Dunaway than ever." (The New Yorker)

"'Mommie Dearest' becomes a kind of homage to the monster herself -- the emotions are so splendid, the scenes so dramatic, the experiences so incandescent." (The Spectator)

Saturday, May 10
Doors 4:15 pm | Movie 4:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

MOMMIE DEAREST (Frank Perry, 1981 / 129 mins / 14A) The abusive and traumatic adoptive upbringing of Christina Crawford at the hands of her mother, screen queen Joan Crawford, is depicted.

London. The 1960s. Two unemployed actors—acerbic, elegantly wasted Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and the anxiety-ridden "I" (Paul McGann)—drown their frustrations in booze, pills, and lighter fluid. When Withnail's Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths) offers his cottage, they escape the squalor of their flat for a week in the country. They soon realize they’ve gone on holiday by mistake when their wits—and friendship—are sorely tested by violent downpours, less than hospitable locals, and empty cupboards. An intelligent, superbly acted, and hilarious film, Bruce Robinson’s semi-autobiographical cult favorite is presented here in its complete and uncut version.

"There is a certain kind of movie that gets praised not so much because of its virtues as because, in some strange way, we suspect that no one would ever dare make its like again. 'Withnail and I' is one of those enterprises." (Guardian UK)

"If the film belongs to anyone, it is Richard E. Grant, who takes the dissolute and mannered character of Withnail and creates a Wildean creature of tragi-comic proportions, the like of which has not been seen in a British film for some time." (London Evening Standard)

"'Withnail and I' is not the whole story of the 60's. It's a small, wise, breezy footnote." (New York Times)

"Self-destruction has never been more articulate or refreshingly amusing." (Toronto Star)

Saturday, May 10
Doors 7:15 pm | Movie 7:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

WITHNAIL AND I (Bruce Robinson, 1987 / 14A / 107 mins) Two out-of-work actors -- the anxious, luckless Marwood (Paul McGann) and his acerbic, alcoholic friend, Withnail (Richard E. Grant) -- spend their days drifting between their squalid flat, the unemployment office and the pub. When they take a holiday "by mistake" at the country house of Withnail's flamboyantly gay uncle, Monty (Richard Griffiths), they encounter the unpleasant side of the English countryside: tedium, terrifying locals and torrential rain.

The movie ANJILA is based on the real-life story of Anjila Tumbapo Subba, the captain and number one goalkeeper of Nepal's national women's football team. The film showcases her journey from being confined within her home to becoming the team captain, highlighting her struggles and determination. Anjila herself plays the lead role, with Dayahang Rai and Srijana Subba portraying her parents. The movie emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the belief that with determination, nothing is impossible.

Presented by the Himalayan Soccer Club of Vancouver

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

ANJILA (Milan Chams, 2025 / 150 mins / NR / In Nepali with English subtitles)

New England...the early 1960s. A sexy and unpredictable single mother of two is a source of constant embarrassment to her confused 15-year-old daughter, who's trying to deal with her own sexual awakening and not having an easy time of it. Based on a novel by Patty Dann.

Fifteen-year-old Charlotte Flax (Winona Ryder) is tired of her wacky mom (Cher) moving their family to a different town any time she feels it is necessary. When they move to a small Massachusetts town and Mrs. Flax begins dating a shopkeeper (Bob Hoskins), Charlotte and her 9-year-old sister, Kate (Christina Ricci), hope that they can finally settle down. But when Charlotte's attraction to an older man gets in the way, the family must learn to accept each other for who they truly are.

"Having made something of a specialty of woe-is-me, adolescent angst, Ryder finds a deeper level here, a level of comedy with something genuinely painful mixed in." (Washington Post)

Sunday, May 11
Doors 6:30 pm  | Movie 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

MERMAIDS (Richard Benjamin | 1990 | 110 mins | PG13) Fifteen-year-old Charlotte Flax is tired of her wacky mom moving their family to a different town any time she feels it is necessary. When they move to a small Massachusetts town and Mrs. Flax begins dating a shopkeeper, Charlotte and her 9-year-old sister, Kate, hope that they can finally settle down. But when Charlotte's attraction to an older man gets in the way, the family must learn to accept each other for who they truly are.

