O Cinema announces second location, mainland expansion
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O Cinema, Miami's beloved nonprofit indie theater, announced plans this week for expanding to Little River — and it's asking its fans to help.
The big picture: Since 2011, the theater has offered unique and accessible cinema programming to the 305 — from foreign-language and first-run films to the annual Oscar Nominated Short Films event.
- Now, it's planning to once again bring its mission to the mainland with a second location.
Catch up quick: The cinema has been on the Beach since 2019, when its original Wynwood location was replaced by an apartment building.
- It took over the former home of the Byron Carlyle Theatre in North Beach before settling into its current location in South Beach.
Driving the news: In a social media post Wednesday, the cinema announced a $2.75 million expansion campaign to complete the Little River project by June: "Will you join us in making O Cinema bigger and better?"
- Money raised will fund three cinemas, a public gallery, and two spaces for community use, plus a lounge and concessions.
- Funding will also support staffing and a reserve fund for a 10-year lease. A $750,000 grant from the Knight Foundation has already been secured.
Between the lines: Programming will continue at the South Beach location, as will its partnerships with the Miami Beach Bandshell, the Bass Museum of Art, and Fienberg-Fisher K-8, co-founder Vivian Marthell told Axios.
The intrigue: O Cinema's first location in Wynwood helped reshape the district into an arts hub. Its expansion into Little River could help cement the area as Miami's coolest neighborhood.
- In the post, the cinema said it chose Little River because it's "meeting the community where it is."
- "O Cinema Little River will thrive in a community already embracing creativity, collaboration and innovation."