These Virtual Cinemas Offer Screenings to Support Local Theaters During COVID-19 Closings
New rental streaming platforms allow you to contribute to closed theaters near you and across the country.
Movie theaters across the country are facing new challenges in the midst of COVID-19 shutdowns. / Lisa Fotios, Pexels
Distributors and movie theaters have launched virtual cinemas to support local theaters, their employees and filmmakers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ticket buyers can find new releases or classics to rent for a flat fee by searching for a local theater through a distributor platform, or from a local theater’s website.
Indie theaters, which rely on ticket sales and fundraising, are facing re-budgeting issues, paying rent without making ticket sales and being forced to furlough or lay off almost all of their employees as a result of closing during the pandemic. Theater closings, dozens of film festivals being canceled or postponed and halted productions and releases will result in indie films not receiving the same viewership. Hollywood Reporter estimated that $20 billion in revenue for Hollywood could be lost from the effects of Coronavirus.
While contributions may seem small compared to the estimated loss in revenue and major changes the industry will have to face, each rental helps determine how movie theaters and their employees will come out of this pandemic.
Below is a list of virtual cinemas that can be used to search for a theater near you to support:
One-stop Distributors
Film Movement Plus
Film Movement Plus’ Virtual Cinema offers festival favorites and international hits presented by dozens of theaters around the country. Viewers can search for a theater near them by selecting “A White, White Day,” “The Wild Goose Lake” and other streaming titles.
Grasshopper Film
Grasshopper allows viewers to support their neighborhood theater by contributing half of the box office to the selected theater and its staff. “Vitalina Varela,” “Light From Light” and “Redoubt” lead the selection perfect for those who love culturally-rich festival features.
Kino Marquee
Distributor Kino Lorber launched the Kino Marquee program to stream Cannes prizewinner “Bacurau” to share revenue with 150 virtual theater screens. The company is currently streaming 10 other titles, including “Sorry We Missed You” and “Capital” with an option to search for local theaters.
Music Box
The distributor launched StreamLocal to offer the latest international art house films and live stream Q&A discussions with filmmakers to directly support local cinemas. The program is currently streaming “And Then We Danced” and “Eating Up Easter” for $12.
Oscilloscope
O-Scope launched Circle of Quarantine, a digital film subscription for $49.99 for 10 digital downloads of any 10 Oscilloscope titles. $10 of each subscription will be donated to the Cinema Worker Solidarity Fund to help cinema workers affected by COVID-19 shutdowns. The distributor will also virtually screen “Saint Frances” at art house theaters around the U.S.
Bleeker Street’s “The Roads Not Taken,” starring Javier Bardem, Elle Fanning, Laura Linney and Salma Hayek, is offered across multiple virtual cinemas and on the distributor’s website.
Independent Theaters and Chains:
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, based in Montgomery Country, MD
The AFI Silver Virtual Screening Room supports the theatre and cultural center by streaming new titles every week from $4.99 to $12. This week’s additions include “2 Weeks in Lagos,” “Roar” and “The Times of Bill Cuningham” alongside a number of others to choose from.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, based in Texas, Virginia, Colorado, Missouri, California, New York, Nebraska, Florida, Arizona, North Carolina and Minnesota
Alamo-At-Home helps the national chain and filmmakers in the months ahead by screening a mixture of new releases and classics, including “Straight Up,” “Extra Ordinary,” “Porno” and“Reefer Madness” from $7.75 to $12. The virtual cinema upholds Alamo’s charm with Weird Wednesday and Terror Tuesday programs.
Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, based in California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Texas.
The company that brings enhanced movie-going experiences to 25 cities in the U.S. started Cinépolis Virtual Cinema to support its theater employees and filmmakers. Cinépolis is also donating two tickets to local nurses for every $50 e-gift card purchased through May 5. Current titles to rent are priced at $6.99 to $12 and include the new releases “Bit” and “The Roads Not Taken.”
Cleveland Cinemas, based in Cleveland, OH
50 percent or more of all Cleveland Cinema Virtual Screening Room revenue will directly go to Cedar Lee Theatre, Capitol Theatre, Chagrin Cinemas, Apollo Theatre and Tower City Cinemas. New films open each Friday. This week, the screening room debuts “Driveways” and is continuing to screen “The Booksellers” among a range of other titles from 99 cents to $12.
Facets, based in Chicago, IL
The Virtual Cinema supports the nonprofit’s mission and filmmakers from around the world by offering newly released independent and international films. From “Heimat Is a Space in Time” to “Balloon” and “A Good Woman Is Hard to Find,” April and May's titles offer diverse experiences from $9.99 to $12.
Film at Lincoln Center, based in Manhattan, NY
A portion of all FLC Virtual Cinema screenings will support FLC, which features a dozen thought-provoking and some award-winning titles for the 2020 spring season from $9.99 to $12. “Someone, Somewhere,” “Liberté” and “On a Magical Night” are just a few of the international films to look forward to.
Maysles Documentary Center, based in Harlem, NY
The Virtual Cinema supports the nonprofit’s dedication to the exhibition and production of documentaries. “Earth,” “Pahokee,” “No Data plan,” “Mossville: When Great Trees Fall” and “Made In Harlem: Zora Neale Hurston’s Fieldwork Footage” are on the schedule through June from $10-$12. Some titles also include live Zoom sessions or replays of Q&A’s.
Roxie, based in San Francisco, CA
50 percent of each ticket purchased through the Roxie Virtual Cinema goes to the vibrant, community-centric nonprofit. Current screenings include “Hilma af Klint” and “The Whistlers,” some being donation-based and others ranging from $4.99 to $18.00. The theater will also help support the Lyon-Martin Health Services through screening “No Secret Anymore: The Time of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon.”