The Mariemont Theatre will resume movie screenings later this week, several months after the historic theater shut down.
Mariemont Theatre will host a soft opening Aug. 28 with showings from 4-7 p.m. Cindependent, the nonprofit that took over Mariemont Theatre's operations in January, said in a press release the theater will screen multiple films each day until a grand opening on Sept. 16.
Sept. 16 also marks the first day of the four-day 2026 Cindependent Film Festival.
Cindependent, a nonprofit that supports independent filmmakers, announced it would take over operations from Theatre Management Corp. in January 2026, estimating that the transition would take about four months. During that transition period, Theatre Management Corp.shut down the theater
"at the request of the property's owner."
Despite the shutdown, Cindependent continued raising funds for its takeover. The nonprofit announced it reached its goal of raising $1 million in July. Cindependent used the funds to purchase and install new screens, an audio system and a popcorn machine, according to a July 29 press release.
What's showing?
The theater will show the following films Aug. 28:
- "Tony": This biopic follows celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain as a 19-year-old in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The film was released nationwide Aug. 21.
- "The Brink of War": This historical drama is about the 1986 nuclear deal negotiations between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. "The Brink of War" was released Aug. 14.
- "The Rivals of Amziah King": This crime thriller follows beekeeper and musician Amziah King as he fights to safeguard his honey business from rivals. The crime-thriller was released Aug. 21.
- "Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World": This documentary portrays Mary Oliver, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. The documentary includes readings from Stephen Colbert and Oprah Winfrey. The documentary was released in March at the True/False Film Festival.
You can buy tickets on the new Mariemont Theatre by Cindependent website.
Cindependent said in the release it will also kick off a month-long film series of movies from 1938, the year the theatre opened, on Aug. 28. Audience discussions with University of Cincinnati film professors will accompany these screenings.
The series will culminate in a Sept. 16 grand reopening gala, according to the press release. Tickets for the grand opening range from $50 to $200.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mariemont Theatre reopens this week
