Metro Cinema Popcorn Pop-Up

Happy International Popcorn Day!

Orders are now open for our latest popcorn pop-up! Visit shop.metrocinema.org  between January 19-22 to pre-order popcorn, candy, Blindman Brewing beers, merch and more for pickup on Saturday, Jan 23, from 12-6. (Beer orders must be picked up by an adult with valid ID).

Our staff will pop you fresh popcorn on Saturday morning and have orders ready for safe pick-up at the main doors of the Garneau Theatre beginning at noon. Please maintain a safe distance from other customers while waiting for your turn. Only one person will be permitted to pick up their order at a time.

Pre-orders close on January 22 at 10pm.

Metro Cinema 2020 Poster Auction

Did you know that Metro Cinema’s 11×17 movie posters are created by a team of talented volunteer graphic designers? That’s right! For years, talented artists have created unique new movie posters to hang in our theatre and around town. Now, you have a chance to bring these original works of art to your own home. Some of these kind artists have made a selection of great movie posters from our past screenings available for auction, as a fundraiser for Metro Cinema.

Follow this link to bid on fan favourite movie posters that were designed by members of our outstanding volunteer team. Winners will receive a beautiful high quality 11×17 print and the proceeds will help our organization weather this challenging time.

But wait, there’s more!

The Grand Prize is a custom movie poster! The winner has the opportunity to choose an artist from our list of participating designers to receive a customized, full-size theatrical movie poster for the film of your choice! The Grand Prize includes an authentic cinema poster display case to hang your masterpiece. View all the participating artist’s portfolios below and follow this link to bid on the grand prize!

FAQ

How will the Grand Prize winner select an artist?
• A Metro representative will contact the winner and put them in touch with their choice of artist from our list of participating volunteers. Be sure to check out the participating artist’s portfolios!

How will the artist know what poster to make?
• The winner will get to choose the film and provide some additional details about the film choice. After that, the artist will get to work creating the custom poster masterpiece.

Can I request changes to the finished poster?
• No. Just like when they make a poster for Metro Cinema, the artist will have full creative freedom. You should discuss all ideas during the initial consultation.

How long will it take for the grand prize winner to get their poster?
• Metro Cinema will work with the artist to determine a timeline for the completion of the artwork. Every artist’s process is different and something that cannot be rushed, therefore completion time may vary.

But what will I do with such a giant movie poster?
• Metro Cinema will print the full-size theatrical poster (24 x36 inches) and provide an authentic cinema poster display case for you to hang your poster in.

How can I pay for my item if I have the winning bid?
• A Metro representative will be in touch to arrange for payment with options that include, Credit, Debit, Cash, or Cheque.

What if I can’t pick up the prize if I win?
• Shipping may be arranged as an additional cost, separate from the value of the winning bid.

Fundraising Campaign

Hello Metro Cinema supporters,

Metro Cinema is back open and we are excited to be screening films again! The bustle of filmgoers and the smell of fresh popcorn is a delight to the senses. Though our capacity is reduced, we are programming a familiar mix of indie new releases and nostalgic favourites, with the same commitment to providing a platform for local filmmakers and artists, but with enhanced safety procedures.

Metro has always relied on support from our community and given the new constraints we are facing, that support is more vital than ever. We are now experiencing the added challenges of more than 80% reduced capacity, costly safety measures, and a quickly evolving film exhibition landscape.

A donation to Metro Cinema Society will have the following direct impacts to your community:

  • Ensure that Edmontonians can continue to enjoy the historic Garneau Theatre as it was intended.
  • Allow us to continue bringing new, exciting, and different films to the screen.
  • Provide local filmmakers, artists, and musicians with a safe space to present their art.

Enjoying a movie at the Garneau Theatre is great entertainment and an escape from the daily grind, but the art form of film also has the ability to soothe, heal, and comfort us in darker times. It can empower and elevate the voices of the underrepresented, and shine a light on unfamiliar worlds. This is what film means to us at Metro and why we are so passionate about what we do. Whether you are looking to get your mind off of something or turn your mind on to something new, Metro Cinema welcomes you back to the Garneau to laugh, cry, and grow with us. Your financial support is absolutely vital to us fulfilling this purpose through these trying times.

 

Please considerer giving at one of the following tiers, or any amount within your means in support of community cinema.

