The University of British Columbia
Robson Square
- This event has passed.
The Empress of Vancouver: Film Screening and Q&A
May 17, 2023
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
at UBC Robson Square (map)
About the Event
Join Lantern Films and UBC Connects at Robson Square in commemorating International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia at a free, public screening of the TELUS original film The Empress of Vancouver — a feature-length documentary about local drag and trans icon, Oliv Howe, as she prepares for the 40th anniversary of her coronation as Empress. The event is also a celebration of the official launch of the film on TELUS Optik TV.
The Empress of Vancouver is a cinematic and intimate collision of drag, queer history, and performance art, a musical and genre-bending irreverent documentary. The film opened the 2022 Vancouver Queer Film Festival and has been selected for screening at multiple festivals across North America and Europe, including Toronto’s Inside Out and British Film Institute (BFI) Flare London.
There will be a Q&A with Oliv herself and other cast members following the screening.
Event Schedule
6:00 PM – Introduction by Christina Willings from TELUS originals
6:15 PM – Screening of the film
7:45 PM – Discussion panel with cast members and UBC panelist
8:15 PM – Reception, light food and refreshments will be available for attendees
Panelists
Oliv Howe is the star of the film and was crowned the 10th Empress in 1981 by the Vancouver Dogwood Monarchist Society. Then, Oliv’s punk rock energy, gender-bending performances and DIY glam aesthetic spoke to a political and artistic shift in Vancouver’s drag community. Ever since her monumental moment, Oliv has represented the weirdos and freaks, the trans kings and queens and gender queers, busting the binary open. She continues to be a beacon in Vancouver’s West End, inspiring the next generation of queerdos.
Daniel Gallardo is a nonbinary mestizx from Mexhico. They are Nahua del Centro and P’urhépecha on their father’s side of the family and on their mother’s side, they are of settler ancestry, Andalusian-Berber and French. Daniel is a doctoral student with the Department of Educational Studies at UBC, whose research involves the ideological leverage of settler-colonialism and its impacts on race, sexuality and gender in education. They have been working with curriculum development towards social justice for the last 10 years. Since coming to UBC, Daniel is part of the Indigenous Education Office and a Professional Development Coordinator with SOGI UBC.
Chanel Oliver
Veronica Lynn Turner
Event Partners
Get funding to host your next event at Robson Square!
You can get funding plus promotional and logistical support to bring your event to life.
May 24, 2023Water4Seasons: Using Research-Based Theatre to Explore the Status of Water Health Equity
Water4Seasons draws on Research-based Theatre to explore the status of water health equity for Indigenous and rural communities in Canada, featuring a live theatre performance and talk from Dr. Stephani Woodson.
May 17, 2023The Empress of Vancouver: Film Screening and Q&A
Join us for a celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia at a free, public screening of the TELUS original film The Empress of Vancouver.
May 13, 2023Passage to Freedom: Film Screening and Discussion
Passage to Freedom is a documentary film following the oral histories of Southeast Asian refugees coming to Canada from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The screening will be followed by a discussion from UBC faculty and alumni.
May 13, 2023Hearts of Freedom: Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees
The Hearts of Freedom exhibition featuring stories of Southeast Asian refugees in Canada will be hosted at UBC Robson Square for free public viewing from May 13 to May 31.
April 21, 20232023 International Comic Arts Forum: Artist Talk Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas
Haida graphic artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas presents a keynote as part of the 2023 International Comic Arts Forum.
March 30, 2023Peer-Led Intervention Work to Promote Dignity
A UBC public dialogue event centered around the importance of peer-led work, with formerly incarcerated lived-experience speakers.
March 27, 2023Connecting Online Safely
UBC experts explore the subject of how youths can cope with and develop healthier approaches to social media, cyberbullying, and more.
March 25, 2023Screening & Exhibition of Leslie Cheung—Hong Kong Icon
We are proud to present the screening of the 4K digital restoration of Rouge, accompanied by a special exhibition “Leslie Cheung—Hong Kong Icon” to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of the legendary Hong Kong actor, singer, and performer, Leslie Cheung.
