The 17th Screening at the Monarch Theatre

Following the end of the 16 show premiere run at the Monarch Theatre last year - today, international students from the public school system were looking for something to do amid the ongoing provincial strike and came to the Monarch for a special screening of Your Cinema Needs You. For those unfamiliar, this was the documentary I directed about Canada's oldest, surviving, purpose-built movie theatre - the one and only, Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta. 

I have to confess I had nothing to do with arranging this. I got the heads up when my documentary was requested, so came down to grab a few pictures this afternoon. Talk about an unexpected throwback Thursday. With extensive renovation efforts still in full swing, I somehow feel this won't be the last time Your Cinema Needs You is screened here.

Synopsis of Your Cinema Needs You Documentary

When Your Cinema Needs You premiered at the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta, in December 2023, it drew thousands of attendees over multiple sold-out screenings which set in motion a concerted effort to bring the aging cinema back to life. 

The feature length documentary, directed by Luke Fandrich, explores the extensive history of Canada’s oldest surviving purpose-built cinema, and its successful release brought international attention to a landmark that few outside of the small prairie city in which the theatre is located had heard about before. 

The Monarch Theatre opened in 1911. Over the decades, it underwent various ownership changes and survived multiple shifts in the film industry — from silent films to sound, from 35mm reels to digital projection. In 2023, after two years of inactivity, the non-profit Monarch 1911 Society acquired the building and talks about reopening the theatre began. Fandrich’s documentary, based on archival research, interviews with former employees and patrons, and newly uncovered historical materials, had already been teased as the ideal film to reopen the theatre with. According to local media reports, its release was strategically planned to align with the reopening of the theatre for public programming.

Initial screenings were held inside the Monarch itself. Demand exceeded expectations, prompting a series of extensions to the premiere run as new screenings were added. Former staff members and long-time patrons attended the premieres, contributing to the excitement surrounding the reopening. Coverage in the Medicine Hat News emphasized that the film brought attention to the theatre’s role in the community and to broader discussions about heritage preservation.

The film’s subject — the rise, decline, and renewal of a historic single-screen cinema — aligns with a wider pattern affecting similar venues across North America. Independent and heritage theatres have faced sustained financial pressure due to changes in movie distribution, competition from multiplexes, and the growth of home streaming. Fandrich’s film positions the Monarch as a case study in how such spaces can adapt and survive through community investment, volunteer support, and municipal partnerships.

Following its local debut, Your Cinema Needs You entered the international festival circuit. Over the course of 2024, it screened in more than 30 cities in 12 countries. It received 25 festival nominations and 14 awards, including eight for Best Documentary. At several film festivals, organizers noted parallels between their historic venues and the Monarch Theatre, underscoring the documentary’s relevance beyond its immediate geographic context.

The film also had measurable local effects. Increased attention led to a rise in volunteer inquiries and financial support for the theatre’s restoration work. Discussions about heritage preservation gained visibility in civic and cultural forums, with the film frequently cited in media coverage related to the Monarch’s revitalization. This aligns with Fandrich’s stated intent to produce a work that would document the theatre’s history while supporting its future.

In March 2025, the film premiered online through TELUS Originals, allowing national audiences to view it for free. This streaming release expanded the reach of the project and introduced the Monarch’s story to viewers across Canada. Fandrich stated in interviews that many people who had heard of the film but could not attend earlier screenings contacted him after its digital debut, sharing new stories about other independent cinemas across the country.

Critical reception focused on the documentary’s straightforward storytelling and emphasis on historical accuracy. The film uses archival footage, photographs, and first-person accounts to create a thread through over a century of experiences.

The documentary’s extended premiere run over several months helped to fuel early progress on the Monarch’s restoration. According to reports, exterior work continued through 2024 and 2025, with further upgrades planned to modernize technical systems while retaining the theatre’s historic architecture. The building’s heritage value, previously a matter of limited public awareness, became more widely discussed. The film contributed to this shift by centralizing the theatre’s timeline in a single narrative accessible to the public.

