This year, VIFF is presenting more than 360 films and as always, has a spotlight on homegrown content. The Canadian Images line-up alone has over 80 films, 24 of which are BC productions. I also have the pleasure of sponsoring the world premiere of Everything and Everyone directed by Tracy D. Smith.
While I have yet to sit down with Marina Antunes from the Row Three to do a film preview (as we have done for the last few years) I’m going to jump right ahead to the gala information. The glitz and glamour of the silver screen will gather on red carpets across Vancouver as VIFF celebrates international cinema with five galas this year.
Opening Gala
Film: The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito)
Country: Spain
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
When: Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 6:30pm
Where: Vogue Theatre on Granville St Buy Tickets / View Trailer
Canadian Images Gala
Film: Take This Waltz
Director: Sarah Polley
When: Friday, September 30, 2011 at 6:30pm
Where: Vogue Theatre on Granville St Buy Tickets / View Trailer
Dragons & Tigers Awards Gala
Film: Mitsuko Delivers (Hara-ga Kore Nande)
Country: Japan
Director: Ishii Yuya
When: Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 6:45pm
Where: Vogue Theatre on Granville St Buy Tickets
Anniversary Gala
Film: Starbuck
Country: Canada
Director: Ken Scott
When: Friday, October 7, 2011 at 6:30pm
Where: Vancity Theatre on Seymour Buy Tickets / View Trailer
Closing Gala
Film: The Kid with a Bike (Le gamin au velo)
Country: Belgium/Italy/France
Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
When: Friday, October 14, 2011 at 7:00pm
Where: Vogue Theatre on Granville St Buy Tickets / View Trailer
When you purchase your gala ticket you will receive information about any parties that follow. These are fantastic opportunities to get dressed up for a night of international and local film celebration in Vancouver.
Since I won’t be in town, I’d like to give up my two sponsor tickets to the opening gala film and party to a lucky reader and their guest.
Last year’s VIFF opening night gala at the Rocky Mountaineer station. Photos by John Bollwitt for Miss604.
The winner will receive two tickets to the screening of The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito) at The Vogue Theatre and two tickets to the red carpet opening gala party that will follow at a fabulous location. The value is $175 each (total $350). Here’s how you can enter to win:
I entered to win @VIFFest opening gala (screening & party) tickets from @Miss604 http://bit.ly/VIFF2011
I will draw one winner at 10:00am next Monday, September 26, 2011. Must be 19 years of age to enter and win. Please enjoy all VIFF events and galas responsibly and plan a safe ride home.
Follow the Vancouver International Film Festival on Twitter and Facebook.
Patrick Maliha is becoming the Patron Saint of Comedy in Vancouver. An award-winning on-air host, columnist and comedian, Patrick created the annual “People’s Champ of Comedy” comic search, hosted benefit showcases for charitable causes, and is one of the city’s biggest promoters of amateur and professional comedy. His latest event is the return of the dinner show at the fittingly classic Federico’s Supper Club in East Vancouver.
I’ve known Patrick for several years and I was a weekly guest on his Talk 1410 radio show. Audience members will certainly be treated to a great evening of food, laughs, and entertainment.
Tickets are $50 plus tax and gratuities and include a three course meal and entertainment. Call (604) 251-3473 to book.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — Our dinner was compliments of Tourism Alberta. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
The Rosedeer Hotel opened 1913 in the dusty boomtown of Wayne, Alberta. Back then, the population swelled to over 2,500 but since the mines closed up in the 1950s it has dipped to just over two dozen.
Over the last 30 years proprietor Fred Dayman, who bought the place from his mother (his uncle owning it before that) has been reviving this ghost town, and the Rosedeer’s Last Chance Saloon is at its very core.
Wayne is actually in the record books for the most bridges in a 6km span, 11 to be exact. Once you wind your way to Wayne the yellow and red Rosedeer Hotel sticks out prominently in this practically vacant valley.