Join Vancouver's own Kingsgate Chorus for their spring concert and an unforgettable night of music featuring songs by artists like Fleetwood Mac, Bonny Light Horseman, Sinead O'Connor and more directed and arranged by David Beckingham (Hey Ocean!).

Monday, May 12
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

A vital and necessary documentary about the value of fighting for worker’s rights in the harrowing world of capitalism.

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Tuesday, May 13 for a screening of the documentary, UNION, which will include a live Q&A with the star of the film, activist Chris Smalls, the organizer at the forefront of unionizing Amazon.

This event has been organized by the Social Justice Committee at West Vancouver Teachers' Association.

Through intimate cinema vérité, UNION chronicles the extraordinary efforts of an unlikely group of warehouse workers as they launch a grassroots union campaign at an Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York. Led by the charismatic but underestimated Chris Smalls, the diverse band of workers start the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) and embark on a journey against one of the largest and most powerful companies in the world. The odds are stacked against them, as the group finds itself up against a tech industry giant with unlimited resources, without major support from national unions or politicians, and while navigating internal divisions within their own ranks. Filmmakers Brett Story and Stephen Maing document the struggle from day one, offering a gripping human drama about the fight for power and dignity in today's globalized economic landscape.

“A vital and urgent portrait of labor organizing and its enduring possibility at a time when the fight for workers’ rights has never seemed more one-sided." (Indiewire)

“Sober and heartfelt, 'Union' lets us see what Amazon and the world would soon discover about the power workers have when they invest in their dignity first.” (Los Angeles Times)

“The film captures both the pain and the power of people at the base of a global infrastructure.” (RogerEbert.com)

“It would be easy to build a halo-lit documentary portrait around this handsome, rabble-rousing father of three, but Brett Story and Stephen Maing’s excellent “Union” is something more finely shaded and community-minded than that.” (Variety)

Winner of the 2024 Sundance Documentary Special Jury Award for The Art of Change

Tuesday, May 13
Doors 5:30 pm | Movie 6:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

UNION (Stephen Maing, Brett Story / 2024 / NR) A group of current and former Amazon workers in New York City's Staten Island challenges one of the world's largest companies in a unionization battle.

Join Outside Voices Choir for their spring concert and a vibey night of music featuring songs by artists like The Beatles, Radiohead, Maggies Rogers and more. Directed and arranged by David Beckingham (Hey Ocean!).

Wednesday, May 14
Doors 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

A cultural snapshot of turn-of-the-millennium Toronto with subtle comic energy and a great cast, Sook-Yin Lee’s adaptation of Chester Brown’s autobiographical 2011 graphic novel is a movie only Lee could make… because it’s her story, too.

Chester Brown’s 2011 graphic novel told the story of his own journey into johnhood after the dissolution of his romantic life with long-time partner Sook-Yin Lee. More than a decade later, Lee, working with co-writer Joanne Sarazen, finds a cinematic analogue for Brown’s framing and compositions — a little gray, a bit flat — while bringing his characters to three-dimensional life. The result is a synthesis of Brown's confessional storytelling and Lee’s auto-fictional style.

Daniel Beirne, plays Chester, who’s liberated by the idea of sexual relationships without any emotional entanglements; if anything, he’s slightly befuddled by the way everyone asks him if he knows what he’s doing. Emily Lê is Lee’s alter ego Sonny, who follows her open heart into every new opportunity and expects Chester to give her the space to figure out each resulting reconfiguration of their relationship. (Lee doesn’t let herself off the hook for the pain she causes, either.) They’re surrounded by a cast of gifted Toronto character actors, most vividly Modern Whore author-producer Andrea Werhun as a culturally literate outcall worker whose genuine chemistry with Chester might challenge his newfound sexual liberation. (Or not.)

Lee connects the past with the present, bringing together Canadian underground artists and innovative cross-generational musicians to explore ideas around labour, sex work, queer culture, and forward-thinking freedoms. The result is a story only she could bring to the screen … because it’s her story, too.

"It doesn’t matter which prism you view Lee’s film through -- they all intersect and add up together so seamlessly and confidently that you can choose your own adventure without sacrificing the whole." (Globe and Mail)

Director Sook Yin-Lee will be joining us for a post-screening Q&A.

