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Several community groups who share the West Fraser Guild: Home of the Performing Arts Theatre of Hinton, including Hinton Movies. (Maggie Kirk\/CBC)<\/p>\nAt a former firehall in the rural town of Hinton, Alta., in a space shared with plays, concerts and birthday parties, Hinton Movies captured the hearts and minds of dozens by screening a Bollywood comedy called Bhooth Bangla.<\/p>\n
Curious movie lovers showed up alongside some of Hinton\u2019s Indian community. Cameron Langford, Hinton Movies manager and programming director, said screenings like that are among the theatre\u2019s most successful. <\/p>\n
\u201cBecause it’s more than just seeing a movie, it’s about experiencing things with other people.\u201d<\/p>\n
That kind of tailored programming is largely possible because Hinton Movies, established in 2017, operates as a non-profit. The Rotary Club stepped in to bring movies back to the town of 10,000 after the former Roxy Theatre burnt down in 2009.<\/p>\n
Unlike larger chains tied closely to major studio releases, Hinton Movies has more flexibility to show documentaries, Canadian indie films and old cult classics.<\/p>\n
Several community groups who share the West Fraser Guild: Home of the Performing Arts Theatre of Hinton, including Hinton Movies. (Maggie Kirk\/CBC)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are representative of something more than just a blockbuster experience,\u201d Langford said.<\/p>\n
Sonya Yokota William, founder and director of the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE),\u00a0 said that flexibility is what\u2019s keeping some screens across Canada from going dark.<\/p>\n
When small towns lose an \u2018anchor\u2019<\/p>\n
Operators from across Alberta who spoke to CBC News said theatres are struggling with rising costs, streaming services, restrictive Hollywood rules, and the aftermath of COVID-19.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the former cinema in Stettler became a church. The Landmark Cinema in Edson has been on the market for months.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In Jasper, the independent Chaba Theatre closed in 2022 after nearly a century of business.<\/p>\n
Taking the Chaba\u2019s reins from his father in 1972, Dwain Wacko said he watched the twin screen theatre thrive in the transition from film reels to digital projection, but ultimately succumb to the economic storms of streaming services and the pandemic lockdowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was always a challenge,\u201d said Wacko, adding he knew for years the theatre would not outlive him.<\/p>\n
He said that making the decision to shutter the theatre after 97 years was the most stressful period of his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt somewhat guilty about eliminating an institution.\u201d<\/p>\n
He recalls many years ago when Chaba closed for six weeks for renovations.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple of the businessmen that were nearby said, \u2018When are you going to open? We need you, you bring people downtown,\u2019\u201d Wacko shared.<\/p>\n
William said cinemas also create value for what they offer socially.<\/p>\n
In 2024, NICE reported that 34 per cent of independent cinemas in Canada were the only cultural or entertainment option in their community, and over half were operating at a deficit.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time a cinema closes, it\u2019s a tragedy,\u201d said William.<\/p>\n
Noel May, co-owner of May Theatres, is the fourth generation to continue the family\u2019s 80-year legacy of operating independent cinemas across Western Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel a duty, an emotional tie to the community to keep the lights on in that building,\u201d May said about their Wainwright location, which is approaching its 75th anniversary.<\/p>\n
The Alma recently upgraded projectors and offerings like nachos and cotton candy. But May said a slow bounce-back from pandemic shutdowns has the company cautious about incurring further capital costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just hard to justify putting more in when essentially we\u2019ve been in a break-even position since COVID-19.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While locations in Cold Lake, Alta, Lloydminster, Sask., and Castlegar, B.C. are performing stronger, he said the Alma is bearing the brunt of household budget cuts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re fighting for that discretionary dollar,\u201d he added. \u201cHard-earned dollars are hard to come by these days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Overcoming the \u2018clean screen\u2019<\/p>\n
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Denielle Tynan, left, serves guests at the non-profit Hinton Movies for the screening of Lee Cronin’s The Mummy. (Maggie Kirk\/CBC News)<\/p>\n