We're getting in the mood for Vancouver Pride Weekend with a special screening of Tamil filmmaker V.T. Nayani's sapphic love story, THIS PLACE, on Monday, July 31.

Set in urban Toronto, THIS PLACE is a coming-of-adulthood story about two women falling in love for the first time. As they grow closer, each is forced to confront their family histories in unexpected ways. Through multiple legacies complicated by grief, love, and migration, this film follows those living in the liminal space between cultures. With Devery Jacobs (RHYMES FOR YOUNG GHOULS, BLOOD QUANTUM) and Priya Guns.

"A tender lesbian love story that finds the universal in the specific...With the complex racial dynamics of Toronto providing a backdrop for this young sapphic love story, she creates a debut that shows ample promise. It is a story about how love binds us, no matter our blood or life stories, and why that love will always be important no matter what. Arguably, this is a message we need now more than ever." (SlashFilm)

"Nayani’s debut feature film addressing all the complexities of this place we’re in – physically or emotionally – is a welcome addition to the Canadian canon." (Globe and Mail)

"Nayani’s debut feature film addressing all the complexities of this place we’re in – physically or emotionally – is a welcome addition to the Canadian canon." (That Shelf)

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

Filmmaker V.T. Nayani will be joining us for a live Zoom Q&A following the film's screening on July 31.

V.T. Nayani is a director, producer, actor, and writer for the screen. Her work intimately explores how we continuously come of age. She has been championed by multiple platforms including the Canadian Film Centre, Telefilm Canada, Netflix, The Gotham, UN Women, CBC Films, BIPOC TV & Film, RBC, L'Oréal Paris, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Arts Council. Her screen-work has also been supported by festivals including TIFF, Hot Docs, Women of the World, Women Deliver, Outfest, and Inside Out. THIS PLACE is her feature directorial debut.

THIS PLACE (V.T. Nayani, 2022 / 90 mins / PG) A coming-of-adulthood story about two women falling in love for the first time. As they grow closer, each is forced to confront their family histories in unexpected ways, while navigating multiple legacies of grief and love.

*Minors OK. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and Rio Theatre passes are OK for any single film screening only. Please redeem at the box office.
*Online sales end an hour before showtime; unless otherwise noted, tickets are always available for purchase at the box office prior to showtime. Our box office is typically open 30 minutes before showtime. All seating is General Admission; please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to showtime to ensure great seats and time for treats. All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale.
*If you are looking to redeem either a Rio Theatre gift certificate or Groupon to any regular Rio Theatre screening: You can either email us in advance and give us a “heads up,” or do it at the box office prior to showtime. (We seat 400+ people and our regular screenings are very rarely at capacity – you should not have issues being admitted.)