The annual qathet International Film Festival (formerly the Powell River Film Festival) is back from March 7 - 16, 2025!
Movie lovers come together in Powell River every year to watch critically-acclaimed cinema at the beloved Patricia Theatre, Canada's oldest continuously operating movie theatre (since 1913). Showing the best in international, Canadian, and locally produced films, the festival is hosted each year by the qathet Film Society.
It's a great opportunity to witness the spirit of Powell River in action, from the volunteers who power the festival to the residents and visitors alike who engage in thought-provoking conversation about the visual arts.
Read on for details on the 2025 event.
History of the qathet International Film Festival
What began as a grassroots event to screen the latest releases in film every year has morphed into a dynamic, community-oriented celebration of cinema. The first qathet International Film Festival took place in 2002, with movies shown at the local high school gym, before its current iteration as a celebrated festival with the famed Patricia Theatre as its primary venue.
The Patricia Theatre itself is worth checking out. As one of the earliest designed movie theatres in British Columbia, this intimate venue has retained the charm and character of its bygone era with an art deco facade, lofty ceiling, and retro kitsch touches. The original 1913 building was rebuilt in 1928, and the theatre has since switched to digital projectors and undergone some restoration projects, but some things haven't changed over the past 100 years. The single screen theatre continues to bring the latest films to Powell River, allowing both locals and visitors to immerse themselves in movie magic. It's a big part of what makes the qathet international film festival such a unique celebration of cinema in British Columbia.
How the qathet International Film Festival Works
Planning to take in the festival? Here's what you need to know.
Key Dates
- The festival runs Friday, March 7 to Sunday, March 16, 2025.
- Matinees start at 1:30pm and evening films are shown at 7:00pm.
- Early bird Festival and Matinee passes are available online and are on sale until December 31, 2024. After that, passes will be available at regular price. Single movie tickets will also be available starting January 1, 2025.
- Attendees are also invited to participate in the Morning After Film Salons, which take place at 12pm (noon) to discuss the films from the day before.
Tickets and Memberships to the Powell River Film Festival
To watch any film, you have to purchase a membership to the qathet Film Society, the non-profit society behind the festival. Sales from the membership go to support the film festival and maintenance of the Patricia Theatre. Here's how to purchase a membership to the film festival:
- A basic membership is $5. If you purchase a Festival Pass or Matinee Pass, membership is included with your pass ($5 value).
- A Festival Pass grants you access to all of the films, and includes a basic membership. A Matinee Pass grants you access to the matinee films. Early bird pricing for passes ranges from $53 - $136.
- If you are looking to watch a single film only, you'll need to purchase a membership for each person attending screenings. Membership cards can be purchased during the festival at the Patricia Theatre box office.
- Youth tickets are available for select screenings only. Adult accompaniment is required.
- You will need to present the QR code from your online order at every film you attend. You can either print out the code and insert it into your pass lanyard for easy scanning, or present it on your phone when you arrive.
- NEW for 2025: Passholders now have the option to reserve a seat for the duration of the Festival, at an additional cost of $10.
The 2025 Film Festival Lineup
There are 15 films in the festival lineup this year, and 16 screenings in total. The films highlight works from around the world—including a sci-fi/drama that was filmed right in Powell River and the qathet Regional District.
Director Ann Marie Fleming's Can I Get a Witness? is set in the not-too-distant future, and was filmed locally. Fleming has ties to Powell River, and spent time guest teaching at the Powell River Digital Film School. In this CBC article she notes that Powell River "ultimately became a big character in the film." Can I Get a Witness? stars Sandra Oh, Cassandra Sawtell, and Jovanna Burke, and delves into a world where war, poverty, and hunger have been eradicated, but death is mandated at the age of fifty. Artists are assigned to witness and memorialize people in their last days.
There's a lot more to see over the course of the festival. Director Johan Grimonprez examines the burgeoning rebellion of newly independent African countries from many angles in Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat, a documentary that juxtaposes the murder of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba with a musical tour of Louis Armstrong. There's also a Canadian documentary in the mix, Jen Muranetz's Fairy Creek, which captures the vast protests against a destructive logging operation on southwestern Vancouver Island from an array of perspectives.
Other films featured at the festival include All We Imagine as Light, a drama/romance by filmmaker Payal Kapadia. It follows three generations of women dealing with love, lust, and loss in modern-day Mumbai. There's also an unflinchingly dramatic, fairytale-like coming-of-age story by Andrea Arnold, called Bird. It follows a young girl who lives with her single dad, and Bird is a character who tumbles into her life out of nowhere.
Head to qathetfilm.ca for the festival's full program and to watch trailers. More details on the films and screening dates are coming, but now is the time to scoop up tickets for this much-anticipated festival.
Plan Your Trip to Powell River
The qathet international film festival takes place in Powell River’s Historic Townsite, which was designated as a National Historic District of Canada in 1995. This area offers plenty to see and do: swing by Townsite Brewing for a pre-movie flight of beers and to mingle with fellow cinephiles, pop into the shops at Townsite Public Market, or stop by Royal Zayka or the Granada Restaurant for a bite to eat.
Looking for a place to stay during the festival? Keep the historic theme going and book a room at the Old Courthouse Inn or the Rodmay Hotel, two heritage hotels located just a short walk away from the Patricia Theatre.
A short drive will take you into the heart of Powell River's downtown where, along Marine Drive, more restaurants and shops await. In need of fresh air? Take a walk along Willingdon Beach, book a fishing charter, hike one of the area’s many trails, or hit the links for a round of golf.
Click here to learn more about Powell River.
