The OPEN CINEMA team wishes you a Merry local Christmas!
In the spirit of the conversations we’ve been hosting recently, we’d like to encourage you to consider the environment and the economy this holiday season. Some of the easiest ways to do this are by upcycling, regifting, crafting and buying local.
Donating to the Mustard Seed is another great way to help an increasing number of working families throughout the year. Did you know that the food donated at this time of year lasts well into spring or summer? The folks at Mustard Seed work hard to make it easy for us to contribute. Here’s an awsome list of all the events and donation opportunities, including drop-off points at every Thrifty Food Store til December 15, a Victoria Soul Gospel Choir concert and gift-wrapping services at The Bay Centre, Tillicum and Hillside Malls. You can even reduce your library fines by donating! Check it out!
Up Next: Crazy Wisdom on January 18
We generally don’t schedule and event in December, there just so much going on. Our next event will be on Wednesday January 18th, 2012: we’re collaborating with the Victoria Shambala Centre to bring you the Victoria premiere of Crazy Wisdom: the Life and Times of Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche.The post-screening discussion will focus on the role of spirituality in our changing world. More details very soon!
In case you aren’t already on our list, please consider adding your name to our email list for 2012: send an email to info@opencinema.ca with “subscribe” in the subject. That way you’ll be sure not to miss any events. Or you can join us on Twitter and Facebook.
We’re honoured to be partnering with AIDS Vancouver Island for our upcoming screening of the powerful documentary Raw Opium: Pain, Pleasure, Profits. Details below.
We’re busy working behind the scenes preparing for OPEN CINEMA’s ninth season! We’re feeling all grown up on the eve of our ninth birthday, amazed that the time has flown by and grateful for all the ongoing community support that helps us to keep our program thriving. Back in April, we were thrilled when Times Colonist film reviewer Michael D. Reid called us “one of this town’s most successful cultural enterprises.” (Times Colonist article, April 6 2011)
FALL LINEUP FOCUSES ON LOCAL FARMING AND DRUG ADDICTION
We have a great lineup for the fall, starting with the inspiring doc Urban Roots on Wednesday October 12th (details below). This intelligent and fascinating film takes an in-depth look at post-industrial Detroit’s remarkable urban farming phenomenon that is transforming Motown into Growtown! We’re thrilled to be partnering with FoodRoots Distributor’s Co-op again for the third in our series of seasonal celebrations of food, film and farming: Cinema-in-Season. And we have a great line-up of local farmers, community organizers, City planners for the post-screening discussion, moderated by CBC radio host Khalil Akhtar. Please see below for details!
On Wednesday November 16th, we’re excited to partner with AIDS Vancouver Island for the first time, to bring you the powerful and successful film Raw Opium: Pain, Pleasure, Profits. This event promises to be eye-opening and relevant, to say the least. More details coming soon!
Our events always take place on Wednesdays at the Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad Street, unless otherwise indicated.
OPEN CINEMA recently held our 85th screening to another packed house! During our eighth season, we’ve had a near perfect run of sold out events! We’ve partnered with local organizations such as The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, CRD, FoodRoots and Transition Towns to bring documentaries and discussion on diverse and relevant topics such as food security, creative expression, First Nations, local history, waste-free living, the economics of happiness and sustainable green energy.
As cultural funding sources dwindle, in order to continue offering this kind of programming we must turn to you, the community at large. We are inviting local ethical businesses such as yours to participate in our fourth annual fundraising event by providing products or services for a silent auction at our Earth Day Celebration, which will take place at the Victoria Event Centre.
On Wednesday April 20th 2011, we will screen the Victoria premiere of the timely documentary Powerful: Energy for Everyone.filmmaker David Chernushenko’s global journey to examine the alternatives to the conventional energy system. You can find out more about the event by visiting the event page.
In return for the donation of a silent auction item worth $25 or more, we will promote your business in our event publicity and feature your logo on our website and on the screen during the hour prior to the film screening. This values-based advertising opportunity is worth a value of at least $100.
We hope you’ll join us at this fabulous community celebration featuring local food treats and cash bar.
Please contact me at the number below to make a donation, or for more information.
We are excited to announce the Victoria premiere of Powerful: Alternative Energy for Everyone with filmmaker David Chernushenko via skype and Donna Morton (First Power), Adam Kreek (Olympic goldmedalist) and Guy Dauncey (www.EarthFuture.com)
This timely film about sustainable energy alternatives will be our season eight finale and fundraiser.
Read about OPEN CINEMA and the documentary film industry in this recent Times Colonist article by Michael Reid.
Watch a trailer and find out more about the film here.
Don’t miss our grand prize draw – a luxury night for two at Sooke Harbour House includes a 4-course dinner. One ticket for $5, 4 for $20 and 20 for $50!
If you would like to donate a silent auction item to support our fundraising efforts please contact us or dowload this PDF: Silent Auction request 2011
Your donations help to keep OPEN CINEMA programming alive and well!
With great regret, due to heavy snow and more on the way, we are canceling tonight’s screening of The Economics of Happiness.
The event has been RESCHEDULED to Wednesday March 2nd, one week from today. Same time…
Please see the previous post for details of the film and event.
This is the first time we’ve had to cancel or reschedule an event since launching in 2003. We appreciate your understanding and hope to see you on March 2nd!
