The Anarchist Lunch | A BCCLA Fundraiser

BCCLA is proud to present Rachel Epstein’s The Anarchist Lunch, screening on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Join us as we celebrate over 60 years of BCCLA’s history and prepare for the future ahead.

When: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Where: The Cinematheque (1131 Howe Street, Vancouver)

Doors will open at 6:00 PM. Refreshments (including beer generously provided by R&B Brewing) will be available for purchase.

Film starts at 7 PM. We are honoured that Rachel, the film’s director and daughter of BCCLA Founding Members Norman and Marilyn Epstein, will join us for this event.

A panel discussion will follow the screening, with special guests:

• Ken Klonsky (Innocence International)
• Khaled Shawwash (Teachers for Palestine)
• Neil Naiman (Independent Jewish Voices)
• Latoya Farrell (BCCLA Policy Staff Counsel, Community)
• Veronica Martisius (BCCLA Litigation Staff Counsel)

THE ANARCHIST LUNCH

Once a week, for the past 35 years, a group of academics and activists has congregated in the same Chinese restaurant in Vancouver to discuss the important topics of the moment. Among these political conversationalists is the father of filmmaker Rachel Epstein, who now documents the group as they engage with issues inside and out of their familiar eatery.

“The Anarchist Lunch is a Vancouver-based 46-minute documentary about my 99-year-old dad’s lunch group that has been meeting weekly for over 35 years. Lunch members range in age from early 50s to 90s (most are in their 70s and 80s), and have been actively involved, over many years, in anti-war and nuclear movements; assisting American war resistors; working to get wrongly convicted prisoners released; as union and climate activists and as Jews in support of Palestinian struggles.

The film’s themes are male friendship, lifelong activism, community and the process of aging. It was shot over 5 years during which time lunch members got sick and died, COVID happened, and world events unfolded. My dad got to watch the final film just days before he died in July, 2023.”

–Rachel Epstein

The film is in English, without subtitles.

You can view the trailer here.

Tickets

This is a fundraiser in support of BCCLA. Tickets are by donation, with a suggested donation of $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased via the form below.

All donations will fund critical work in 2026, and will enable us to: stop our governments from using the notwithstanding clause to knowingly undermine or violate Charter rights and freedoms; fight for greater police accountability; protect protest rights; work to regulate AI and strengthen digital privacy rights; and so much more.

We have a select number of complimentary tickets set aside for Indigenous and Palestinian folks. Please email [email protected] to reserve.

Venue Accessibility

For detailed accessibility information and specifications for The Cinematheque, please visit: https://thecinematheque.ca/about/equity-accessibility

• The theatre is wheelchair accessible and has four wheelchair spots with adjacent companion seats.
• These seats are also available for anyone with a disability who requires accommodation.
• Washroom facilities are located on the ground floor, for use by people of all genders; they include private, single-stall toilets.
• Washroom facilities have a button-operated motorized entry door, and two wheelchair accessible stalls.
• Assistive Listening Systems are available from the box office for people to sign out free of charge. A signal is fed directly from the venue audio system to the supplied hearing assistance device.
• Seats are 53.3 cm wide, armrest to armrest, and 43.2 cm high, measured from the ground up.

Thank you to R&B Brewing for their generous contribution to this event.