Independent Picture House Announces Expansion: Adding 4th and Largest Auditorium and Additional Space
22 May 2024 - 10:20PM
On the eve of its second anniversary, The Independent Picture House
(IPH), Charlotte’s only non-profit community cinema, featuring
independent, arthouse, and foreign films, announces today that they
are expanding into an additional space.
This expansion
allows the cinema to add a
fourth auditorium, which
will hold the most seats, currently estimated at
145. Along with exhibition of films, this new larger space
will have the flexibility to provide local artists and groups with
the opportunity to perform poetry, theater, improv/comedy, and live
music, as well as rent out the space for both private and public
film screenings.
With the expansion, IPH is also adding a pre-function area which
will be used for educational offerings, a gathering space for
patrons, community events and discussions, and other artistic
endeavors.
The new auditorium will be immediately adjacent to the original
three IPH screens. Those three screens allow for audiences of 105,
77, and 17 (known as the Micro-Cinema). The
new 145-seat auditorium and pre-function
space will add 4,639 sq feet
of space, making IPH even more accessible for
Charlotteans interested in all forms of arts and entertainment,
including September’s Charlotte Film Festival and several other
local film festivals throughout the year. (Link to Renderings.)
A formal presentation and celebration of the new space
will be held at IPH on Wednesday, May 22 from
5:30pm - 7pm – this event is free and open to the
public.
Brad Ritter, Executive Director of The Independent Picture
House, states “We have witnessed extraordinarily positive reactions
from the community throughout our first two years of operations.
Whether it’s enthusiasm and gratitude for our films and series, our
special community events like Indie on Wheels and the Community
Impact Film Series, and the post-screening discussions we provide,
Charlotte has welcomed us and made our cinema part of their
favorite outings. This opportunity to expand comes at the perfect
time, as we are seeing increased demand for film screenings and
other events. Upon completion, we’ll be able to truly meet our
mission to foster cultural connections through film.”
IPH is still in the early stages of designing the new
space, but construction is expected to start over the summer with a
goal of opening the space by early November of
this year. There will be no disruption of
current programming during the build out of the expanded space.
As of Monday, May 20, the cinema’s team has secured 60%
(~$435,000) of the funds needed for this new space, with a public
fundraising campaign starting on Wednesday, May 22 to reach their
goal of $725,000.
Tom Eiselt, Chair of the Charlotte Film Society/Independent
Picture House Board of Directors shares, “Those we have spoken to
about this expansion have been excited and overwhelmingly in
support. Charlotte’s arts and culture community continues to grow
and diversify along with our city’s booming development. We are
beyond thrilled that the community is demonstrating - through its
support of IPH and our mission - a deep interest in and love for
the powerful and creative art of film!”
Tony Kuhn, President of Flywheel Group, the owner of the IPH
building explains why this expansion works for the property: “We’ve
loved to see the appreciation of independent cinema grow in
Charlotte, and to have so many community members explore a new area
of the city while this neighborhood’s development is still underway
has been incredible. Flywheel looks forward to IPH’s continuing
success.”
The Independent Picture House is located at 4237 Raleigh Street.
The neighborhood is seeing notable development, including “The
Pass” development, adding in restaurants, workspaces and
residences, as well as 1500 new homes which will be completed in
the next 18 months within two blocks of IPH. And all of these
amenities are located within walking distance of the Sugar Creek
LYNX station, one stop north of the heart of the NoDa
neighborhood.
Mayor Pro Tem and District 1 Charlotte City Council Member,
Danté Anderson, has supported and encouraged the development of IPH
and called it, “a fantastic example of the kind of quality arts
organization and venue that the City of Charlotte needs to continue
being the kind of city people want to come to and live in. IPH’s
expansion will not only allow more people to enjoy independent
film, but it will fuel the cinema’s mission to share the powerful
art of film with people across our city and region.”
IPH has a number of programs planned this summer leading up to
and including the September 24-29 Charlotte Film Festival. These
include:
- The Summer of ‘84 series: A 19-week celebration of films that
debuted in 1984 (40 years ago!)
- The Critic’s Eye film series with Lawrence Toppman and Tim
Whitmire, every other Tuesday, May 28 - July 9
- The next Indie on Wheels screening at Sugar Creek Library on
June 11, with more to come in the fall
- The next Community Impact Film Series event focused on
Immigration on July 20
- Monthly Free Saturday Cartoons for families, every 2nd Saturday
of every month
Media Contact:David
Thalbergdthalberg@strykermunleygroup.com917.952.2580