The Cinematheque

Watched Akira Kurosawa's 1985 masterpiece "Ran" here. That this theatre is playing movies like this should already speak for itself - this place is pure class. The staff was good, and the clientele seemed decent. This is one of Vancouver's treasures and I hope to come back again.

Thrilled to this Cinema to watch the Green Snake by Chui Hark. Empressed of the facility, staffs, and most of i was happy to be part of the set up vendor ( my workplace, boss Eric of Saan Saan Gluten Free Cafe/Restaurant having some treats ( 3 kinds ) of Mochi's ( Milk Tea (dairy ), Red Bean Sesame (dairy ), Yuen Yeung ( coffee/tea ) - Vegan options for everyone to try. Will be back for more of the films.

I hosted a private screening here and the Cinemateque team could not have been better. Their communication was clear and timely, staff were friendly and supportive, and the venue itself is beautiful with a plush red curtain and light-up sign in the lobby for photo ops—cannot recommend this great venue enough! They ensured that my DCP was working prior to the day, had several microphones set up for us, and set up the concession beautifully for my audience to enjoy their favourite snacks.

An incredible jewel in the community crown of Vancouver! This art house theatre rivals those of NYC in both quality and scope. In my opinion, it beats anything found in LA. As a new resident, i’m really looking forward to getting to know this wonderful theatre, it’s fantastic programming, and the fabulous community it both creates and serves!

The Cinematheque is one of my favorite venues in the city, screening lots of wonderfully curated content and bringing in guests who can help expound on themes and ideas presented in their film selections. Their popcorn offers lots of flavoring choices (including dill, cheddar, even some protein additives) as well as great local choices. This 'lack' of a star is something I've been thus mulling over, as it's not directly related to the Cinematheque's volunteer staff or even its selection of films - but rather the new clientele that has emerged for these screenings, either loudly talking away irrespective of other people's impacted enjoyment of these films or by making a scene when they are told to hush. Quite a few screenings have had this problem now, whether it was antagonistic attitudes between patrons insisting they "paid for their ability to speak" during screenings of such films like Occupied City and The Travelling Players. This isn't to discredit those who directly interact with the film by laughing at comedic events, but rather those who feel the need to bring up their phones and/or have free conversations independent of the film screenings themselves. It is an odd concentration that I haven't been able to wholly duplicate in other venues like the Rio Theatre and Vancity/VIFF Theatre, so I must assume that there is some disjunct behavior with the particular crowd that the Cinematheque pulls in. People are - hopefully - old enough and mature enough to recognize when it is time to focus on the film at hand; otherwise, they may be better off taking their conversations and their time elsewhere. While it is not the fault of the staff at the Cinematheque, it has unfortunately impacted my decisions to attend certain screenings in retrospect.

We were in town as tourists and needed something to do in the evening, so we walked down to this theatre and watched whatever was playing--a documentary about plantations in Hawaii. It was really interesting! Great atmosphere and snacks and staff. Definitely worth a stop no matter what's playing.

Amazing local theatre that's worth checking out. Lots of great fringe and independent films can be watched here. If you are a movie maker, it's also rentable so that you can have your own screening.

Nice small theatre with soft comfortable seats. I was there for DOXA and the staff and volunteers were exceptionally friendly and helpful.

I love this cinema so much. I began frequenting The Cinematheque in 2010, drawn in by the obscure art house + French-language films. They are the venue partner for several larger festivals--VIFF, DOXA, VLAFF--but the true allure is their year-round programming, highlights include filmmaker retrospectives, contemporary Canadian cinema, new restorations of old classics and cult, moving-image art (DIM Cinema), and a family matinée with your favourite obscure childhood classics (Film Club). They also often show films on 35mm. The box office and concession are largely volunteer-run, which gives the place a very warm and inviting atmosphere pre-screenings, and there's even a functioning pay phone in the lobby! Their popcorn is the best in Vancouver--real butter, 12+ free seasonings. They also have an archive of films and print, and an outreach department that runs youth filmmaking camps. They require a $3 annual membership because most of the films shown aren't rated, but ticket prices are fair. Discounts for students + seniors, and their volunteer program grants unlimited free access to films. The Cinematheque is not only the perfect theatre for longtime cinephiles; it's the best place to learn more about essential art-house cinema.

