Netflix and the American Cinematheque will reopen Hollywood’s iconic The Egyptian Theater next month after more than three years of renovation and just in time to host the streamer’s awards show.
The historic landmark, built during the silent film era, has fallen into obscurity since cinemas across the country closed in March 2020. Netflix entered into a purchase agreement for the Egyptian in May 2020 and committed to a comprehensive restoration (the deal was first announced in 2019). .
The Egyptian Museum will remain the home of the American Cinematheque. The general plan is for the arts organization to independently program films Friday through Sunday. Netflix will use the venue Monday through Thursday for screenings, premieres and special events, and will open select screenings of its films to the public. There will be times when the two program dates swap (as shown below).
The grand opening begins on November 9th with the release of the Netflix short documentary Temple of Film: 100 Years of Egyptian Theater. Directed by Angus Wall, the film features interviews with Guillermo del Toro, Rian Johnson, Lynette Howell Taylor, Autumn Durald Arkapaw and Peyton Hall, the architect who led the restoration.
As part of the celebrations there will also be a screening of David Finchers The killer (Netflix) and a Q&A with the filmmaker.
From November 10th to 21st, the venue will host American Cinematheque Presents: Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest 2023, a long-running annual festival showcasing 70mm films from the past and present.
Bradley Cooper’s follows maestro from November 22nd to 27th. On December 5th: Wes Anderson’s short film The wonderful story of Henry Sugar will be shown alongside other one-reelers selected by the filmmaker. (Both films come from Netflix.)
The sale to Netflix took more than a year to complete because the Cinematheque is a nonprofit that bought the former movie palace for $1 from the now-defunct LA Redevelopment Authority.
The deal does not affect the Aero Theater in Santa Monica, where Cinematheque has a 10-year lease.
Netflix also now operates the popular Paris Theater in New York, which saved it from permanent closure. The cinema recently went back online following extensive upgrades, including the installation of a new Dolby Atmos sound system and the technology required to play 70mm films for the first time in over 15 years.
Source : www.hollywoodreporter.com