Bicycle Film Festival a great reason to pedal down to the Rio

by Mike Usinger on April 12th, 2024 at 1:53 PM

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Consider it a great excuse to not only get on your bike, but to celebrate those who don’t need an excuse to get on their bike.

On May 18, the Rio Theatre hosts the Bicycle Film Festival—featuring screenings of short films centred around cycling. Adventure Shorts screen at 6pm and Urban Bike shorts run at 9pm, with films including documentaries and narrative animations.

Highlights will include:

Kailey Kornhauser and fellow fat cyclist Marley Blonsky are on a mission to change the idea that people with larger bodies can’t ride bikes
A young woman who defies oppression in Iran through a daring escape in order to pedal freely on a bicycle
A dreamy glimpse into three professional female mountain bikers reflecting on their willingness to sustain broken bones, concussions, and organ damages

The first BMX crew in Nigeria
The story of Reza Alizadeh, a blind bicycle mechanic in Mashhad, Iran
The life of a New York City food delivery worker during Covid-19

Now in its 24th year, the Bicycle Film Festival was started with a mission to celebrate bicycles through art, movies, and music. Over the years it has played 100 cities worldwide to an audience of over one million people.

The fest is hosted at the Rio by HUB Cycling as a fundraiser, with the end goal being to get Metro Vancouver residents cycling regularly.