Independent movie cinema set for downtown Sudbury

Morning North3:12Progress on independent theatre for Sudbury's downtown

An indie film group in Sudbury is making progress in it's efforts to open an independent movie theatre in Sudbury's downtown. The first screening could happen in six months time. The CBC's Martha Dillman spoke with the acting president of the group.

A movie theatre that focuses on independent films is one step closer to reality in downtown Sudbury.

The Sudbury Downtown Independent Cinema Co-operative Corporation announced it plans to start showing films in March 2015.

The location is set to be announced in coming weeks, and acting manager and board president Ian Carlyle said it will be a good fit for the citys downtown revitalization plan.

One of the three main focuses was a focus on the arts and culture, and this just worked perfectly within that plan, he said.

Thats why we had everyone from the Downtown BIA, the development corporation for downtown Sudbury as well as proponents at city hall supportive of this project because they know just as well as we do that it will help promote growth and stability within downtown Sudbury.

The corporation has secured $39,857 in funding from FedNor for the project. An investment has also come forward from Roger and Chris Nash to support the cinema.

Location to be announced

The project manager of the co-op, Beth Mairs, said a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the landlord for the new cinema, and the location will be made public within a few weeks.

From there, the group will work with an architect to design the space within the building.

Were moving forward with a plan in the next six months to go from a shell of a building, to retrofitting it to fully digital cinema, she said.

Mairs said shes pleased with the community support.

Im thrilled that the general resident of Sudbury is very interested in alternatives in terms of film and cinema, that they understand that it doesnt begin and end at blockbuster, studio films out of Hollywood, she said.

Its very positive.

People in the community who wish to become a lifetime member of the co-op can join for $40. Applications are available at Eat Local Sudbury or Sudbury Credit Union locations.