IPH’s Expansion
Since opening in June 2022, The Independent Picture House (IPH) has continued to see success and feel endless support from our community. In 2023 alone, IPH sold more than 30,000 tickets, with an incredible amount of individuals throughout Charlotte becoming members of our cinema and/or donating to support our programming. Since opening, IPH has focused on educating, engaging, and enabling the community through the power of film. This is demonstrated through events and offerings like Indie on Wheels, Summer ‘of 84, Free Saturday Cartoons, talkbacks after screenings, affordable rental rates for filmmakers and creatives to premiere their work, and so much more.
Before our second anniversary in June 2024, IPH is ecstatic to announce an expansion in our space! This expansion adds a fourth auditorium, which will hold the most seats, currently estimated at 150. 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.
Rendering by LaBella Associates
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 150-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.
“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.”
– Brad Ritter, Executive Director of The Independent Picture House
We’re 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 2024. There will be no/little disruption of current programming during the build out of the expanded space.
Rendering by Docklands Design
As of Monday, May 20, our team has secured 60% (~$435,000) of the funds needed for this new space. Our goal for the expansion is to raise $725,000.
“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!”
– Tom Eiselt, Chair of the Charlotte Film Society/Independent Picture House Board of Directors
Our expansion will allow us to continue pursuing our mission of educating, engaging, and enabling the community through independent, foreign, local, and arthouse films by providing IPH with more space to screen even more films. With our pre-function area, we will be able to connect ever further with the Charlotte community by organizing more community-centered events outside of our current film events and series. We are also excited to have this opportunity alongside the expected growth for the Charlotte area and expand alongside our wonderful community.
You can support our expansion by donating to our campaign!