March 15, 2023Cinema Thinks the World: Fail to Appear (2017)
A free screening of Fail to Appear, a film from UBC professor Antoine Bourges, followed by a discussion featuring the filmmaker.
February 16, 2023Cinema Thinks the World: Rewind & Play (2022)
A free screening of Rewind and Play, followed by a discussion and Q&A led by UBC scholars and local experts.
January 23, 2023Cinema Thinks the World: The Goddess (1934)
A free screening of The Goddess (1934), followed by a discussion by Professor Christopher Rea.
December 17, 2022Africans in BC Town Hall
An end-of-year townhall for Africans in the diaspora to come together to network, connect, and discuss how to give back to the development of the continent.
November 25, 2022Cinema Thinks the World: Mariupolis (2016)
A free screening and discussion of Mariupolis, a documentary made in 2016 by Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius about the contested Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
October 18, 2022BC Votes: What Happens Next?
Join a panel of UBC Political Science faculty and alumni as we break down the results of the province’s municipal elections and their consequences for future policy and the future of local government.
October 11, 2022Cinema Thinks the World: Coming Out (1989)
A free screening and discussion of the 1989 film, Coming Out.
September 15, 2022Cinema Thinks the World: Irma Vep (1996)
A free screening of Olivier Assayas’ meta-cinematic masterpiece, Irma Vep (France, 1996).
August 25, 2022Summer Pop-Up Concert Series
Join us for our Summer Pop-Up Concerts at UBC Robson Square! We're bringing our most talented students to perform for you right in the heart of downtown every Thursday in July.
August 18, 2022Summer Pop-Up Concert Series
Join us for our Summer Pop-Up Concerts at UBC Robson Square! We're bringing our most talented students to perform for you right in the heart of downtown every Thursday in July.
August 17, 2022Students Underground: UBC Downtown Takeover
Calling all students! Join us for a hands-on, social night of building community and learning how to use your power to make local change.
July 28, 2022Summer Pop-Up Concert Series
Join us for our Summer Pop-Up Concerts at UBC Robson Square! We're bringing our most talented students to perform for you right in the heart of downtown every Thursday in July.
July 21, 2022Summer Pop-Up Concert Series
Join us for our Summer Pop-Up Concerts at UBC Robson Square! We're bringing our most talented students to perform for you right in the heart of downtown every Thursday in July.
July 14, 2022Summer Pop-Up Concert Series
Join us for our Summer Pop-Up Concerts at UBC Robson Square! We're bringing our most talented students to perform for you right in the heart of downtown every Thursday in July.
July 7, 2022Summer Pop-Up Concert Series
Join us for our Summer Pop-Up Concerts at UBC Robson Square! We're bringing our most talented students to perform for you right in the heart of downtown every Thursday in July.
June 14, 2022All Our Father’s Relations: Film Screening and Dialogue on Settler Colonialism, Identity, and Migration
In a special partnership with the UBC AMS Indigenous Committee, The Ismaili Centre, Vancouver and UBC Connects at Robson Square will be hosting a FREE, exclusive screening of All Our Father’s Relations, followed by an in-person talkback with Elder Larry Grant and filmmakers, Alejandro Yoshizawa and Sarah Ling.
May 14, 2022In Tune With Your Brain
A half-day symposium all about the intersection of music and the brain presented by UBC Faculty of Science, Faculty of Applied Science, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
June 5, 2023Big Fight in Little Chinatown: Film Screening and Discussion – SOLD OUT
Big Fight in Little Chinatown will be available for a free screening on June 5th at UBC Robson Square, followed by a panel discussion featuring filmmaker Karen Cho and other UBC and community experts.
June 17, 2023STEAMing Ahead: A Science Community Day
A day of science for all ages and a chance to meet world-class researchers and innovators, participate in hands-on experiments, and see amazing scientific demonstrations at UBC's Downtown Campus.
July 27, 2023Tackling Climate Change and the Just Transition to Renewable Energy
This discussion and panel session are part of a series of French-Ameri-Can Climate Panels (FACTS) on climate change.