videomatica: the sequel

Philanthropist poised to save Videomatica collection
excerpted from Business In Vancouver
May 10, 2011

Videomatica, Vancouver’s iconic video-rental store, will not hold a clearance sale to liquidate its 30,000-film inventory in the lead-up to its closure this summer. Philanthropist Yosef Wosk will contribute $100,000, if need be, to ensure the collection remains intact, either:
•with the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF);
•at an academic institution such as the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University or Capilano University; or
•at a new British Columbia Film Archive.

Processing costs and suggestive content in some films seem to have kiboshed efforts to get the VPL to buy Videomatica’s collection.

Wosk told Business in Vancouver May 9 he hopes the institution that receives the collection is able to contribute money to buy the VHS tapes and DVDs. He said if that is not possible, he would contribute the $100,000.

The next step is a meeting on May 12 with the academic institutions and represenatives from VIFF. “There’s somewhat of a pressure now because Videomatica needs to give up their lease and move out,” Wosk said. “They would prefer that the collection go directly to where it’s going to go instead of having to first go in storage.”

And here's a link to another article on the closing and the shop. This is a good bit;

When the store celebrated its 25th birthday they compiled a list of Videomatica's top rentals. No. 1 was the British comedy Withnail and I. The top 10 was rounded out by Wings of Desire, Down By Law, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Betty Blue, Blood Simple, The Decameron and Baraka. The top rentals in recent years are 8 ½, City of God and The Lives of Others.