Historic Patricia Theatre, after being closed for almost 18 months, will soon reopen under the ownership and management of Powell River Film Society.
According to an electronic mail-out from the film society’s executive director Gary Shilling, October 1 is the opening day.
Programming will begin with a first for the film society – a partnership with Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) to present 12 films from VIFF during its 2021 festival, from October 1 to 11.
Shilling stated that programming details, ticket sales and a schedule will follow in September. One of VIFF’s core mandates is to “encourage understanding of the world’s cultures through the art of cinema.”
VIFF seeks out programming that encourages its members and community to express themselves, their cultural perspectives, and their sense of being, through the shared experience of the moving image, added Shilling.
The co-presentation, called PRFF+VIFF, will be a treat for festival patrons, according to Shilling. VIFF is one of the largest festivals in North America, with a diverse program of some of the world’s top festival films and many undiscovered gems, he stated.
“This special offering is our way of thanking the many donors who have made this all possible,” added Shilling.
Mainstream programming will also begin in October. Family films such as Paw Patrol, Black Widow, and Cruella will be scheduled for the fall.
“We also have our eye on the winter blockbusters that will include the latest Bond film, No Time To Die,” stated Shilling.
“October will be our slow open month, where we fire up the projector, get popcorn popping and train new staff. We’ll begin with a schedule that focuses on weekend screenings and expand from there as the month progresses.”
Shilling stated that Powell River Film Society (an amalgamation of Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre Society and Friends of Film Society) has been fundraising in the qathet region since 2007 to aid in the preservation of the theatre. In 2012, when film distribution went digital, the society raised $90,000 within the community to purchase a digital projection system, as well a single donor’s acoustic reengineering of the auditorium valued at $50,000.
“At the beginning of this year, we received more than $100,000 in funding from Heritage BC for exterior improvements, including the replacement of the canopy over the entrance,” stated Shilling. “Our most recent efforts to purchase the theatre raised more than $175,000. And now, with a charitable non-profit owning the building, we’ll be in a better position to seek funding to restore the theatre to its original grandeur.
“On behalf of the Powell River Film Society, I want to thank everyone who donated towards saving the Patricia. The theatre is an important part of Powell River’s history, and thanks to you, will be an integral part of its future.”
