Pacific Cinematheque believes its decade-long plan to expand has found the perfect opportunity with a space in Telus's redevelopment at Georgia, Robson, Seymour and Richards.
"We've been really excited by our discussions with Telus and the developer because they're really interested in seeing a state-of-the-art, world-class film institute, media education centre, cultural venue, in their space, their development, as a cultural anchor and amenity," said Jim Sinclair, the theatre's executive and artistic director.
The 39-year-old film society has operated at 1131 Howe St. for 25 years in a space that's owned by the city and was provided along with the development of an office tower.
Pacific Cinematheque offers more than 500 curated film exhibitions a year. It houses the West Coast Film Archive, which includes more than 200 significant B.C. films from 1968 to 1978, and a film reference library. It offers award-winning youth education programs in filmmaking, history and media literacy. Telus already supports the society's summer filmmaking program for youth at Templeton secondary. The theatre also serves as a venue for film festivals programmed by other groups.
Sinclair says the film institute has outgrown its aging facility.
He says the organization's annual budget has grown five-fold since 1986, tripling over 10 years after it launched its education department in 1995.
"So we are a bigger, better organization doing a lot and operating at a much higher level, but we're still in a building that we moved into 25 years ago when we were at 20 per cent of the activity," he said.
The film society generates half of its funding, with another 35 per cent from three levels of government and 15 per cent from the private sector.
Pacific Cinematheque recently started online and in-person petitions to secure a space in the Telus Garden development and collected 2,500 signatures in six days.
Sinclair says the establishment of the Vancity Theatre, W2: Community Media Arts and various film festivals and schools hasn't diminished the importance of Pacific Cinematheque. "You can't have film culture without an institute that is the incubator for film culture past and present and future," he said.
Henriquez Partners Architects is seeking a rezoning for the Telus development. The city always includes discussions about possible public benefits from rezonings, which lead to increased land value. Brent Toderian, the city's director of planning, says possible benefits include cultural amenities, rental housing, preserving heritage features and contributions towards establishing a park or a daycare.
Toderian said it's too early to say which public benefit staff would recommend to council for Telus Garden.
Developer Westbank has recommended a space for Pacific Cinematheque to the city.
"Sometimes developers really like an idea, other times developers are just looking for things the city might like," Toderian said.
The city is working to determine where Westbank's interest lies. City council will make a decision at a public hearing that's expected before the end of the year.
Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
