1. The 34th annual Vancouver International Film Festival unleashes its cinematic powers across Vancouver movie screens Sept. 24 to Oct. 9. This year’s edition boasts 355 feature films and documentaries, 32 world premieres, 33 North American premieres and 53 Canadian premieres, including Jason Lei Howden’s Kiwi splatter comedy Deathgasm. For details and show times, go to viff.org.
2. Word Vancouver takes over the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library, Sept. 27, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a free day-long street festival celebrating reading and the written word with musical performances, readings, family activities, workshops, panel discussions, authors galore and a market place for book, magazine and comics exhibitors to sell their wares. Details at wordvancouver.ca.
3. Those of you who missed this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival or need another dose, those muffled cries into your beret or shawl have been answered. The Picks of the Fringe serves up a greatest hits package at Granville Island’s Revue Stage until Sept. 27. Holdovers include Peter n’ Chris Present: Here Lies Chris, The O.C.: The Musical, Brain, Baker’s Dozen: 12 Angry Puppets, Mrs. Singh & Me and TITUS: The Light and Delightful Musical Comedy of Titus Andronicus. Details at vancouverfringe.com.
4. Spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph and musician/composer Daniel Bernard Roumain team up to explore themes of immigration, tolerance and Haitian folklore in Blackbird, Fly Sept. 25 at the Chan Centre. Tickets and details at chancentre.com.
5. Vancouver Opera kicks off its new season with a sure-to-be sumptuous production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto Sept. 26, Oct. 1, 3, and 4 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For details, go to vancouveropera.ca.
