Gateway Film Center will be reopening Aug. 31 with limited capacity for an even more limited release.
After shutting down for five months due to COVID-19, the nonprofit, independent movie theater will return with several new releases, including “Tenet,” written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The Film Center is the only one in Ohio that will be lucky enough to screen one of the ten available 70mm film reels of “Tenet” in the world.
New health and safety precautions will be put in place to protect customers and staff, according to a press release. The theater will host just one screening per day in each of its screening rooms at 30% capacity, with a slight expansion on weekends.
“We spent these five months conferring with our colleagues at the National Association of Theatre Owners, Arthouse Convergence, and our peers across the country, and receiving guidance from our local, state and federal health associations, to create a plan designed to best serve our community,” said Gateway Film Center president Chris Hamel.
The new policies will require guests to wear a mask and purchase tickets in advance if possible. Operating hours and concessions menus will also be limited upon reopening. In order to accommodate these changes, Gateway Film Center will be launching a new website Monday with improved functions for ticketing, seating reservation, and virtual screenings.
Currently, the center updates its virtual screening room with new indie films for viewers to rent and stream each week.
Other new releases slated for the theater’s reopening include director Armando Iannucci’s “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” and director Hirokazu Koreeda’s “The Truth.” Tickets and more information will be available Monday at gatewayfilmcenter.org.