To mark International Cat Rescue Day, the Rio Theatre presents a special screening of FLOW, in partnership with the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA).

A visually striking, wordless animated film, FLOW follows a solitary cat navigating a world reshaped by rising waters. Told entirely through movement, sound, and atmosphere, the film is both immersive and quietly powerful. It offers a rare big-screen experience that rewards attention and lingers long after the credits roll.

This screening is a fundraiser in support of VOKRA, a volunteer-driven organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes more than 1,400 cats and kittens each year across the Lower Mainland. Proceeds from the event will support VOKRA’s core operations as the organization enters kitten season, its busiest and most resource-intensive time of year.

Join us for an evening of beautiful animation, community, and a chance to support local rescue work, all in one of Vancouver’s most beloved theatres.

"Critic's Pick! Zilbalodis largely avoids the sort of whimsy and sentimentality that might plague, say, a Disney movie with the same premise. The animals act like real animals, not like cartoons or humans, and that restraint gives their adventure an authenticity that, in moments of both delight and peril, makes the emotion that much more powerful."
(The New York Times)

"The real takeaway is that we have to rely on each other for salvation. And it’s here where this experiential experiment in empathy, eco-activism and elation over the creative possibilities of a medium too often hijacked to sell toys truly hits its marks." (Rolling Stone Magazine)

"The Latvian film is part brilliant experiment, part cutesy animal movie, but engrossing for all audiences—even if it might, like Fantasia, stick uncomfortably in the memories of the youngest in attendance." (AV Club)

""One of the year’s richest discoveries, 'Flow' belongs as much to a timeline of animal-centric masterpieces ('Au hasard Balthazar,' 'Gunda,' 'EO') as it does the history of animated indies. And in its simple, generous spirit of giving these creatures palpable narrative power, there’s a profundity: 'Flow' might only be imagining their coping skills without us, but it’s a charming, poignant vision of community and perseverance we could stand to be inspired by." (Los Angeles Times)

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

FLOW (Gints Zilbalodis, 2024 / 85 mins / G) A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, the Latvian animated adventure FLOW follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis (AWAY) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, FLOW is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.