5 stars for the popcorn with real butter! Great films plus greasy popcorn whatelse can you ask for?!

A small theatre that regularly has to rely on fundraisers to stay afloat, Cinematheque has the best popcorn of any movie theatre in the city and gives you the option of topping your snack with hot sauce, nutritional yeast or spices. They also use real butter as a topping for their kernels and not some transfat substitute. I agree with Michael's review regarding the seats, but it's a small operation and can't afford the luxury couch-style seating of Vancity Theatre. I had the opportunity to volunteer here during VIFF this year and the community of people who run the venue is made up mostly of volunteers who spend their time keeping the place open year-round. A great place to see arthouse and indie films when you're sick of the blockbusters that make their way to the large corporate multiplexes in the Vancouver area. Definitely worth supporting!

Great place for a nerdy date, the Cinematheque offers an intellectual alternative to the Hollywood blockbusters, although Clark Gable and Alfred Hitchcock sometimes get their features shown. With one screen, the Cinematheque isn't about the money, the popularity or the lowest common denominator of entertainment. It's about the kind of movie you know would be interesting but is ultimately too pretentious to actually draw you in. Not that they only show post-modern movies with overbearing symbolic references. The Cinematheque provides a healthy mix of cult classics, film noirs, foreign masterpieces and local independents. There's also the classics, movies from the vault so old that they once amazed people who'd thought they'd never combine audio voices with on screen talking. I love it though, it's clever and provides a genuine guide to actual on-screen culture. Sure it's kind of smug, but you get to walk away feeling smug too.

If you love classic films like I do, or enjoy foreign films and documentaries, you will LOVE this place. You do have to buy an annual membership, but it's only a couple bucks. The popcorn and drinks are cheap, and admission to a movie is not bad either. I think it's around $9? Every August they show classic film noir flicks the whole month - so many amazing movies. This is definitely my type of theatre.

The buliding should be torn down. I was in there for over 24 hours this weekend, and I was getting nauseous, and the walls were closing in on me. The outside doors were locked from Midnight to 6:15 AM, and that's when the effects were at it's worst. When I stepped out into the fresh air I was fine again. Also there were too many hipsters for my liking making me even more sick. The movies were making me sick too!

A film buff's dream theater. Nothing can make me homicidal like the people texting and talking during a film. You won't find these behaviors here. You can surmise that the people who come here are actual film lovers, who are fond of Cinematheque's eclectic offerings. The curation is beautifully and thoughtfully chosen. They screen lesser-known limited releases and foreign films. Classics are constantly being restored. A real treat in contrast to the banal blockbuster cinema. Their annual film noir series make my heart skip a beat. Albeit small - they only have one screen - the rows are roomy and the seats are comfortable enough. The theater's really well cared for. Staff (mostly volunteers) are amiable and welcoming. Concession stand is well-stocked with delicious popcorn, candy, and other snacks. Take yourself here. It's the best movie going experience.

* Where selection rules * I love this theatre. It isn't fancy - yes, it has much smaller seats than the big fancy multi-plexes. It has traditional concessions - yes, popcorn is available. But it doesn't have full-on fast food chains like the multi-plexes. The concession stand has a volunteer run feel to it - which I like. It doesn't have 149323 speaker sound systems - but the types of movies shown here don't require the latest multi-dolby-digi-thx-deafening-bopping-digital whatever. It DOES have an amazing ability to pull in interesting non-blockbuster films (be it independent films, international, etc.). In fact this spot and VanCity theatre (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/vancity-theatre-vancouver#hrid:v2SgAS06Nd44XHVDRXbEfQ) are the two primary spots for these types of films in town. Each time I've seen a movie here the theatre has been sold out - a sign of how good the selection is! Yes, I am probably a film nerd. And yes, I love this theatre!

An amazing and intimate cinema specialising in foreign film and movie series. It's your cinema haven when the blockbusters of Scotiabank have made you forget why you love movies. My personal favourite film series to date have been the Film Noir, Kubrick, and Universal Horror series. The annual membership is all of $3.., that's about 1/3 of a Scotiabank popcorn!

