As of October 5, downtown Victoria will again have another big screen to watch movies on, but this won’t be any ordinary cinema. Once the classic Vic Theatre re-launches, filmgoers can look forward to first-run Canadian movies, mini film festivals, TV show screenings, documentaries, and the kind of film events that have been happening as one-offs at the Vic the past couple of years. (You know those “quote-along” films that everyone talks about? Those are at the Vic.)
Operated by the Victoria Film Festival (VFF), the Vic will once again be screening films seven days a week as of the first week of October. Add to that a swanky redesign and high-end concession and the reopened theatre provides a movie experience that film fans can’t really get at the big multiplex cinemas.
“We’re different in that we’re creating an experience,” explains the Vic’s new theatre manager Scarlett Luke, who recently moved to town from Parksville. “There are other theatres downtown, but they don’t have the same programming and the same history as us.”
For the past couple of years VFF has been putting on special events at the Vic, after the historic downtown theatre at the corner of Douglas and Humboldt lay dormant for several years.
With the success of the aforementioned “quote-along” films and other special events (like James Bond screenings with fancy, Bond-ian cocktails), the VFF thought it high time to open the theatre for regular programming. The community response has been positive.
“Everyone who has walked by the theatre and seen us inside doing renos has poked their head in to check it out and they’re really excited about it,” says Luke, “and we’re also really excited to be bringing this classic theatre back to the downtown entertainment district.”
Programming for the theatre is being done by VFF programmer Donovan Aikman and, judging by October’s lineup, is a clever mix of gripping documentaries (the International Buddhist Film Festival runs October 8Đ11), TV series episodes on the big screen (The Walking Dead season four premier screens October 13), and licenced special events (Bond’s Thunderball with cocktails takes place on October 5).
Which brings us to liquor licences. While a permanent liquor primary licence is in the works, according to Luke, for the time being the Vic has been getting special events liquor licenses for select films. This means you can watch a Bond film while sipping a martini, shaken not stirred, or, like one of the theatre’s popular “quote-along” films, drink White Russians while watching The Big Lebowksi.
“If we get the permanent liquor licence it will be a huge advantage over the other theatres downtown,” says Luke.
Besides the possibility of ongoing libations, the theatre has gotten an interior facelift and also features a new concession stand with higher-end comfort foods and treats. Corn popped with coconut oil and topped with a variety of different shaker options, cupcakes from local bakeries, and local chocolates are among the treats available.
“We’re just really thrilled to have the Vic open again and it’s a great thing to have in our community,” says Luke. “It’s a classic, one-screen theatre and I’ve talked to people who saw Star Wars on this screen years and years ago, so a lot of people are just really looking forward to having it back again.”