City Reels: Vancouver’s Independent Cinema Guide

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CityReels Magazine is a monthly publication for Vancouver Cinephiles dedicated to promoting the Independent Films screened at the Festival Cinema Group and the Vancity Theatre. These theatres are dedicated to screening films that are out of the mainstream, opting for independent, upscale and artistic productions, which reveal qualities of the human spirit. The combined attendance at our theatre partners is nearly 45,000 patrons monthly. Our theatre partners have a stong loyalty membership business with a collective membership in excess of 30,000 people who receive regular mailings of events at these theatres.

Located in Vancouver BC, Festival Cinemas operates a chain of three theatres with seven screens in the affluent area of Vancouver’s West Side.

The Park Theatre is a single screen, which seats 504. This theatre has brand new “Love” seats, and concession as well as new Dolby Digital sound.

The Ridge Theatre is a single screen, which seats 486 people. This theatre also has new seating, concessions and Dolby Digital sound. The Ridge is a much loved theatre in the old, art deco style and has held many memorable events including the launching of the Vancouver International Film Festival, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sing-a-Long Sound of Music, along with many new, artistic and upscale films.

Fifth Avenue Cinemas is a five-screen complex which seats a total of 1000, complete with Dolby Digital sound. The concession stand boasts organic coffees, organic fruit and smoothies, pastries, and other specialty items. This theatre was formerly operated by Alliance Atlantis Cinemas and was re-purchased by Festival Cinemas, the original operators, in 2005.

The Vancity Theatre is referred to in Business Week magazine as the “optimal viewing environment,” the luxurious 175-seat theatre boasts state-of-the-art projection and sound equipment, plush seats with more than ample legroom and a stunning glass atrium. In addition to its use as one of the Vancouver International Film Festival’s venues during the annual 16-day fall event and stimulating year round programming, the Vancity Theatre is also available for rent to individuals and organizations. Because of the diverse nature of the programming featuring some of the best cinema from all around the world, the Vancity Theatre enjoys a loyal enthusiastic and culturally diverse audience.

Who is Reading Us? Vancouver’s Cinephiles of course!

We all know that certain someone who finds that hit song before it is on the radio. Who tell us about that new hotspot or special restaurant before everyone else hears about it. Who has seen that movie with the buzz before anyone else has. How do they do it? They are willing to take a leap of faith and try new things. These are our people!

Because of the nature of the programming of the theatres, we attract a group of Vancouverites who have broader horizons.

• They tend to be older (60% between the ages of 25-60)
• They tend to be better educated (80% have post secondary education)
• They have a higher household income ($80,000 + annually)
• They are generally more Female (58%) because the films are less action and more substance
• They are enviromentally conscience and socially aware with many being health and outdoor enthusiasts.

Film is their escape and they want you to come with them!

Where do we Reach Them?

At our theatre partners: CityReels is available in the lobby of all our partnered theatres. It is often picked up and read before the movie as we wait for the entertainment to begin. As we like to say “CityReels goes good with popcorn!”

Online: Readers can download their own version of CityReels in pdf form direct from our website www.cityreelsmagazine.com. Our growing list of online subscribers also have the monthly magazine delivered electronically direct to their email.

At School: CityReels can be found at many of the Metro Vancouver post secondary campuses including UBC, SFU, Langara College Capilano University, Vancouver Community College and the Emily Carr Institute.

At a News Stand near you: We have nearly 700 hundred drop off points through out Vancouver, Burnaby and the North Shore where our loyal readers can pick up their copy of CityReels. These include community centres, public libraries, Canada Safeway stores, SkyTrain stations, and independent video stores. We are also in local coffee shops restaurants and retailers in all of Vancouver’s key neighbourhoods such as the West End, Yaletown, Kitsilano, Kerrisdale, Main Street, Commercial Drive and the Cambie Corridor.

We go where film lovers gather with their friends and families.