I came here for the first time last night for a double feature as part of a month of film noir (Detective Story starring Kirk Douglas, and Niagara starring Marilyn Monroe). I will definitely return! They show great, unusual movies and it is entirely volunteer-run. Info for a first-timer: - Online ticket sales end at 3:30 p.m. for that evening's shows - Doors and box office do not open until 30 minutes before the first show of the evening (so f the first show is at 6:30, you can't buy tickets anywhere between 3:30 & 6pm) - No trailers before the movie! - Popcorn has absolutely no flavouring. You can ask for butter, or they provide seasonings like salt on the counter, but it won't be completely mixed through. This is not regular movie theatre popcorn (if Yelp had 1/2 stars I would probably remove one for this reason) - If you buy tickets for the double feature, you don't have to leave the theatre and come back in, but if it's busy they may come around to check your ticket before the second film - On a Thursday night, the second film was quite packed, and latecomers had trouble finding two seats together except for right at the front. The first show wasn't quite as busy.

I nice departure from the standard theatre. This is the place to go see some old stuff on the big screen, some new stuff, and some strange stuff. I've seen some great Japanese movies here. Many times I'll trust the theatre and watch something I've never heard of. So far, that's working pretty well. I find the films to be entertaining or thought provoking.

Cool venue. It's a theatre located downtown close to hotels and restaurants. It's a single screen theatre and as per the website is a 194 seat venue. The screen is large. They were serving popcorn and candy and surely they had beverages as well. Come here for a unique alternative to the big box theatres. I would come back to watch a movie if I was in an artsy mood :)

This is probably the best place to go see independent and foreign films as well as classics. There is often something cool playing almost everyday! There is a $2 yearly membership, but that's not much, and it's to allow Pacific Cinematheque to play films that may not have been rated. I've been here many times during VIFF as well as going to the occassional non-festival showing. The staff is friendly and the concession is great. It's not a fancy theatre, but it has an arty, yet welcoming, atmosphere.

Great programming and general ambiance. Seats were comfy, staff friendly. Fellow moviegoers were super quiet and polite. Was a bit confused by the need to purchase a membership in order to see the film, but overall nbd. Would def come back!

love the shows that they play here...... I will always be indebted, as they show movies I otherwise would have never seen!

After 7 VIFF films where most of them were at the Granville 7 cinema and one was at the Vogue, our lastest film selection which was showing at Pacific Cinematheque was like flying Business Class for the very first time in one's lifetime. Needless to say, it was a most pleasant experience, especially since I was able to feel my legs and get out of my seat like a normal human being for the first time in 2 weeks of this year's film festival. The theater isn't even that fancy, but who cares? Their seats are fantastic compared to that other outdated theater I've reviewed for this year's VIFF. (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/empire-granville-7-cinemas-vancouver#hrid:1A9P5vZeC5XLLnYmlBFAxw) It might not be as fancy as some of the newer theaters in town, but at the very least the Pacific Cinematheque understands the importance of comfort - and I know I wasn't the only person who felt this way. I was talking to the people around me and for those of us who'd seen 5+ films, everyone agreed this cinema was absolute heaven. I was so pleased with my experience here it actually made me want to return to see other films even after the VIFF comes to an end. And isn't this the point of every business that actually wants to survive in this city?

I went to see Roman Holiday the other here and it was so charming. The little theatre room- I would say less than a hundred people- was very empty, but it was clean and the staff was friendly. The bathrooms had method handsoap, very impressive and the coffee bar served free coffee, tea and cookies after the movie. The movie was introduced by a staff educator and there was even a giveaway for more free tickets after a trivia was held. They show unique, foreign, French and independent movies. A definite must-try.

HUGE fan of this place. Excellent line up of all kinds of wonderous cinematic pieces, old and new, local and international. Comfortable seats and pleasant staff.

I came here to watch a film from the Vancouver Latin America Film Festival over the weekend. The theater itself is small (only one screen) and seats roughly 200 people but the leg room between the seat aisles made it for one of the most comfortable theaters I've sat in. The screen is clear and sound system is good (maybe even a bit loud? Or it could've been certain parts of the sound editing for the film I saw). A small concession for popcorn and light snacks is available at the front. Great alternative to the big guys.