“The population is 27 and a third,” Fred told us, explaining that a local woman was expecting. Carrying on the family business he’s full of stories but he’s also a very busy man. Since the 1980s Fred has been working hard to build up the Last Chance Saloon into a regular watering hole. He gets locals, many travelers passing through, and quite a few tourists who take the exit from Dinosaur Valley.
Although there are wagon wheels out front and a short wooded boardwalk, you don’t walk through a pair of wooden swing doors when you enter the saloon and there’s no spittoon in sight. Fully carpeted and filled with instruments, antiques, photos, and knickknacks, you can tell why it’s favourite, down-home, stop for many.
Our group stayed for dinner (before spending the night upstairs in 4 of 7 guestrooms) and Fred turned on the Band Box. Found in the old Calgary train station, Fred said it’s only one of two in Canada, and the other is in a private collection. It has been restored and while the band members jilted back and forth, almost animatronically, it belted out tunes courtesy of Tim Williams and the High Water Jug Band.
The Last Chance Saloon is a time capsule to which items and memories are being added every day. It’s a down-home family business (Fred’s wife Alisa runs the kitchen) that is the heart of Wayne, Alberta.
Next time you’re passing through, be sure to stop in for a bison burger with beans, home-made meat pie, or your beverage of choice served in a quart sealer (mason jar). There’s also live music on weekends.
Wayne is located about 20 minute south west of Drumheller just off highway 10 [Google Map].
There’s WIFI, a confectionery next door, camping around back, and room for groups or parties (of 30-50 people) on the BBQ patio. Please note though, minors are only welcome on Sundays otherwise you need to be 18 years of age or older. The Last Chance Saloon is open from May to September every year.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Unpaid, Personal Opinion — I was not paid to write this post nor was I given any other form of review item or compensation from McClure's. Receiving their press release simply inspired the theme of this post. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Next month McClure’s Cabs will be celebrating 100 years as a business in Vancouver, making it the oldest taxi company in the Lower Mainland. It was also the first taxi company to provide airport service in Vancouver. The theme of this week’s roundup of photos from the Vancouver Archives and the Vancouver Library collection is: Taxicabs.
1910s – Men in a cab at Granville & Davie. Archives item# Trans N87.03.
1919 – Central Taxi Co. fleet. Archives item# CVA 99-5272. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
1920 – Taxi Station by the Hotel Rainier (Carrall Street). Archives item# CVA 99 – 3304.
Fleet of Black Top Cabs in Vancouver. Archives item# CVA 1184-3294.
Photographer: Jack Lindsay.
(Left) 1950 – Winner of most handsome Yellow Cab driver contest. VPL Accession Number: 81214.
(Right) 1954 – Georgia Street. VPL Accession Number: 43366. Photographer: Province Newspaper
During the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Andrew Lavigne followed a group of various social media users around the city to see how the digital world impacted the Games and their daily lives. The result is With Glowing Hearts. A unique documentary that, being funded by grassroots campaigns and screenings by donation, is finally ready for its official premiere.
The premieres will take place over the course of a few days in select cities across Canada:
Montreal: Friday, September 23, 2011 at 7:00pm at Cinema du Parc
Vancouver: Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 7:00pm at SFU Woodward’s
Toronto: Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 7:00pm at the Revue Cinema
Ottawa: Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 6:30pm at Mayfair Theatre
Kris Krug, who is in the film, will have a photography exhibition in the lobby of each theatre prior to the screenings. I also have a few cameos in the documentary along with John Biehler, Dave Olson, and a feature on April Smith.
If you would like to attend the Vancouver premiere this Saturday, tickets are currently available for $10. The documentary channel has also picked up With Glowing Hearts and it will run over the next three years starting with its television premiere November 21, 2011 (check local listings).
Follow WGHTheMovie on Twitter for screening updates and to find out how you can support the distribution of this Vancouver-made film.
