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Indie cinema co-op not letting funding delay stop them

The co-op also has a monthly film series in the works, showcasing Francophone, women-directed and Aboriginal films. Beth Mairs, the indie cinema's project manager, said the co-op had originally hoped to open at its location in the former St.
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Sudbury Indie Cinema board members Derek Young, left, and Gerry Labelle, right, and project manager Beth Mairs revealed details on Sept. 21 on the status of the cinema. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.
The co-op also has a monthly film series in the works, showcasing Francophone, women-directed and Aboriginal films.

Beth Mairs, the indie cinema's project manager, said the co-op had originally hoped to open at its location in the former St. Louis de Gonzague school gym this fall.

Although some funding has come through, including $55,000 from the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, the group is still waiting on about $325,000 in funding requests from the province and FedNor.

The co-op is also selling the cinema's 180 seats for $350 each, and hopes to raise another $60,000. The project's total start-up costs are $535,000.

“FedNor is not allowed to make any announcements during the election period,” said Mairs. “We now have to wait until after the election to see where we're at with them.”

When the cinema will open depends upon receiving funding, Mairs said, but she's hopeful it could be in February or March of next year.

The city funding was contingent upon the co-op doing a feasibility study for the project, which has since been completed.

Mairs said the city footed the $10,000 bill for the study, done by the Montreal firm Communications MDR. It showed the drive for an indie cinema in Greater Sudbury is part of a similar movement across the country.

“With the consolidation in the film exhibition industry where we have more multi-plexes, the community response is on not-for-profit, independent cinemas focusing more on films that those mega-plexes bypass,” she said.

“They may be documentaries, they may be more artistic or independent, and a lot of them run the festival circuit and then they have nowhere for a theatrical release.”

Thanks to the work of the Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, there's an appetite for these films in Sudbury.

The study showed that for its population, Greater Sudbury should be able to support 20 screens, but it currently only as 12 — all at SilverCity. One more theatre would be welcome in the city, the study said.

To learn more about the Sudbury Downtown Independent Cinema Co-operative, or about upcoming film screenings, visit www.sudburyindiecinema.com or the group's Facebook page.

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Heidi Ulrichsen

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