Charlotte’s only movie theater dedicated to independent films finally sets opening date

Charlotte’s only art house movie theater will open in June, after months of delays.

The Independent Picture House will officially open June 24 at 4237 Raleigh St. in NoDa, theater executive director Brad Ritter told The Charlotte Observer exclusively on Wednesday.

“It’s important because it’s a community cinema,” Ritter said. “We want to have you come here and engage and talk about these films. ... You don’t get that in the megaplexes.”

Charlotte Film Society, a 40-year-old nonprofit dedicated to bringing foreign, classic and independent films to Charlotte, owns the theater.

There will be several chances to see inside the theater before the official opening date, with several soft opening events, Ritter said.

On June 13, there will be a sign lighting with tours and opening film announcement. And on June 17-18, the cinema house will show movies from Brazil and Puerto Rico in the Cine Casual Film Series, a film series that highlights Latin American movies.

Pandemic delayed movie theater plans

The Charlotte Film Society originally intended to open its three-screen theater last fall.

However, pandemic-related material and labor shortages caused construction delays for the nearly 5,900-square-feet theater.

The film society created its permanent home to show independent and foreign films after the city’s last remaining art house, Regal Manor Twin in Myers Park, permanently closed in May 2020.

“It’s something we’ve always aspired to do, and we’ve been extremely lucky to find people to take a leap of faith with us,” Ritter said, referring to donors and volunteers.

For two years, the film society has held several fundraisers for capital and operational costs for its $2-million campaign. The group had raised $600,000 as of Wednesday, Ritter said.

Inside The Independent Picture House

All of the seats, screens, carpet, curtains and projection equipment are in the building now, Ritter said. The lobby floor will get one more final coat of finish.

“We haven’t put a film on the screen yet,” he said.

Painting also is underway.

Interior designer Scott Weaver of Charlotte is creating bold and graphic “color blocking and mod vibes,” he said on Instagram. Weaver is known for his work at restaurants such as Enat Ethiopian, which recently opened in Optimist Hall, and Sister in Plaza Midwood.

The Independent Picture House has three auditoriums:

▪ The smallest theater, with 17 electric recliners, allows for flexibility to show more films. It also lets the film society experiment with programming, such as renting it out to filmmakers for private showings. It has a 17.5-by-7.5-foot screen with adjustable masking curtains to frame the image.

▪ Theater one has seating for 77, with six risers.

▪ Theater two has eight risers and seats 105 people.

Both will have rocker-style seating and screens that are about 21-by-11-feet.

With its 199 rocker-style seats installed this week, the 40-year-old nonprofit film society is continuing its “Take a Seat” campaign. Ritter said 90% of seats have been sold as of Wednesday. A $350 contribution pays for a seat and installation, and donors will get their name on the screen and be able to reserve seats.

And, The Independent Picture House has made its first hire.

Brandy Ray, former assistant manager at The Manor, is the cinema operations manager. Ritter said four to seven employees will be hired.

Neighbors at the venue

The Independent Picture House is in the center of a white brick, 36,000-square-foot industrial building. Dubbed Trailhead Arts District by developer Flywheel Group, it’s near the Sugar Creek stop on the LYNX Blue Line about a quarter-mile away.

Charlotte Arts League, next door on the right, has space for artist studios and displays, as well as an installation hall in the back of the cinema house. It also will have an outdoor lawn for gatherings and performances.

Above the cinema house on the second floor with the projector room, the arts league has two podcast studios, a digital artist studio, conference room and co-working space.

The building also has space for more retailers include a restaurant or brewery with patio seating, and an event hall for gatherings such as weddings.

This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Charlotte’s only movie theater dedicated to independent films finally sets opening date."