Community News & Opportunities

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Thursday, April 17 - Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC
Happy Hour Cast & Crew Speed Dating!
Doors 6:00 pm | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Please arrive on time.

Screening at 7:30 pm, Gamechangers and Q&A at 8:00 pm, After Party Drinks and Raffle at 10:00 pm

Tickets: $20 in Advance, $25 at the Door

Run N Gun website HERE!

Gathering Place Theatre Workshops

THEATRE FOR THE FUN OF IT!

Drop in 2X a week for 6 weeks 

March 10 to April 17 - Mondays & Thursdays 

Mondays 3:30pm-6pm

Thursdays 12:30pm-3pm

Gathering Place, 2nd floor Fitness Room - 609 Helmcken Street

 Free - Everyone welcome! No experience necessary.

Led by Teresa Vandertuin

Reel to Real Youth Film Festival

April 6-17, 2025

R2R International Film Festival! B.C Students (grades 5 to 12) are invited to apply for a chance to develop their skills as film critics.The Youth Jury Program aims to foster a deeper appreciation for independent film from Canada and around the globe. Check the 2025 schedule!

https://r2rfestival.org/

 

Wed April 16 - National Canadian Film Day!

Screening ‘CAN I GET A WITNESS?’

International Village, 6:30pm

Presented by VAFF Vancouver Asian Film Festival with Community Partner Celluloid Social Club

Directed by Ann Marie Fleming and starring Sandra Oh, Keira Jang & Joel Ouelette

Note: this event replaces the Celluloid Social Club at the ANZA Club on April 16

Tickets: HERE!

Film Details: HERE!

Keep in touch with local screenings happening online at our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/18306091376

https://celluloidsocialclub.com/

2025 Screenwriters Lab Call for Applications!

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Whistler Film Festival, the society has opened the call for applications for a special edition of its Screenwriters Lab, a highly competitive, multi-phase feature film script and industry development program with training valued at more than $15,000.

Facilitated by LA-based script consultant and story editor Ruth Atkinson and WFF Talent Programs manager Shelly Quade, it’s designed to amplify the diverse voices of Canadian writers by developing original projects. It offers unparalleled access to key industry experts and indispensable training so writers may fully explore and realize their scripts. 
The 2025 Screenwriters Lab is presented with the support of Telefilm Canada, Paramount+, and Creative BC.

There will be a Q&A on April 23, registration is available here.

The deadline to apply May 5, early applications are encouraged.

REGISTER HERE!

Join us to explore how we can all accelerate environmentally sustainable change through the content we make!

No matter how big or small your production is, there are lots of ways you can implement sustainable practices. In this session, our fantastic guest speakers will answer your burning questions

FREE Registration - April 23

DETAILS & Register HERE!

 

The Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition

This competition recognizes the most outstanding unproduced Canadian plays with a Jewish focus. The winning playwright will receive $1,000 (CDN) and an 8-hour CAEA workshop with a director and up to six actors. This workshop concludes with a public reading. No fee.

Submission deadline: May 25, 2025.

Winner will be announced in the fall of 2025.

Details, Past Winners, Submissions HERE!

Ongoing Resources & Friends…..

Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver (GEMS) is a member-based organization committed to furthering gender equity in film and television. Previously named Women in Film and Television Vancouver (WIFTV), GEMS incorporated in 1989 as a not-for-profit society registered in British Columbia.

By addressing systemic barriers, GEMS works towards supporting more inclusive, representative media.

The Genre Film Lab / Coffee Chats - past chats available to view online!

gemsvancouver.org

BIZ Books

Your online source for film, television, and theatre books. We invite you to browse through our online store where you will find thousands of titles. Let’s make your creative dreams come true!

Sign up for our newsletter with notices of sales, workshops, blogs & special events at bizbooks.net

MiTribe Media Studios

We contribute to the Vancouver artistic community through Production Support Services and Mentorships in our studio at 150 East 3rd Avenue, and Live Events designed to bring people together in celebration of each other’s work.

Taping Rooms, Classes, Music & mixer events - come check us out!

www.mitribemedia.com

GVPTA is a non-profit charitable organization whose membership includes theatre companies, theatre makers and artists, and other organizations and individuals that support theatre. We provide services, promotion of member news and community events, opportunities to connect and network, and hold an annual theatre conference. 

Show Listings Here!

First Saturday Open Studios

First Saturday is a public monthly artist-run open-studio event in Vancouver, North Vancouver, New Westminster, Victoria & the Gulf Islands. Each month a new artist opens their doors to the public to share their work & chat…

Website & details here!

For Reviews of local & international performances & arts events, Colin Thomas [award winning playwright, Theatre Reviewer & Critic for almost four decades] offers thoughtful & insightful gems to consider in the world of theatre & art. Highly recommend!

Fresh Sheet Subscribe!

 

Short Play Challenge Winners!

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Come see the winners of the Short Play Challenge!

Come see the winners of the Short Play Challenge!

 

Yup, it’s that time. The Cold Reading Series is pleased to (finally!) announce the winners of the Short Play Challenge.

These seven writers will have their plays produced in 6 weeks. Yes, that’s right. We’re bringing four plays to life in the next six weeks, and you get to come see them. So mark it down on your calendar if you haven’t already. 

