Community News & Opportunities
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30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations
Each February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and celebrations that honour the legacy and contributions of Black people in Canada and their communities.
The 2026 theme for Black History Month is: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” Celebrating by highlighting the enduring contributions of Black Canadians across time. It acknowledges the foundational role of nation builders—those who fought for civil rights, advanced social justice, and shaped Canada’s cultural and political landscape. At the same time, it looks forward to tomorrow’s visionaries, the emerging leaders, innovators, and change makers who are redefining excellence in every field.
There are all sorts of events to attend, learn & celebrate the contributions of great Black people in Canada’s history, present & looking ahead.
Black Brilliance on Film, Books, Dance & more! VPL’s Central Branch: HERE!
Vancouver’s Best Places - Events: HERE!
Government of Canada Information: HERE!
PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
Jan 22nd - Feb 8th, 2026
Theatre - Film - Dance - Interdisciplinary - Indigenous - Music - 2SLGBTQA+ - Relaxed - Accessible - Surtitles - ASL Interpretation - DHH Friendly - Online
The 2026 PuSh Festival is an invitation to the culturally fearless—to those ready to step into fresh futurities and the expansive possibilities of live performance. In a time when dominant ways of knowing and being are collapsing into the polycrisis they have created, the artists gathered here embody ancestral and emergent ways of living, understanding, relating, and dreaming.
Program & Ticket Details: HERE!
First Friday’s are Free!
2-5pm
639 Hornby St, Vancouver BC
The Bill Reid Gallery celebrates the extraordinary diversity of contemporary Indigenous Northwest Coast Art. As the only public Gallery in Canada dedicated to the Northwest Coast, we invite you to immerse yourself in a vibrant cultural experience.
Details at billreidgallery.ca/
Free Art!
4 to 8 PM Reserve your spot in advance to guarantee entry into the Gallery. Walk-in tickets are also available based on capacity.
VIMFF 2026 is coming in February/March 2026!
Vancouver Int’l Mountain Film Festival Program to be announced in late January!
Watch live in person or online. Check back for details & film & special event tickets.
Website HERE!
Crazy8s 2026: Top 6 Announced!
Running since 1999, Crazy8s is an annual 8-day short filmmaking challenge that provides support and funding to 6 emerging and mid-career filmmakers to produce a short film, and provides training opportunities to crew and cast. After a Gala Screening and Afterparty, the films go on to be seen by audiences worldwide at film festivals and on other distribution channels.
We want to give a special thank you to our presenting sponsor and jurors. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, DGC BC, for making everything possible. Thank you to Lecily Corbett,
TOP 6 Projects!
Starting Jan 31st - come catch up on your Academy Award-nominated movies & see them on a big screen! The VIFF Centre at has you covered with 2 theatres; the Lochmaddy Studio space & the 150 seat [including balcony!] Vancity Theatre.
Films start as early as 12:30pm.
Oscar Party 2026, March 15, 2:30pm - Experience the Academy Awards in style at the VIFF Centre! Watch the ceremony live on the big screen with a red carpet, a fully licensed bar and live hosts.
What’s On - HERE!
At the Fox Cabaret – 2123 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
2026 Season
Fri. Feb. 20 | Sat. Mar. 14 | Fri. April 17 | Fri. May 8
Want to be a reader for the Fox Cabaret shows? Sign up now: HERE.
TICKETS available HERE.
FREE!
Feb 27 - Museum of Vancouver 1100 Chestnut St, Vancouver
5-10pm
This special event will feature performances by Dee Daniels, Khari McClelland, Ndidi Cascade, Henri Brown and sets by DJ Carl Allen.
Dive into music and inspiring talks that highlight the power and beauty of Black history with a focus on Vancouver's finest soul and R&B musicians. Bring your friends, grab some good vibes!
RSVP asap, Tickets are going fast…..HERE!
21st Annual International Gender Equity in Media Festival
March 5 - 8, 2026
GEMS Vancouver's signature event, 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.
GEMFest provides a platform for challenging gender inequity and the lack of diversity in the screen-based media industry through a combination of film screenings, discussions, and professional development and networking opportunities.
The festival will open in Spring 2026, and screen films with women & gender-diverse filmmakers in at least three of the following eight key creative roles: Writer, Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Composer, Lead Performer and Production Designer.
The 2026 festival will be a focused on in-person screenings and events.
https://gemsvancouver.org/
RNG Kick Off Event - Sat, April 18, 2026
Run N Gun is Vancouver's wildest filmmaking competition. Established in 2015, over 1100 films have been created through Run N Gun (& our sister competitions Shits N Giggles, Blood N Guts & Vancouver Quarentine Performance Project), and it has become the biggest filmmaking event Vancouver has to offer!
Run N Gun website HERE!
Where Cinema Meets Social Change
April 23 - 26, 2026
Pre-Launch, Opening Night, Film Screening & Panel Discussion - North Delta Centre for the Arts
Film Screening and Panel Discussion - Landmark Cinemas Surrey, Guildford
Our mission is to recognize and showcase films that use impactful and informative storytelling to raise awareness and inspire action on critical social causes and issues. We aim to celebrate filmmakers who are committed to creating positive social impact and promoting empathy, understanding, and social justice.
Website, Tickets HERE!
Next Celluloid Social Club Event - TBD
Celluloid Supper Club, presented in association with Celluloid Social Club and Shamshiri Caveman Restaurant.
Keep in touch with local screenings happening online at our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/18306091376
https://celluloidsocialclub.com/
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
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!