Plot twist for Sudbury Independent Cinema as it halts relocation plan

A plan by Sudbury's only independent cinema to relocate is on hold after a meeting with their landlord,

The cinema opened in 2019 in a former school gymnasium at 162 Mackenzie Street attached to the École St. Louis-de- Gonzagues 

The school and gymnasium have been purchased by Minewise Technology.

Beth Mairs is a founding executive director of the Sudbury Independent Cinema Co-op.

She said the cinema was making plans to move out later this summer in anticipation of their lease ending in February, 2025.

She said the move was being planned earlier to take advantage of normal down time and to get up and running at Thorneloe University's Ernie Checkeris Theatre by September.

At a meeting earlier this month to inform their landlord of their timeline, Mairs said he had a change of heart after they explained the implications of uprooting to a new location.

"Essentially we were bracing ourselves for an entire quarter of the year with no income because it would take all of July to take down our equipment with volunteer labour and August to move it and and assemble it, and we thought at some point in September we could start showing films again," said Mairs, who admits Thorneloe is not the ideal location since it is outside the downtown core.

Reached at his Lorne Street office, the landlord, James Henderson, executive director of Minewise Technology said he does intend to use the space where the cinema is currently set up but said he can adjust his plans and work alongside the cinema to give them some more wiggle room to plan their exit.

As for the cinema's lease ending in February of 2025, he said he's willing to renegotiate it on an annual basis for up to three years, to give the cinema a chance to work out its best landing spot.

I think I might have pinched myself- Beth Mairs, Sudbury Indie Cinema Co-op

It's news that Mairs was not expecting.

"We were shocked," she said. "I think I might have pinched myself. I was flabbergasted."

Mairs said staying at the Mackenzie location makes sense since they've started to overcome some financial troubles incurred by the pandemic and were just starting to hit their stride again with the help of some bridge funding from the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation.

Future plans would focus on trying to remain downtown, said Mairs who admits they now have more leeway to consider the right spot.

"There are some ideas on the table, but I don't want to speak out of turn or prematurely," she said. "But you know there are things in the wind that people are sort of following what's happening in terms of building arts and culture downtown." 

As for the farewell party scheduled for Wednesday, June 26, that will go ahead as a party to celebrate five years at 162 Mackenzie, said Mairs, with an eye to relocating in 2027.