Rehoboth Film Society finds permanent home

Years in the making, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society officials announced July 28 that a permanent home has been found.

The Rehoboth Beach Cinema Art House will be located in Dartmouth Plaza, behind the Wawa on Route 1 in Lewes.

“The multi-year search for a suitable location with ample parking, high ceilings, and affordable rent has resulted in an exciting find,” reads a message on the society’s website. “The new venue will allow expanded offerings of year-round programming, as well as a secure venue for the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival.”

Sue Early, society executive director, said the society has been searching for at least six years to find a location that met all the required criteria associated with opening a viable home.

Early said the new facility will allow for the many more offerings by the society, including a Jewish film festival, a showcase of regional filmmakers, youth filmmaking events and multiple shows of one film.

Early said multiple showings are important because the society's events have been overcrowded in the past.

Renovating the building to fit the needs of an art house has been estimated to cost $550,000, but a solid base of fundraising has already begun. Staff and board members have made contributions totaling of $36,000 and the Longwood Foundation awarded a $200,000 matching grant towards the project.

Early said other grants have been solicited but decisions have not been made. She said individuals interested in supporting the project can make a 100 percent tax deductible donation on the society’s website at rehobothfilm.com.

Contributions at $1,000 and above will be acknowledged in a permanent display.

"This is a very exciting time for the film society," said Early. "But we'll have to keep reminding people to fill the seats once it's open."

Film festival update

The new facility will not be ready in time for the 2015 edition of the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival.

Tickets for this year’s festival go on sale in October. Screenings for the festival are scheduled for nine days, beginning Saturday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 15.

This will be the first year no movies will be held at the Movies at Midway, and, as of July 30, there are three locations slated to the host the festival – Cape Henlopen High School, the recently built Metropolitan Community Church in Rehoboth and the Army Reserve Center in Lewes.

Early said the project timeline had the completion date of the renovations too close the beginning of the festival, and it was safer to get locations secured for this year now.

Early said efforts continue to find at least one other venue to host movies, adding the society would love to be in downtown Rehoboth. She said the group looked into the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and the Atlantic Sands Hotel, but, she continued, a major renovation project and a teacher’s conference scheduled for the same time prevented the use of either.

She said festival was spoiled to be able to have movies showing in one location, but, she continued, multiple sites are a way of life for other festivals.

“This is going to be a transition year,” said Early.

Early said new this year is the ability to buy tickets online. She said this feature will allow theatergoers to know immediately if they are able to get into the movies they want to see.

There will also be rush ticket sales available at each of the high school screenings. Ten minutes before the start of the film, any available seat can be purchased for $12 with exact change. Only cash will be accepted.

Early suggested festival goers review the schedule and plan to see more than one movie at a single location.

For more information go to rehobothfilm.com.