Earlier today (March 16), both the Rio Theatre and Cinematheque announced the postponement of all screening and other events—for at least a month—as the Lower Mainland braces for COVID-19. 

Not surprisingly, the Vancity Theatre has adopted the same policy. Here's the announcement:

In response to the escalating spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) we have made the difficult decision to suspend screenings at the Vancity Theatre from Monday, March 16 until Thursday, April 16 (at the earliest).

At this critical moment, the safety of our patrons, volunteers, staff and other members of the film community needs to be our priority.

While heartbreaking, we believe that this is an action that must be taken. We stand in solidarity with the international arts organizations who have instituted similar measures to ensure our collective wellbeing.

All tickets purchased for screenings during this period will be refunded to credit cards automatically.

If patrons would like to continue to support our not-for-profit organization during this challenging time, we encourage you to purchase a gift card at viff.org.

Since VIFF’s inception, we’ve sought to further empathy and understanding through the art of cinema. We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to demonstrate those attributes as we navigate these unprecedented circumstances as global citizens.

We know that many of you have come to think of the Vancity Theatre as your second home. We look forward to the day that we welcome you back and enjoy your continued support as we see our ambitious VIFF Centre Reimagined project realized and begin an exciting new chapter in our history.

In the interim, we’ll keep you updated on developments through our website, e-newsletters and social media channels.

In turn, we encourage you to stay connected with your friends, family and fellow cinephiles.

Until we meet again, please take care of yourselves and those you hold dear.