A good rep: Independent cinemas in Vancouver
While a good old Hollywood blockbuster is sometimes what you’re in the mood for, true cinema is an art form and when done well is enriching, thought-provoking and potentially life-changing. Sadly, we don’t have many indie theatres left in this city, but these five (plus a bonus!) offer excellent cinematic experiences.
Vancity Theatre
1181 Seymour St, Vancouver BC V6B 3M7This gorgeous building on Seymour near Davie acts as both a theatre and the headquarters for the Vancouver International Film Festival. Priding themselves on bringing in some of the best in international films from festivals around the world, you can expect high quality cinema here that might otherwise never be seen by Vancouverites. Short runs mean you should check their site regularly, but it also means there’s never a shortage of excellent films on offer. Check out their series and lectures as well.
Pacific Cinémathèque Pacifique Society
200-1131 Howe St, Vancouver BC V6Z 2L7This gem of a theatre on Howe and Helmcken is the place to go for serious cinema: arthouse and experimental film, multi-day directors’ retrospectives, an excellent showcasing of Canadian talent, international masterpieces and lesser known shorts and animation. As a non-profit film society, the theatre is run by an active board of directors and staff who bring in some of the best film exhibitions around. It also plays host to the VIFF, the Latin Film Festival and other festivals.
Rio Theatre
1660 Broadway E, Vancouver BC V5N 1W1This 1930s rep theatre has recently been revitalized thanks to its status as one of few independent theatres left in Vancouver. It’s also happens to have licensed premises. Enjoy a completely ad-free Hollywood movie or dress your best (i.e., in costume) for late-night revivals of classic horror, sci-fi and cult favourites all while sipping a beer or cocktail in a civilized manner. Only real butter on the popcorn here, and those arms between theatre seats adjust, perfect for snuggling with your movie date.
Fifth Avenue Cinemas
2110 Burrard St, Vancouver BC V6J 3H6Fifth Avenue is definitely your best bet for catching mainstream films with an indie flair. Look here for widely released film festival darlings and all the non-blockbuster Oscar contenders. Its classic box office has you buy tickets outside, before entering the lobby, where you can then indulge in the requisite popcorn, but also ice cream, muffins and freshly brewed coffee. Become a member for deals on movies and enjoy relatively uncrowded theatres — five in all — with comfy seats.
Dunbar Theatre
4555 Dunbar St, Vancouver BC V6S 2G7Proudly serving Vancouver’s West Side for decades, the Art Deco-era Dunbar Theatre is an anomaly in Vancouver’s disappearing heritage scene. Opened since 1935, it’s undergone many an ownership shift and was threatened with demolition in the late ‘90s. But being as it is such a community institution, the locals rallied and the cinema was saved. It continues to offer some of the comfiest seats and what some consider the best popcorn in town while showing current movies in its one-theatre space. A true gem in a city that often places the new and shiny ahead of the historical and established.
Fresh Air Cinema
505-15355 24 Ave, Surrey BC V4A 2H9Ok, so it’s not necessarily independent cinema, but this unique summertime event is not to be missed. Cozy in with your picnic blanket, cushions and snacks with a few thousand of your neighbours as the sun sets behind Stanley Park and the massive outdoor screen illuminates with some of your all-time childhood favourites: Goonies, Stand By Me, Pretty in Pink, The Princess Bride. The Summer Cinema Series presented by Fresh Air Cinema is an ideal way to spend a Tuesday night in summer, and the best part? It’s free. July to September at Second Beach.
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