The Georgia Straight proudly sponsors the Rio Grind Film Festival

The first ever Rio Grind Film Festival takes place at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway) from Friday to Sunday (November 2 to 4). The festival features 10 new horror, sci-fi, action, fantasy, cult, erotica, grind house, and documentary films and more than 15 short films from seven countries.

The world premiere of Vancouver filmmaker Josh Laner’s documentary on cosplay, My Other Me opens the festival on Friday at 5 p.m. This will be followed by the Canadian premiere of The History of Future Folk at 7 p.m., the B.C. premiere of John Dies at the End starring Paul Giamatti at 9:30 p.m., and the Western Canadian premiere of Japanese comedy-horror flick Dead Sushi at 11:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the short-film program at 1 p.m. kicks off a day of screenings. At 5 p.m., The American Scream, a documentary about Halloween-obsessed families, will be shown; followed by the racy Bring me the Head of the Machine Gun Woman at 8 p.m., and dark comedy Smoked at 10:30 p.m.

The final day of the festival begins at 2 p.m. with Nightmare Factory, which gives audiences an insider’s look into the world of Hollywood special effects. Manborg screens at 4:30 p.m., followed by Vanishing Waves at 7 p.m. The closing ceremony, awards, and burlesque finale takes place at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $8 to $10, with a $2 discount if purchased online in advance. Festival day passes are $20 and three-day passes are $50.