Your Cinema Needs You involved extensive research to showcase a history that had only been thinly documented. Fandrich identified gaps in the historical record and sought out surviving documentation and oral histories to clarify conflicting accounts of the theatre’s early years. For example, the Monarch Theatre’s claim as one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in Canada required precise verification of operational timelines, closures, and ownership changes. 

The claim of the Monarch Theatre being the oldest surviving purpose-built cinema remains the standout definition promoted by Your Cinema Needs You. The Monarch was built for the sole purpose of screening movies when it opened in 1911 and was never a venue for vaudeville or live theatre - this is a key detail that sets it apart from the vast majority of theatres built at this time.

The documentary’s impact can be divided into several categories: awareness, engagement, preservation, and external recognition. Awareness was achieved through screenings, press coverage, and the online release. Engagement occurred through increased volunteerism and public attendance at events. Preservation was supported indirectly by stimulating interest in the theatre’s history and future. External recognition came through festival screenings and awards that drew attention to Medicine Hat and the Monarch Theatre on an international stage.

As of 2025, the Monarch 1911 Society continues restoration work on the theatre. Public interest remains sustained through events, heritage programming, and educational activities. The film continues to be referenced in ongoing updates surround the venue. 

While only one part in a collaborated effort to revive the Monarch Theatre, Your Cinema Needs You consolidated historical information, increased public visibility, and built momentum for the theatre's preservation in a way that is still fueling the discussion about the future of this landmark today. 

Omega Mart in Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is full of surprises, but nothing prepares you for walking into a grocery store and finding yourself in another dimension. That’s exactly what happens at Omega Mart, the surreal, immersive art experience created by Meow Wolf inside the AREA15 complex. From the outside, it looks like an ordinary supermarket - bright aisles, colorful displays, and neatly stocked shelves. But step inside, and you’ll quickly realize something is very, very off.

Every product on the shelves tells a joke, a story, or a secret. You’ll find items like “Nut-Free Salted Peanuts,” “Plausible Deniability Laundry Detergent,” and “Organic Moth Milk.” At first it feels like parody, but soon you notice doors that shouldn’t be there, coolers that open into glowing tunnels, and employees who seem to know more than they’re letting on. That’s the magic of Omega Mart. It’s part art exhibition, part puzzle, and part alternate reality.

The attraction spans about 52,000 square feet and was built by over 300 artists, designers, and storytellers from around the world. Meow Wolf, the Santa Fe–based collective behind it, is known for turning abandoned spaces into mind-bending worlds of color and imagination. Omega Mart is their second permanent installation (after the House of Eternal Return), and it takes their signature style to new heights. You can wander freely, climb through portals, and explore glowing caverns, corporate offices, or alien landscapes, all connected by the bizarre story of a fictional company called Dramcorp.

If you’re the kind of visitor who loves mysteries, Omega Mart rewards curiosity. Hidden clues, computer terminals, and even interactive RFID cards let you dig deeper into the narrative. But even if you ignore the plot, it’s endlessly fun to get lost in the details - the pulsing light installations, the strange sounds, and the dreamlike transitions between spaces. It’s as much a playground as it is an art gallery.

Visiting Omega Mart takes time. Plan for at least two hours, and wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be climbing, crouching, and exploring like a kid in an alien museum. Tickets are sold in timed slots and can sell out, especially on weekends. AREA15, the larger entertainment complex that houses Omega Mart, also offers bars, restaurants, and other attractions for when you finally need to catch your breath.

In a city known for excess, Omega Mart stands out not for how big it is, but for how imaginative. It’s a strange, funny, and thought-provoking reminder that art doesn’t just hang on walls, it can swallow you whole. If Las Vegas is a playground for adults, Omega Mart might just be its most brilliantly weird ride.