The Who-What-Where on Indie Cinema

Picture this: film festivals, international hits, lectures with industry professionals, and year round festival-quality film…all happening right here in our hometown! Indie Cinema has already started to make this happen, and they aren’t stopping now!

Our Very Own Arts Hub

When Sudbury’s Rainbow Cinema closed its doors, a steering committee comprised of past patrons, filmmakers and independent film advocates created the not-for-profit co-op Indie Cinema, whose goal is to bring independent film and industry to the north. Although they originally anticipated moving into Rainbow Cinema’s theatre complex, they instead will be repurposing the former Louis De Gonzagues School on Mackenzie Street. The School will be rebranded as 162 Arts Hub and be home to Sudbury’s emerging arts organizations. While Indie Cinema is the anchor tenant, the redevelopment of this area will become the Uptown Cultural Commons, hosting a variety of arts assets on a nine-acre property.

Meet Beth

Behind this initiative is Beth Mairs, a prominent figurehead in the Sudbury arts & culture scene. “My own entry into the film industry came in my early 50s, as a 3^rd career after social work and adventure travel,” she says. “I was looking for something challenging and creative to sink my teeth into. Working in film in a variety of roles has certainly been that!”

The impact Beth and Indie Cinema are having on the northern Ontario film scene is growing every day. By bringing independent films, film festivals, forums, and events to Sudbury, they are enriching and adding to our local film hub.

“We see it as part of our mission to strengthen and be responsive to the local homegrown film industry. This will come through being proactive in providing an interface between the public and local film projects, as an exhibition venue, and possibly even as a post-house”.

Best of Hot Docs: Bringing International Film to the North

Indie Cinema has already hosted three annual Best of Hot Docs documentary festivals in Sudbury. Audiences doubled in 2015, as the festival included a two-day industry forum with film professionals, high school screenings, and a local artists panel and shorts programme. 11 international and award-winning documentaries were premiered in northern Ontario, including Iris (a must-see for fashion lovers!), the director’s cut of Waiting for Ishtar, and Pervert Park.

Film Fans, Rejoice!

Beth and the team are hoping to officially open their doors at their new location in spring 2016. A monthly schedule will feature many specialized screenings and events such as Women In Film Wednesdays, Samedi Cinema, and First Peoples Thursday. There will also be more weekend film festivals in the near future!

Until then, watch some incredible indie and local films and meet fantastic individuals at their current venues in downtown Sudbury, including Open Studio and the Greater Sudbury Public Library.

Find our more and check out their current film schedule at http://sudburyindiecinema.com/

Purchase a membership and don’t miss out on any of the action! Details here: http://sudburyindiecinema.com/img/membership.pdf