When it comes to film, you've got to love a happy ending. When word got out three years ago that the beloved Vancouver video store Videomatica would be closing, much hand-wringing ensued. The store's owners, Graham Peat and Brian Bosworth – as well as worried film buffs in Vancouver and beyond – were anxious to keep its well-curated collection of more than 35,000 titles intact. Cue philanthropist/movie lover Yosef Wosk, who brokered a deal and made a contribution allowing the $1.7-million collection to be acquired by the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. Now the collection has become available for public loans at the two institutions. Who needs Netflix when you've got a library card?
Among the titles library card holders can now borrow:
At SFU
Story continues below advertisement
- 2,500 documentaries
- New films still being acquired, as well as some VHS titles still being catalogued
At UBC
- Foreign films from more than 75 countries, including France (1,000), Japan (900), Italy (500) and Germany (350)
- 2,000 black and white classics dating before 1960
- 1,550 selections from the
- Vancouver film festival
- 1,000 gay-and-lesbian themed films
- 950 Canadian films
- 750 Animated films
- 750 TV series
- 600 Children’s and family films
- 500 musicals
- 250 anime
- 180 silent films