After a sold-out inaugural year, the Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival (“VHS”) is returning for the sequel. All programs will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A and the final block of shorts (Shorts Program 3) will be followed by the #VHS2019 Award Ceremony.

Horror Show Film Festival

When: Friday, October 25 to Saturday, October 26, 2019
Where: York Theatre, 639 Commercial Dr
Tickets: Available Online

Submissions for The Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival in 2019 have more than doubled from that of the festivals launch in 2018!

The VHS is proud to announce the Official Selections for the sequel to the annual Film Festival. The program features films from all over the world and boasts 50% Canadian content.

32 short films from 9 different countries have been selected. These films explore the breadth, depth, and diversity of style that the horror genre has to offer. Technology focused films like Michael Dupret’s #NO_FILTER shows us how scary a night in, alone on Instagram can be, while Sophie B Jacques’ Hearth might make you think twice about listing your condo on Airbnb. All three short film programs highlight strong, self-possessed female leads in films like Catherine Fordham’s Kaya, Phil Davis’ Let’s Go Down and Ilja Rautsi’s Helsinki Mansplaining Massacre.

Vancouver producer, Victoria Burkhart, brings the hilarious and dark O.I. (directed by South African born N’Cee van Heerdon – who currently resides in Vancouver) about a man who posses the most dangerous thing in the world: an original thought. Local actors Ben Cotton and Jennifer Nicole Stang (VHS alum from last years hit The Whistler) shine in this hilarious and thought-provoking masterpiece.

As a Canadian and BC-based festival, the VHS is showcasing some truly amazing home grown talent; Vancouver-based Jake Pascoe tells a haunting tale of post-apocalyptic survival in Feast and Montreal’s Gio Olmos presents a gritty allegory for poverty and class division in Dulce Hogar, where the residents of a poor Latin American town must pay their rent with something more valuable than money. Also from Vancouver is Dance with a Demon from Mitch Bax and Fiona Vroom; a cinematic and visceral story of a mother’s struggle with depression, and the battle that rages on when the demons return.

The full lineup is available online including short program details for both days. For more information follow the Vancouver Horror Show on Instagram and Facebook.

The 16th annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival features over 100 events at over 40 locations over 12 days. From October 30th to November 10th, enjoy music, stories, theatre, poetry, cultural celebrations, films, dance, readings, forums, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibits, mixed media, art talks, history talks and history walks.

Heart of the City Festival

When: Wednesday, October 30 to Sunday, November 10, 2019
Where: 40 locations across the Downtown Eastside

This year’s theme Holding the Light has emerged from the compelling need of DTES-involved artists and residents to illuminate the vitality and relevance of the Downtown Eastside community and its diverse and rich traditions, knowledge systems, ancestral languages, cultural roots and stories.

Festival Highlights

• The workshop production of Opening Doors – Vancouver’s East End 2019, a Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre production. Directed by Donna Spencer, Opening Doors features the dramatization of lived experiences of indigenous and settler women who lived, worked and raised families in the historic Vancouver East End, including selected personal histories from Daphne Marlatt and Carole Itter’s extraordinary local legend-of-a-book Opening Doors first published in 1979.
• Urban Ink Productions’ workshop presentation of SRO by Middle of the Sky (aka Brenda Prince). The play uses a fascinating style to tell the story of an Indigenous woman trapped in a DTES SRO (Single-room-occupancy) and her efforts to escape from her circumstances. Presented in parallel with the SRO Indigenous Women’s Project, a week-long residency that features visual art, ceremony, discussion and live performance, led by Renae Morriseau with Sophie Merasty.
• Khari Wendell McClelland (The Sojourners/Freedom Singer) as the 2019 Festival Artist-in-Residence. Khari is curating a number of events, including a special music series that profiles an exciting and diverse line-up of local professional and emerging musicians.

The mandate of the Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival is to promote, present and facilitate the development of artists, art forms, cultural traditions, history, activism, people and great stories about Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the opening night of ūtszan on October 31st at the Firehall Arts Centre. This passionate story about language and how it informs identity, follows the journey of a woman and her quest to reclaim her language. In the process, she uncovers Indigenous knowledge, humour, strength and resilience. ūtszan (to make things better) is written and performed by Yvonne Wallace (Lilwat) and directed by Jefferson Guzman.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on October 23, 2019. UPDATE the winner is Jenn!

Stewart Farm, a picturesque site telling the story of a Surrey family circa 1900, will turn into the Haunted Farm October 26th with seasonal family fun, without the fright.