We had a lot of fun here! Came for the Ghibli fest and it did not disappoint. The event was verrrrry popular, but even though we ended up sitting basically right in front of the screen (not my favourite), it was still a very enjoyable experience. The double feature deal is also excellent. We sprang for that, and on the second movie shifted up to more desirable seats when other, weaker movie goers passed up the opportunity to watch films for roughly six hours. Hohoho. If another neat fest passes through, we'll definitely be back.

Sweetest cinema in Vancouver. It is like you always have a festival in your neighbourhood. Good selection of movies all year round, sweetest staff and friendly environment.

This is the best cinema in town, forget the big blockbusters with the flashy lobbies. This is the real deal! Real butter amazing sodas... But the films they play are wonderful. I just saw their line up WOW! I'll be back all year. It is a great place to come alone or on a date.

Great theatre -- saw many shows here last week for VLAFF - Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. This was the best theatre by far. The seating is comfortable, the concession is quick and easy (and not too expensive), the popcorn isn't laced with salty butter-flavoured crap (real butter, add your own salt), and the washrooms are clean. Very enjoyable experience each time.

This place is awesome. We came by today for their open house and free screening of Casablanca. We were offered free popcorn (with butter!) and free water and sat outside listening to a jazz band and watching people take their photos on the red carpet before the movie started. Great summer afternoon.

I've never been disappointed seeing a film here. Great selection of interesting and unique films. Popcorn is decently priced :)

This is where you find the chance of watching alternative movies on the big screen. Cool stuff.

I swear I'm not a hipster. Sure, I smoke cigarettes, wear thick plastic frames (they are legit prescription glasses - I'm blind as a bat), love wearing flannel (hey -- it's damned comfortable, OK?), watch the occasional indie flicks and go for PBRs afterwards... FUCK... okay, just shoot me the next time you see me. I'm so cool to watch a movie (... which is so underground and abstract that you've never heard of it...so I won't mention it) at Pacific Cinémathèque ([snootily]... it's Français for small arthouse/classic cinemas... you've probably never heard of it)... now tell me you don't want to punch me in the face - I dare you. A few points: - you will need to buy a $3 annual membership to watch films here. It's not a scam or to be exclusive - under MPA provisions, it's required for these cinemas to show unrated films. Sign up is quick and easy - but needs to be done at the box - cash only. - seats are pretty uncomfortable - they are really soft and are okay when if you sit like Tony Montana after a cocaine binge - but it's hard to sit like that for too long - bring a butt pillow if you have a Hank Hill Syndrome like me (one day, we'll find a cure...) - Pop is $3.50 for a large... I'll just say that they don't seem to search purses/backpacks... just saying is all... And they have Schweppes Club Soda and Gingle Ale on the fountain... err... am I the only one putting two and two together? - came to check out a "new 35mm print" of a film I'm very familiar with - first couple of reels seemed pretty banged up. And projectionist momentarily dropped the ball on the switchover from 1st to 2nd reel. Minor critique - but I'm sorry - little things like that really take me out of the escapist fantasy. - double bills are only $2 on top of the $10.50 regular price But these things are ultimately irrelevant - you come here to check out films they don't play anywhere else - independents, classics, arthouse and foreign films. Thanks to the internet I rarely go to theatres anymore - but will come here to check out celluloid masterpieces in their original format and presentation. To the gentlemen that sat near me and then asked me what the hell happened midway through the film afterwards: I'm sorry I couldn't stay to discuss the film - I was in a hurry to ride my fixed-gear bicycle to Whole Foods to buy some organic tofu for my poetry reading.

I just love this cinema. They show lots of French films, many of them a bit on the older side, and will typically feature several films of a director over a period of a week or so. it's a one theatre cinema, with a small lobby, an eclectic crowd, good popcorn and if you come here you're likely to see something more interesting than usual. (If you like French cinema, that is.) You have to be a member to see a film here, so come on time to buy your ticket and your membership.

I love this place. Great popcorn with real butter. Friday staff are very helpful.

I saw a documentary on China several years ago with an old buddy of mine at PC. Pacific Cinematheque frequently has film showings on independent features, foreign films, and documentaries. PC also seeks to seriously educate their audience on non-traditional cinema.