Many in Calgary’s film industry are concerned about the potential sale of the iconic downtown cinema and what it could mean for the local arts scene.
The owners of the Globe Cinema have been looking for a buyer lately.
The venue, which has hosted more independent and small-scale films for decades, is a cultural hub and the last of its kind in Calgary.
“We’ve made the Globe our home,” said Brenda Lieberman, director of the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF). “We just can’t visualize where and what the festival would look like if it wasn’t there. “
Most likely, this is a verbal exchange.
Lieberman believes the sale is imminent, but the Globe will eventually be shot down. And if so, it wouldn’t be the first loss of an independent film area in Calgary.
Some old theatres, such as the one in Eau Claire, were demolished for housing and public transport. Others, such as the Grand or the Palace Theatre, have everything from exclusive cinema rooms to spaces for multipurpose events.
Some old theatres, such as the one in Eau Claire, were demolished for housing and public transport. Others, such as the Grand or the Palace Theatre, have everything from exclusive cinema rooms to spaces for multipurpose events.
This leaves the film industry behind.
“These spaces leave and don’t come back,” said Katherine Penhale, interim executive director of the Calgary International Film Festival. “Without those spaces, we’re going to have a hard time selling content in Alberta and content in Alberta. “
CIFF has also been president of the Globe for a long time.
Next year, the location will be moved to a location to be announced. Penhale says the festival will miss the Globe’s surroundings.
“Overall, access to downtown Calgary faces a pretty existential risk,” he told CTV News. “Whoever buys it, whether it’s an angel investor or a personal company, unless they have a mandate to create accessibility for local creators and festivals, we’re going to be a little bit paralyzed. Right now, all of our cinema-ready spaces are exclusively personally owned, which means we are at the mercy of the whims of business.
The smart news? Representatives of CUFF and CIFF say that the current owner of the building is in no hurry to sell the building that is still in good condition.
CTV News reached out to Riley’s Enterprise Solutions for more information about the sale.
At the time of publication, we have received a response.
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