The winners of the short play challenge are:

High School Diplomacy by Cookie Boyle

Out & About by Mairy Beam, Dick O'Connor, Neila Lem, Michel Crete

Kidnappees by Annahis Basmadjian

Legless by Colette Nichol

Thank you for coming out to the shows and voting. Thank you for submitting your scripts. Thank you for supporting local creativity.

Without the support of the actors, writers, and audience members who came out and watched, clapped, laughed, cried, and voted, this wouldn’t be happening. 

We’re very excited to be bringing you three World Premiere’s and one West Coast Premiere this coming May at Studio 16.

Dates: May 9th, 10th, 11th @ 8 pm

Tickets go on sale on April 9th, so watch for that link. 

Collaboration with UBC's Top Screenwriters

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There can be a lot of waiting when you're an actor. Waiting for your agent to call. Waiting to land the perfect role. Waiting to meet the right people.
If you're tired of waiting, and you're craving a community of like-minded artists, actors, writers, filmmakers and directors who want to make their own work, come down to the Cold Reading Series' next event. 
The Cold Reading Series' next event: a collaboration between UBC's top screenwriters and the CRS.
Meet the four writers who are coming from all across North America to share their scripts with you. Part of the UBC Creative Writing Program, these early career writers are looking to hone their material and test it on a live audience. And we need you to bring their characters to life!

What's On?
Bees Are Dying by Michael Glasbourg
edu.Kate (pilot) by Peter Lockyer
Like a Thief in the Night by Kyle D'Odorico
Peace and the Good by Merril-Ann S. Phare

Stop waiting for your phone to ring.
Come out and cold read.
Sit back and enjoy the show.
Meet like minded artists who want to make their own work and take their art into their own hands.
 
January 30th at The Backstage Lounge on Granville Island
Casting at 6:30 pm Show at 8:00 pm
We look forward to seeing you there!

P.S. If you've been wondering who won the Screenwriting Prize...you'll find out soon!  Winners will be announced at the January Episode. 
P.P.S. The last scripts of the Short Play Challenge will be going up in Feb, so keep your eye out for that. 

Dramaturgy for the Short Play Challenge

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JUST ANOTHER REASON TO SUBMIT to the SHORT PLAY CHALLENGE:

If having your short play mounted by the CRS weren't reason enough to submit to the CRS this year, all winning playwrights will receive dramaturgical support from long-time story editor, dramaturg, director, teacher, actor, and CRS host LORI TRIOLO.

Lori's work as an artist, actor, mentor and coach led her to becoming involved in theatre and film as a director and producer. She has directed numerous plays ranging from student to professional to solo show productions. Lori most recently acted as producer and casting director for the Canadian independent feature film Lost Solace directed by Chris Scheuerman - a project which is now on the festival circuit.

With over 15 years as a dramaturge and story editor for countless projects, your work will be in good hands.

Story Editors Announced!

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The CRS is excited to announce the two story editors who have generously donated their time to the Cold Reading Series as part of the Screenwriter's Prize this year.

JUST CONFIRMED: two of Canada's top Story Editors have donated their time to the CRS Screenwriter's Prize this year. Two lucky writers will receive a story editing session with one of two industry veterans: LINDA COFFEY or DENNIS HEATON.

Submissions are open until November 1st, and all general submissions to the CRS of finished feature scripts and short scripts will be eligible to win.

LINDA COFFEY, STORY EDITOR & GUEST MENTOR, WIDC

Linda Coffey is one of the very few story editors in Canada to have worked successfully in every aspect of both film and television development and production. She has story edited and consulted on hundreds of hours of television and feature film projects and has been a Guest Mentor with Women In The Director's Chair since 2006.

DENNIS HEATON, SCREENWRITER & SHOW RUNNER

Dennis Heaton is a multiple award-winning screenwriter, show runner and executive producer. Currently executive producer and show runner for CTV’s “Motive,” he’s also worked on “Call Me Fitz” for HBO, CTV’s “The Listener”, and Lifetime’s “Blood Ties”. In 2015 he won two Leo Awards - one for his work on “Motive” and the other for “Are you Gonna Eat That?”

Short Play Challenge & Screenwriter's Prize

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The CRS is excited to be offering two new development opportunities to storytellers in Vancouver.

The Short Play Challenge is a chance for both emerging and established writers to experiment with a short play format and have their works produced on stage by The Cold Reading Series as part of the 2017 Short Theatre Festival.

 
Short Play Challenge Vancouver
 

 

Any original unproduced play of 20 pages or less may be submitted throughout the season. Semifinalists will be decided by the CRS team, and the final winners will be voted on by the audience.

Open to playwrights in the Lower Mainland who can attend a live cold reading of their play this year, the Short Play Challenge has been created to provide opportunities for development to local storytellers and to strengthen the creative community.

Playwrights are welcome to submit more than one play. Each submission is $5.00 and can be submitted via the General Submission Page. 

Keep in mind that since the CRS audience will be voting in the final winners over the 2016 season, there is a clear advantage in submitting your play earlier rather than later. This will give the audience more opportunities to vote for your entry.

Votes cost $1.00 per vote, and audience members can vote as many times as they like. Playwrights can vote as well, just not for their own play. All voting must be done in person at the CRS.

Once voting commences, a leader board with the rankings will be on the Cold Reading Series Facebook page, so you can follow along as the challenge progresses.

Voting will come to a close in November at the last episode of the year.

Winners will be announced on November 15th. The last day to submit for the Short Play Challenge is November 1st at midnight PST.

For full details please go HERE >>