Community News & Opportunities

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The Actors Data Base is Open for 2025!

Want to join a team for Run N Gun? Sign up to be on the actors database at linktree!

LINKTREE

Run N Gun website HERE!

Gender Equity in Media Festival

The 20th Annual International Film Festival

March 5th - 9th, 2025.

GEMFest is the only film festival dedicated to women and gender diverse people in Western Canada, and one of just three international film festivals for women and gender diverse people in Canada.

https://gemsvancouver.org/gemfest/

 

Creative Mornings - Vancouver

Friday, March 7th, 2025 8:15-10:15am * NEW VENUE! *

Vancouver Art Gallery - Room 4, East - 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver

For March’s global theme of ‘Parallel’, we are honoured to host the Icelandic and Red River Métis poet Jónína Kirton.

Kirtan was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Treaty 1, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene peoples and the homeland of the Métis and she graduated from Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio in 2007. She released her first book, ‘‘page as bone ~ ink as blood’’, in 2015 and was sixty-one when she received the 2016 Vancouver’s Mayor’s Arts Award for an Emerging Artist in the Literary Arts category. Subsequent books: ‘An Honest Woman’, was a finalist in the 2018 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize & ‘‘Standing in a River of Time’’, released in 2022, exposes the intergenerational effects of colonization on her Métis family. She currently lives in New Westminster BC, the unceded territory of the Hul’qumi’num speaking peoples.

Details & Registration link here!

 

Celluloid Supper Club, presented in association with Celluloid Social Club and Shamshiri Caveman Restaurant.

Date: Sunday, March 16 - 4pm-8:30pm,

Location: Shamshiri Caveman International & Persian Restaurant - 139 Keefer St.

On Sundays every month or so, Celluloid Supper Club will invite a local filmmaker to present their feature film and give the audience a special peek behind the curtain. Screenings may include Behind the Scenes footage, pitch videos, a look at their earlier shorts work, and possibly even special guests; and will always incorporate thoughtful discussions, Q&As, networking, a chance to win prizes from local sponsors, a 50/50 raffle, and include a meal and drink with your ticket!

Hosted by local comedian Rachel Rueker, the inaugural event we will be presenting Special Guest Joel Ashton McCarthy (founder Run N Gun) to screen his feature film SHOOTING: THE MUSICAL, preceded by his Crazy8s short I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT’S KILLING THEM (for which he won the 2017 Leo Award for Best Direction of a Short Drama), followed by an in depth conversation and Q&A with Joel.

Tickets & Information HERE!

March 19 - 23

Music, Dance, Theatre, Comedy, & Family Entertainment at various Venues

Event Details & Tickets HERE!

2025’s TOP 6 ANNOUNCED!

Gala Screening & After Party - March 29th, 2025!

My Mother, The Zombie Director: Samantha Pineda Writer: Loretta Seto

Our Monsters Director/Writer: Mia Petrovic

Red Light Rebel Director/Writer: Hannah Yang

The Reveal Director/Writer: Jackie Hoffart

W7éyle (Moon’s Wife) Director/Writer: Amanda Wandler

Where Is My Head? Director: Spencer Zimmerman Writer: Pat Moonie & Spencer Zimmerman

https://crazy8s.film/

Reel to Real Youth Film Festival - April 6-17, 2025

Youth Jury Film Criticism Workshop - Sun, Feb 9th, 2025, in preperation for the big event!

Through public screenings, hands-on workshops, interactive panel discussions, and public forums, our mission is to involve youth in actively viewing and discussing professionally made films; expose youth to new ideas and cultural perspectives; offer high-quality cinematic entertainment outside the mainstream; explore issues that are important to youth; engage youth in discussions with filmmakers about their work; increase understanding of the art and craft of filmmaking; and promote the production and presentation of high quality independent films for youth.

https://r2rfestival.org/

Where Cinema Meets Social Change

April 10 - 13, 2025 - SFU Surrey & Landmark Cinemas Guilford

Join us for the Opening Night Gala, Networking & Pitch Events, Shorts Programs & Feature Films!

Each film represents excellence in its respective category, promising an unforgettable cinematic experience. The films showcase social issues and social causes that have a social impact and promote social change.

We aim to celebrate filmmakers who are committed to creating positive social impact and promoting empathy, understanding, and social justice. 

https://sundarprize.com/

Sundarprize Programme

TICKETS!

Next Event: April 16, 2025

The ANZA Club - 3 West 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC

Doors: 7pm, Show at 8pm

The Celluloid Social Club is a short film screening event with filmmaker Q&As and networking founded in 1997 in Vancouver, B.C.

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

https://celluloidsocialclub.com/

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 >>