Haunted Farm in South Surrey

When: Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Where: Historic Stewart Farm (13723 Crescent Rd, Surrey)
Admission: Entrance is free, sponsored by the Friends of the Surrey Museum and Archives Society.

This family friendly site is open to visitors to experience Surrey long ago.

In the farmhouse kitchen, warm up by the woodstove and sip hot chocolate while you have your fortune told by a fate cake. Afterwards, take part in a scavenger hunt to find things like rats, bats and other Halloween icons throughout the house. Next, head to the barn for another scavenger hunt and be rewarded with candy. There will also be a variety of Halloween themed games, including Shoe Toss Fortune and Pumpkin Bowling. Stick your hand in the creepy Discovery Jars and catch a classic scary silent movie from the late 1800s inside Stewart Hall.

Stewart Farm is open Tuesday to Friday, and on weekends. The grounds are open every day, even if the farmhouse is not, with scenic water views and lots of space for children to run. Right now they are also hosting a fall photo contest. Share your photos of the farm on Instagram with the tag #HistoricStewartFarm for a chance to win one of three prizes.

Learn more about Historic Stewart Farm and Heritage Surrey by following along on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

Are you an Indigenous student between the ages of 15-21? Now is your chance to take part in a one of a kind experience. CBC Vancouver will host the fourth edition of Indigenous Junior J-School on November 13th.

CBC Vancouver Hosts Indigenous Junior J-School

The CBC Vancouver Broadcast Centre is located on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

• When: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 from 8:30am to 3:00pm
• Where: CBC Vancouver (700 Hamilton St, Vancouver)
• Register: Online now for free space is limited so act fast! Registration includes behind the scenes access, a look at how the news is produced, exclusive workshops, the chance to win awesome prizes, and 6 hours work/volunteer experience towards graduation.

Created in partnership with TV and film producer Steve Sxwilthul’txw, the event brings together Sxwilthul’txw and CBC’s Indigenous journalists and veteran hosts including Angela Sterritt, Duncan McCue, Stephanie Brown, Ian Hanomansing, Gloria Macarenko and others, as well as over 100 Indigenous youth from across the Lower Mainland for a day of learning and inspiration.

“Indigenous Jr. J School is a real opportunity for our Indigenous youth to experience what it’s like to work in the field of broadcast journalism. We are providing a very safe environment to get youth excited about storytelling. It’s an opportunity I’m pleased to be a part of.”  

Steve Sxwilthul’txw

Students will get hands on training from CBC journalists through exclusive workshops on editing, producing and writing. Special guests from Metro Vancouver’s journalism programs will be on hand to answer questions about college or journalism programs. Lunch will feature an intimate concert by the Snotty Nose Rez Kids, an award-winning hip hop duo composed of Haisla rappers Darren “Young D” Metz and Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce. 

CBC’s Indigenous Junior J-School is designed in collaboration and partnership with local Indigenous communities, the program aims to empower and inspire the next generation of CBC journalists.

The registration deadline for Indigenous Junior J-School is November 8th and students can reserve their spot (for free) and learn more information online here. Follow the event on social media using the tag #CBCJrJSchool.

On a dark weekend in November, Lumière Vancouver will bring its brilliant light to the West End and Downtown Vancouver over three nights of family-friendly displays and attractions.

Lumière Vancouver

From November 1-3, 2019 you can visit 25 interactive art installations that add wonder to four beloved sites: English Bay, Jim Deva Plaza, Lot 19, and šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (formerly known as the North Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery).

Each site’s interactive art installations honour a different theme:
• Nature (English Bay)
• Pride (Jim Deva Plaza on Davie at Bute)
• Local (Lot 19 – between Hastings and Cordova)
• Interactive (šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square)

Free Vancouver Trolley shuttles will be available to transport viewers between each site and don’t miss the Lumière Vancouver Block Party each night as well, from 5:00pm to 10:00pm at Jim Deva Plaza. It’s a great way to appreciate dazzling art, and to get out and enjoy these cool Vancouver neighbourhoods.

Win a Night on The Town

I have the chance to give away a Lumière Vancouver prize package to enjoy Downtown Vancouver and the West End this season! The prize includes:

A $50 gift card for The Park Pub, a $50 gift card to Bayside Lounge, brunch for 2 at Papi’s Seafood and Oyster Bar (value $70), and $175 in Visa Rewards cards from StayVancouverHotels.com so you can book a stay downtown this season. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Follow Lumière Vancouver and Miss604 on Facebook (1 entry)
• Follow Lumière Vancouver and Miss604 on Instagram (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

Follow the festival on Twitter and Facebook, and StayVancouverHotels on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more info. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

UPDATE The winner is Linda!