Yolanda/Yoli Von Riesen (Alison Pill) has made a series of bad decisions in the wake of a failed marriage. Her career as a writer of children’s books is floundering, her forays into romance are not thought out, her finances are a mess and she’s still haunted by the suicide of her father (Donal Logue) ten years ago. In contrast, her sister El freida/Elf (Sarah Gadon)appears to be living the opposite life. She’s an internationally successful pianist, has a fantastic husband (Aly Mawji), adoring fans and a career that sends her around the world to play sold-out music halls. However, when she attempts to kill herself, all that success becomes an illusion. “Elf wanted to die and I wanted her to live and we were enemies who loved each other,” says Yoli. As Yoli and Elf stake out their positions, the past informs the present—not only their father’s choice, but their oppressive Mennonite upbringing. As Yoli argues these memories into reasons for living, Elf sees them as markers for an inevitable conclusion. Though this is far from all doom and gloom. Because their relationship is infused with intimacy and wit, it makes the impasse that much more profound. In spite of the devastating heartbreak of the story, it marries humour and grief in such a way that the most unbearable sadness is often tempered by laughter. And through it all, Yoli makes profound discoveries about herself, namely that she’s living a complicated life. Added to the mix is the interplay between Yoli and her daughter Nora (Amy beth McNulty) and also the shared optimism she shares with her mother (Mare Winningham)as they all wrestle with Elf’s desire. In the end, this is what makes All My Puny Sorrows so layered, complicated and, so subtly uplifting.

In Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, with Michael Stühlbarg, and Rachel McAdams. The film is directed by Sam Raimi, and Kevin Feige is the producer. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Eric Hauserman Carroll and Jamie Christopher serve as executive producers. The screenplay was written by Michael Waldron.

On Thursday, June 23, join TGR at the Civic Theatre for the one-night only premiere of their new mountain bike film, Esperanto. Get hyped for riding with prize giveaways from TGR's partners at Specialized, Dometic, Tincup, Ride Concepts and more before the film - this is the summer event you do not want to miss. About the Film: Directed by Nelson local, Jeremy Grant, TGR's latest action-packed mountain bike film mixes the rock stars of the sport with a cast of unknown and up-and-coming heroes. Esperanto explores how we share our dreams through a universal two-wheeled language no matter what our native tongue may be. The sacred ritual of the ride might sound different all across the world – whether it’s a full-face getting pulled down to drop into a big jump line or wheeling a beat-up bike out of a mud hut to pedal to school – but it’s a universal process no matter what language we speak. As we view this visual tapestry featuring next-level riding in unusual locations all across the globe, we hear a voice speaking a language we’ve never heard: There are more than 7,000 languages spoken on Earth. In 1887 a Polish-Jewish doctor named L.L. Zamenhof created a new one, a universal second language based on a combination of existing widely-spoken European languages. Its goal is to help bring people together from different ideologies, beliefs, and nations and ultimately to help end war. The language was called Esperanto. Translated into English it means ‘one who hopes.’ Today, Esperanto might remain elusive, but the dream of a shared language Spoken Worldwide still flourishes. You just have to know where to look for it.

Anna has been living in a haze of psychedelic blood bliss for as long as she can remember. Her hedonistic existence is challenged when she meets Robbie, a charming alcoholic party boy late one night. He is looking for a drink; she is looking for a feed; they bond. Anna takes him home, intrigued that Robbie doesn’t care if he lives or dies. She decides to let him live and stay with her until he gets sober – putting her at odds with her true murderous nature and the wrath of her vampire clan. When Anna watches her best mortal friend die from cancer, it inspires her to choose life. Confronted by her cohort of vampires, Anna vows to quit blood and become human again for the love of life... and Robbie, of course. Anna, weakened by blood withdrawal, makes a run for it with Robbie as they are preyed upon by the vampires. In a final showdown, what it means to be human is put to the test.

Join the students of the Mount Sentinel Secondary School’s Performance and Media Academy, Academy PM, for a showcase of short documentary films produced by the class this year. Topics include a look at the Kootenay lifestyle, the mysterious and paranormal past of some major Nelson landmarks, an in depth look at the inland temperate rainforest, and more. Students will also showcase a variety of shorter projects from the year including musical performance and short creative and action films.

Portraits From A Fire is a coming-of-age film that follows Tyler, an eccentric and lonely teenager who spends his days filmmaking, vlogging his Indigenous community, and hanging out with his grandparents. His father, Gord, is physically present but remains emotionally absent from Tyler’s life for reasons Tyler cannot understand. That is until he meets Aaron, a mysterious, charismatic, and influential figure who encourages Tyler to showcase his most personal film about his mother’s disappearance to the community, leading to a reckoning between past and future, life and death, and father and son. The film follows Tyler’s journey to heal the wounds of the past by opening them once again. And by finding the courage to face the fear of the unknown, he weaves together the strong sacred bonds of family through both living and ancestral realms.