Thursday, May 15
Doors 6:00 pm | Film 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

PAYING FOR IT (Sook-Yin Lee, 2025 / 85 mins / NR) In the late '90s, Chester and Sonny are a long-term, committed, romantic couple. When Sonny wants to redefine their relationship, Chester, a painfully introverted cartoonist, starts sleeping with sex workers and discovers a new kind of intimacy in the process.

East Van Laugh RIOT
Presented by Charlie Demers and Friends

The Rio Theatre's comedy night featuring Vancouver’s top stand-up comedians from CBC, Netflix, Just For Laughs and more returns on Friday, May 16.

(Because we could all use a good laugh…)

Friday, May 16
Featuring Randee Neumeyer & Graham Clark
With special guests Jess Lupini & Sean Devlin

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

BONUS! Health care workers get in free with valid ID.

Charlie Demers is a Juno-nominated stand-up comedian, a regular on CBC Radio's "The Debaters," and co-star of two Emmy-winning Netflix animated series, "Beat Bugs" and "The Last Kids on Earth." He lives four blocks from the Rio Theatre.

JOE LIST: SMALL BALL is the fourth stand up comedy special from comedian Joe List. Following the smash successes of his previous specials “I Hate Myself”, “This Year’s Material” and “Enough For Everybody," SMALL BALL finds Joe shortly after the birth of his first child, musing on the life-altering experiences of childbirth, married sex and ordering at Starbucks. Shot at two different clubs on back to back nights, “Small Ball” captures Joe at his best and promises to have moviegoers spilling their popcorn and spitting out their coke.

Wednesday, May 21 One Night Only!
Doors 6:30 pm | Movie 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Joe List - Biography

Joe List is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor best known for his comedy specials “I Hate Myself”, “This Year’s Material” and “Enough For Everybody”, as well as his starring role in the feature film, FOURTH OF JULY (directed by Louis CK). During Joe’s two decade tenure as a comedian, he has released three specials, earned a spot as a finalist on NBC's “Last Comic Standing”, starred in season 2 of Netflix's “The Stand Ups” and appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman”, “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” and “Conan”. List’s albums 'So Far No Good' and 'Are You Mad at Me?' (through Comedy Central Records) can frequently be heard on Sirius Radio. Joe currently serves as the co-host of the popular weekly podcast “Tuesdays with Stories' alongside comedian Mark Normand as well as his own podcast “Mindful Metal Jacket”. Based in New York City, List can be seen regularly at The Comedy Cellar.

JOE LIST: SMALL BALL (Willie Rockefeller, 2025 / 72 mins / NR)

Cinematography: Derek Gildersleeve
Editor: Matthew Pearson
Produced by: Chris Burns

Throughout the 1980s, bands like D.O.A. helped define the decade's deafening hardcore punk sound, paving the way for the eventual explosion of punk groups through radio and MTV in the decades to come. While punk rock's upper echelon may no longer be as culturally seditious as they once were,  the genre's effect on a new generation of activists and aspiring politicians has never been more clear.

In 2018, after 40 years of fighting against oppression, homelessness and corporate greed in the U.S. and in his native Canada, D.O.A. frontman, activist and cultural politician Joey “Shithead" Keithley decided to turn art into life and run against the outspoken Mayor of Burnaby (population: 250,000), Derek Corrigan. Against all odds—and with only a $7000 campaign budget—Keithley won a city councillor seat in Burnaby, BC that year and helped to unseat the entrenched five-term Corrigan who once famously said, “I would never bend over to give a homeless person a dime because he might steal my watch."

Will Keithley's message and DIY approach to campaigning resonate with voters in the upcoming Burnaby election of 2022? Win or lose, we will document him every step of the way as he campaigns for a second term. This is a film that will explore how music and activism continue to interlink, with music often serving as an introduction to social issues that inspire people to get involved and foster dynamic change.

Joey Keithley himself will be in attendance for a live Q&A!

Saturday, May 24
Doors 2:15  | Movie 2:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

SOMETHING BETTER CHANGE (Scott Crawford | 2024 | 88 mins | NR) Joey Keithley of DOA, Canada’s most iconic punk, is now an underdog, against all odds elected politician in Vancouver, Burnaby, BC. This story documents his  40+ year career as an activist and musician and his journey as he runs for a nail-biting second term re-election.