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It’s a great weekend for film buffs with not one, not two, but three independent film screenings happening in Nanaimo.

First off is Reel Revolution, a short film series about the bravery of 2SLGBTQIA+ activists fighting for trans rights and gender justice hosted by the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Faculty Association’s Women and Gender Equality Committee as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign.

Next up is a screening of three films about the AIDS crisis by AVI Health and Community Services for World AIDS Day. AVI will screen How to Survive a Plague (2012), And the Band Played On (1993), and An Early Frost (1985) at 55 Victoria Rd. AVI also offers testing for HIV and other STIs, call 250-754-9111 for more information on how you can get tested.

On Sunday, the Nanaimo International Film Screening Society returns to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre with two screenings of the Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi and one screening of The Man Who Invented Christmas. You can select the screening you would like to attend and purchase tickets here. 

Scroll down for more information about when and where to watch these films and much more.

The Nanaimo International Film Screening Society will have two showings of Evil Does Not Exist by Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi on Sunday at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Photo courtesy of Slideshow / Janus Films.

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

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“You are creating awareness of the incredible music scene in Nanaimo. Thank you.”

— From our newsletter survey

🔎 Watch for 🔍

Friday, Nov. 29 at 2:30 p.m.: Boilermaker, artist and award-winning author Hilary Peach will speak at Vancouver Island University about raising the profile of women in trades and safety and equity in the industry. Peach worked as a transient welder for Boilermakers Union, Local 359 for 20 years in shipyards, mills, chemical plants, refineries and generating stations. In 2022 she released her memoir Thick Skin: Field Notes from a Sister in the Brotherhood. Her talk will take place in Building 180, room 134 and seating is limited to 70 people on a first come first serve basis. Photo courtesy of Mark Mushet.

Got the inside scoop of an event you think should be shared? 

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m.: Two vocal powerhouses, award-winning Canadian chanteuse Joëlle Rabu and Nigerian-born rising star Buwa, will sing at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $32 to $58.  

Thursday, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m.: Mike Delamont’s Christmas special God is a Scottish Drag Queen will “set the record straight and expound on everything from the beginnings of Christmas with Yule, Saturnalia and Winter Solstice, to holiday foods, Christmas carols, Star Wars, the true story of the Nativity, and even Tiny Tim!” at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $49.50.

Thursday, Nov. 28, 9 p.m.: FIRED UP111 — a night of drag performance at the Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15.

Friday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m.:  Traditional Fiddle Family Barn Dance at Cedar Community Hall. Tickets cost $15 or $10 for students in K-12.

Friday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m.: An all-ages show of punk, indie rock and noise featuring Sentionauts, The Daisy Stranglers, Red Lenses, Ancient City and Tea House Party at the Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15.

Friday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m.: Petunia and the Vipers defies genre categories but can be described as “Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie’s Hobo junction.” At The Queen’s. Tickets cost $27.

Friday, Nov. 29, 8 p.m.: The Mood Swings Dance Band will perform swing, Latin and Caribbean hits. At 7:30 p.m., Nelson Wong and dancers from the Nanaimo Ballroom Dance Society will give 30 minutes of swing dance lessons to the audience and perform after the first set and intermission. At the Bowen Park Auditorium. Tickets cost $25.  

Friday, Nov. 29, 9 p.m.: Alick Mac and Phoenix Gates will bring a night of rap and hip-hop culture to The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15.

Saturday, Nov. 30, 9 p.m.: Comedy Night with Harris Anderson, Alain Williams and host Devin Alexander at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $25.

🎭 View 🖼️

Thursday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m.: Reel Revolution, a powerful short film series celebrating fearless 2SLGBTQIAA+ everyday champions and grassroots activists' fighting for gender justice, including trans rights, will be screened by the Vancouver Island University Faculty Association’s Gender Equality Committee. In Building 355, Room 203. 

Saturday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m.: AVI Health and Community Services will be hosting a World AIDS Day Film Fest featuring How to Survive a Plague (2012), And the Band Played On (1993), and An Early Frost (1985) at 55 Victoria Rd. 

Sunday, Dec. 1, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo International Film Screening Society presents Evil Does Not Exist by Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi. Tickets cost $15.

Sunday, Dec. 1, 4 p.m.: The Nanaimo International Film Screening Society presents The Man Who Invented Christmas, which is about how Charles Dickens wrote the classic story A Christmas Carol. Tickets cost $10.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Friday, Nov. 29, 12:30 p.m.: Prose and poetry writers can read at an open mic hosted by award-winning writers and writing coaches Janet Miller and Sylvia Thomson at the Gabriola Island Library. 

Friday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m.:  VIU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams play the Langara College Falcons at the VIU gym. Women’s game at 6 p.m., men’s game at 8 p.m. Tickets are free for VIU students or $6. 

Saturday, Nov. 30, 1 p.m.: VIU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams play the Langara College Falcons at the VIU gym. Women’s game at 1 p.m., men’s game at 3 p.m. Tickets are free for VIU students or $6. 

Saturday, Nov. 30, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: TRANSFORM Your Closet is a vibrant, empowering, and completely free clothing shop created for trans and queer folks looking to refresh their wardrobe with gender-affirming styles. At 595 Townsite Rd.

🎄 Holiday markets 🧑‍🎄

Thursday, Nov. 28 to Sunday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Cedar and Yellow Point self-guided Christmas tour will allow you to visit artists, crafters and farmers for all your holiday needs. 

Thursday, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: The Ladysmith Christmas Craft Fair will take place at Aggie Hall until the fireworks display at the end of the Ladysmith Light Up parade.

Saturday, Nov. 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: The Mom Market will be at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre with a great lineup of local vendors.

See you around town,

— Mick and The Discourse team

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