VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Film buffs, adrenaline junkies and overall outdoorsy types will want to mark Feb. 8 to 15 on their calendars for the return of the annual 麻豆传媒映画International Mountain Film Festival. Celebrating its sweet sixteenth birthday, this year's edition will feature a total of 50 films from 13 countries and nine guest speakers spread between the Rio Theatre, Pacific Cinematheque and the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver.
Featured films focus on everything from mountaineering to skiing, snowboarding, paragliding, sea kayaking and a variety of other risky/rewarding activities.
Featured documentaries include The Movement (about the challenges faced by champion disabled skiers), Chasing Ice (about the vanishing ice caps from Greenland to Alaska), Crossing the Ice (an-tipodean adventurers make an unassisted traverse of the North Pole), Autana (documenting the first ascent of a remote tower in South America) and Wide Boys (crack climbing in the American Southwest).
Canadian ski mountaineer Greg Hill will present his account of a major avalanche that killed several skiers/climbers on Mount Manaslu in Nepal, while Austrian mountain biker Harald Phillip will describe his cheerier trip through the Alps.
Several filmmakers will be in attendance, including the creators of 2011's award-winning cult classic ski film All.I.Can.
Tickets for all evening shows are $19 advance and $21 at the door, with matinees at the Rio Theatre $15 and $9 for kids 12 and under. Shows at Centennial Theatre and Pacific Cinematheque, along with matinees at Rio Theatre are for all-ages; while evening shows at the Rio Theatre are only for those 19 and over due to due to B.C. booze laws. Travel on over to vimff.org for more info.
MOUNT PLEASANT
Former CTV anchor Pamela Martin is the host of this year's Looking Glass Foundation's gala fundraiser Feb. 1 at the Rocky Mountaineer Station. The non-profit group is dedicated to providing support for teens suffering with eating disorders. The guest speaker is Dr. Blake Woodside and prizes include tickets for two to anywhere Air Canada flies in North America, a round of golf with NHL legend Pat Quinn, box seats for four for any concert at Rogers Arena and more. The celebrity guest has yet to be finalized but past performers have included Jann Arden and Sarah McLaughlin. Call 250-539-2633 for more details. Tickets are $250. Take a look at lookingglass.bc.ca for more.
KITS/WEST END
A new bread-themed fundraiser is entering Vancouver's racing ring with an event that will see teams running in circles for an entire week starting Feb. 2. The Bagel Chase challenges participants to run the five kilometre distance to Siegel's Bagels in Kitsilano across the Burrard Bridge to the Cactus Club in English Bay and back again a total of 8,000 times - roughly the same distance as travelling the equator. All proceeds go to CISV International (formerly Children's International Summer Villages), a charity focused on achieving world peace through multi-cultural summer camps.
Runners can enter as individuals or as teams of up to 10 people. Registration is $35. Head over to bagelchase.com for more.
DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE
The Battered Women's Support Services offers training to women who want to volunteer helping out physically and/or sexually assaulted women in the Downtown Eastside. An information session will be held Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. and weekend training sessions from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 2-3 and Feb. 9-10. Participants will learn about crisis intervention and support, group facilitation skills, the theoretical feminist framework of violence against women, anti-oppression analysis and a whole lot more. Call Amrit at 604-6521010 or email [email protected] for more information.
KITSILANO
The Museum of 麻豆传媒映画is hosting an event Feb. 17 exploring the city's heritage. The free event, titled Vancouver: Our Diverse Heritage, will feature talks given by author Donald Luxton and Vanessa Campbell, an educator in the Squamish Nation Language Program. 6 to 8 p.m. at 1100 Chestnut St. RSVP [email protected] or call 604-822-6915 to find out more.
(Sandra Thomas is on vacation.)
