Calgary’s film community concerned over sale of Globe Cinema

Calgary’s film community is disappointed over the potential loss of another downtown movie theater with the Globe Cinema up for sale.

A commercial listing on Avison Young’s website says the venue at 617 Eighth Ave. SW can be purchased for $2,400,000.

The neighboring building to the west, former home to Rileys Reproductions and Printing, is also for sale. The Globe is operated by Rileys Entertainment.

The Globe Cinema opened in 1995, replacing the former Towne Cinema, which opened in the early 1970s, according to the Glenbow Archives.

The independent theater calls itself a “classic movie house” and is host to independent film festivals.

Calgary’s Globe Cinema has two auditoriums, each seating almost 400 people. Calgary’s film festival organizers say losing the space downtown would be detrimental to their events. (Avison Young)

Katherine Penhale, acting executive director of the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), says the Globe poses an “existential risk to the screening capacity in the core.”

“The media arts have no home,” said Penhale. “We feel like this is a pretty massive deficit and it only becomes increasingly concerning when we consider how important film is becoming to Alberta both economically and culturally,” she said.

“The Globe is all that’s left.”

The film festival has been held annually at the Globe Cinema and the Cineplex Odeon Cinemas at Eau Claire Market, but the market is set to be demolished this summer to make way for the Green Line LRT.

The Globe Cinema has two auditoriums that seat 378 people, according to its website.

Penhale added that while the Plaza Theater in Kensington still remains, its capacity is much smaller than the Eau Claire Cineplex and the Globe. According to the Plaza Theatre’s website, its single auditorium seats 150 people.

The Calgary Underground Film Festival is exclusively held at the Globe, and had its most recent run at the theater in April. One of CUFF’s lead programmers, Cameron Macgowan, says he’s known the venue has been up for lease in the past.

“So it’s always kind of been looming that it would start to be taken more seriously,” Macgowan said.

Macgowan said the Globe’s unique characteristics are unmatched in Calgary’s theater landscape, and to lose such a venue would be a loss for the independent film scene.

“It’s still majestic inside. It still has the old world architecture that pairs so well with movies. And there’s no cinema in town, now that the Uptown is also closed, that has that taste of history that helps you appreciate movies.”

“It’s the architecture and the staff and the celebration of art that goes on in that building that adds so much to our festivals,” he said.

“The less theaters we have, the less cool movies are being shown. And I just don’t see new theaters opening when these old ones close,” he said. “I don’t see a backup plan to keep art alive in the city, and so that is definitely a concern of mine.”

Macgowan said CUFF will find a new venue, but added, “while we would still exist as a festival, as the kids say, the ‘vibes’ would definitely be different.”

As for the future of CIFF, which runs Sept. 19-29 this year, Penhale said the festival will have an announcement later this month.

“CIFF has plans to manage the loss of Eau Claire and to engage the wider community and create the necessary screening capacity for this year,” Penhale said.

She added there will be “plans to expand that capacity in the coming years.”

CBC News tried to get in touch with the Globe Cinema and its owner but did not hear back before publication.