Queering the Interior centres on the people and moments that defined the queer community in the Kootenays while paying tribute to the legacy of activism that led to a diverse and robust LGBTQ2S+ population today. Spanning decades, this 45-minute documentary will explore how the discrimination and demands of one generation were transformed into the rights and responsibilities of those that followed. Both cautious and celebratory in tone, this film will illuminate a history that started with a brave handful of pioneers who ushered in the largest rural queer community in Canada. Featuring: Michael Wicks, Christopher Moore, Cindy Henderson, Robert Verigin, Henri Roberts, Sophia Dricos, Norma Kilpatrick, Seán Hennessey, Uli Holtkamp, Jesse Halton, Bobbi Mollenberg, Smokii Sumac, Cheryl Dowden and Jo Caple. Funded by: Touchstones Nelson and New Horizons Producer by: Astrid Heyerdahl Directed by: Amy Bohigian Lead Archivist: Michael Wicks Music by: Ben Euerby

Few films examine the societal pressures and expectations faced by young women of colour in North America. Reconciling the divides between cultural tradition, personal independence, and acceptance among white peers is an anxious, overwhelming experience that only those who have lived it are in a position to describe. In Quickening, her impressive debut feature, Pakistani Canadian writer-director Haya Waseem explores the family dynamic in a new light. The result is personal and intimate, brought to life by an exciting new voice in Canadian cinema. Sheila (Arooj Azeem) is a Pakistani Canadian teenager living in the suburbs. Nearing the end of first-year university and having fallen in love for the first time, with her classmate Eden, Sheila desires a freedom that her mother and father (played by Azeem’s real-life parents) are unwilling to offer. After Sheila has sex for the first time with Eden, he abruptly breaks up with her, and her sense of reality begins to unravel, further alienating her from her friends, family, and community. Azeem delivers an impressive breakout performance as a young woman finding autonomy and individuality while trying to simply belong. Quickening is a reminder that immigrants and their children, in particular people of colour, who are adjusting to a new life, new goals, and new expectations can also struggle with their mental health. We’re not just happy to be here. With exquisite photography from Christopher Lew, Waseem has crafted a delicate yet triumphant portrayal of a young woman, through all obstacles, caught in the pursuit of happiness.

Fundraiser screening for TAWKROC and Kootenay Climbing Association. Capturing the greatest stories and sends from the year in climbing, the four new films of REEL ROCK 16 deliver a joyful dose of inspiration, heart, and humor. Witness an unimaginable triumph of determination, an epic journey of self-discovery, a magical adventure across the world, and a bond-building expedition that forever changes lives. Bridge Boys | Pete Whittaker, Tom Randall A horizontal big-wall adventure on the longest, hardest and most ridiculous crack climb ever attempted. Barefoot Charles | Charles Albert An opera-singing, cave-dwelling, animal-skinning minimalist tackles futuristic boulder problems in the Fontainebleau forest. Big Things to Come | Alex Johnson Elite climber Alex Johnson’s struggle with a boulder problem propels her on a decade-long journey of self-discovery. Cuddle | Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Adam Stack A massive, remote link-up of 17 alpine summits pushes the world’s best climbers to the brink – and into each others’ shivering arms.

Leonardo and Sara, a young Afro-Cuban couple, are desperate to leave the island. They decide that the best way to emigrate is for Leonardo to seduce a foreign woman, get legal status in another country, and then send for Sara. The woman they choose is Nasim, an Iranian-Canadian divorcée who is running from an oppressive past and yearning to have fun for the first time in her life. When Leonardo convinces Nasim to marry him, he is able to move to Montreal, but his plan derails when real emotions get in the way.

Travel is at a tipping point. Tourists are unintentionally destroying the very things they have come to see. Overtourism has magnified its impact on the environment, wildlife, and vulnerable communities around the globe. Filmed in over 16 countries and guided by the world’s leading tourism and conservation visionaries, THE LAST TOURIST reveals the real conditions and consequences of one of the largest industries worldwide through the forgotten voices of those working in its shadow. The role of the modern tourist is on trial.

750 miles. Icy water. No motors. No support. Described as “the Iditarod on a boat with a chance of drowning or being eaten by a Grizzly bear,” this epic endurance race attracts the intrepid and unhinged who find their edge along a coastline that is as punishing as it is beautiful. "The Kootenay Pedalwheelers, a team of local Sailors, will be participating in the 2022 Race to Alaska. The Pedalwheelers are organizing this film screening as a fundraiser for Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society. The sailors have pledged to donate the $10,000 first prize to Friends of Kootenay Lake if they win the 2022 R2AK. Revenues generated through the event will support stewardship action on Kootenay Lake so that the lake may continue to provide essential community and habitat values for generations to come. The Jun 1, 2022 screening will include a raffle prize draw and a Q&A with the documentary filmmaker, Zach Carver, and the Kootenay Pedalwheelers Team.

Access to all 6 films. The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is delighted to launch the VIFF Pop-Up Festival. This new initiative delivers festival favorites to audiences across British Columbia, with the inaugural events taking place in partnership with the Kamloops Film Society at the Paramount Theatre (May 20-21) and Nelson Civic Theatre (May 27–31). In Nelson, VIFF Pop-Up features six films, including Kicking Blood, an idiosyncratic genre offering from Vancouver filmmaker Blaine Thurier, who will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A on Friday, May 27; Haya Waseem's Quickening, centered on a Pakistani-Canadian university student and the mental health struggles that plague countless immigrants and first-generation Canadians who are straddling two cultures; Kaveh Nabatian’s Sin La Habana, winner of the Best Canadian Film Award at VIFF 2021, tracks the lives of a young, impoverished Afro-Cuban couple who dream of wealth and success and an Iranian-Canadian divorcée who yearns for personal freedom; winner of the BC Emerging Filmmaker Award at VIFF 2021, Trevor Mack’s Portraits From a Fire; as well as The Last Tourist by Tyson Sadler and All My Puny Sorrows by Michael McGowan.