Photo by Janna Hove
The Oscar nominations have been announced and movie stars are getting ready for the big night on Sunday, March 2 — The Academy Awards! Who will take home an award? What will everyone wear? Who will have the most bizarre acceptance speech? Get into the spirit of the Academy Awards with these Oscar themed events happening in Edmonton:
Oscar Night at the Varscona
Save the Date: Sunday, March 2, 5:30 pm
Venue: Varscona Theatre
Cost: $27, tickets should be purchased in advance.
About: You could watch the glitz and glamour of the awards from your couch at home in front of the television… or get dressed up and watch it during a social, entertaining party at the Varscona Theatre! The live awards broadcast will be shown on the big screen, and comedians Tom Edwards and Matt Alden will entertain with jokes and musical numbers in between — that means no boring commercial breaks! Vote on the movies you think will take home awards for a chance to win door prizes, and for the first time ever there will be prizes for the most noteworthy audience fashions as evaluated by celebrity judge Portia Clark, CBC Radio’s own fabulous fashionista! This is the biggest Oscar party in the city; if you really get excited about the Academy Awards, you have to go!
More Info: www.tixonthesquare.ca
Historical Oscar Snubs Film Series
Save the Date: Thursdays March 6, 13, 20, 27 — 7:30 pm
Venue: Capitol Theatre at Fort Edmonton Park, 7000-143 St.
Cost: $10
About: Enjoy some of the most classic, talked-about films of all time on the big screen in the historic, one-room Capitol Theatre! Despite their legendary status, these films didn’t sweep the Oscars in the years the were nominated: Citizen Kane, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Great Dictator, and Grapes of Wrath.
More Info: www.fortedmontonpark.ca
Oscar Nominated Short Films Presentation
Save the Date: February 26 – 27, 6:30 pm AND 9 pm nightly
Venue: Landmark Cinemas, City Centre Edmonton, 3rd Floor, 10200-102 Ave.
Cost: $12.99
About: The Edmonton International Film Festival
More Info: The Edmonton International Film Festival presents two opportunities to watch the Oscar nominated short films in the animation and live action categories. “This year’s nominations for best animated and live action short films, selected by the Academy Award committee, comprise a jewel box of cut and polished works, visual delights that range from comic to existential” writes Corinna Clendenen of the Huffington Post. “The collections are emceed by an ostrich and a giraffe who trade industry banter in front of a red velvet curtain. It’s a classic.”
Hot Chefs, Cool BEATS
Save the Date: Saturday, March 29,
Venue: Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave.
Cost: $125
About: This Hollywood themed affair celebrates the best in local food as a fundraising effort for the High School Culinary Challenge and the Edmonton Community Foundation’s Grateful Palate Fund. Walk the red carpet through a street food festival, then enjoy movies and entertainment that have been thematically paired with food and drink creations by chefs from Little Village, LUX Steakhouse, Nomiya, Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse, Three Boars, Duchess Bake Shop, and Transcend Coffee. Finally, The Rockin’ Highliners will close off the evening with a lively jump-swing blues dance party.
More Info: hotchefs.ca
Still need to see the nominated movies? Princess Theatre is a good spot to find some of the older releases — 12 Years a Slave, Dallas Buyers Club, and Philomena are currently being shown. Metro Cinema is screening Nebraska February 21 – 24 and Ernest and Celestine February 15 – 17. See Gravity in IMAX 3D at the Telus World of Science — Edmonton through March 2.