$100 – Altruistic Donor – With a minimum donation of $100 you will receive full society membership, a tax receipt, and the knowledge that you have helped an Edmonton-based organization continue to bring great film, conversation, and experiences to our community.

$500-$999 – Seat-saver Donor – We have 521 seats at Metro Cinema. You can keep one of our seats audience-ready with your $500 membership. Saving a seat for others to enjoy the Metro Cinema experience has its own feel-good rewards and, because we know you love it, 10 free small popcorns. You will also receive full society membership and a tax receipt.

$1000-$4999 – Row-saver Donor – Saving a row of seats for our community is generous and kind. The Row-saver donation comes with full society membership, 10 free admissions to regular Metro Cinema programming, and a tax receipt. **

$5000 and up – Dedicated to Metro Premier Donor – This is our premier donor tier and, as such, comes with big benefits. Along with full society membership, we will help you create a curated film night for you and your guests with a special seat dedication. Your name will be engraved on a seat holder plaque for all to see in recognition of your generous contribution and comes with a tax receipt.

 

**Metro Cinema is a registered charity and is happy to provide tax receipts for donations that meet current Canada Revenue Agency policies regarding memberships. Metro Cinema is a not for profit Society, and we are responsive to the ideas and desires of our membership. These members have an opportunity to help shape the future of Metro by voting in general meetings, electing the volunteer board of directors, and supporting film and the arts in Edmonton.

Metro Cinema Society membership is valid from the date of purchase until the next Annual General Meeting (held each year in November).

 

Sincerely,


Dan Smith,
Executive Director
Metro Cinema

 

Metro Cinema Reopening

Metro is back!

We’re so excited to announce our return to theatrical screenings and welcome audiences back to the Garneau Theatre, beginning July 10, 2020. We have been hard at work in these past few weeks making sure our space is safe, comfortable, and outfitted with new health and safety measures. We want to thank everyone for the ongoing support throughout this shutdown and for your patience as we have taken the extra time to plan our reopening. Our community has shown us so much kindness in these difficult weeks and we are profoundly grateful. Things are going to look a little different at the Garneau for a while. We still have great programming and delicious popcorn, but you can now also expect:

  • At least two metres of distance between seats, with accommodation for family units and cohorts
  • Cashless and tap payment options at our concession and box office
  • Enhanced sanitation procedures including regular disinfecting of auditorium seating
  • 20% capacity in our spacious 500 seat auditorium
  • PPE for our staff and guests
  • So much hand sanitizer!

Please check out the full details of our new safety measures and practices before stopping by to enjoy a film!

 

Our Programming Schedule
As part of our gradual reopening plan, we return with a limited, weekend-only screening schedule. This will allow us plenty of time for cleaning between shows and gives us a sustainable way to operate such a large space at a 20% capacity. We are eager to expand our schedule as soon as is reasonable and will do so as soon as we are able. In the meantime, you can check in weekly at metrocinema.org to see the great films we have in store each weekend!

 

Renting the Theatre
Maybe you and your cohort family are interested in a private movie party. Or perhaps your business is looking for a unique opportunity for conference space. If you would like to host a private event here at the Garneau Theatre, check out our updated rental details here or get in touch at info@metrocinema.org.

We look forward to experiencing cinema together again!

 

Opening Weekend Titles:

First Cow
USA 2020, 122 min, Dir: Kelly Reichardt

Two travelers, on the run from a band of vengeful hunters in the 1820s Northwest, dream of striking it rich, but their tenuous plan to make their fortune on the frontier comes to rely on the secret use of a landowner’s prized dairy cow.
Friday July 10 @ 7PM, Sunday July 12 @ 3PM

 

Moonrise Kingdom
USA 2012, 94 min, Dir: Wes Anderson

A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out to find them.
Saturday July 11 @ 7PM

Job Posting – Summer Administrative Assistant

Temporary Position Available

Administrative Assistant

Metro Cinema Society

 

Job Posting – Summer Administrative Assistant

Metro Cinema Society

Metro Cinema is Edmonton’s community movie house, dedicated to the presentation of film and video in many forms. We program and host a thousand events each year at the historic Garneau Theatre. Metro is seeking an engaged and passionate student to spend a summer helping to shape the future of Metro.  This position will run approximately 16 weeks, starting on or around July 20th.

The Administrative Assistant will be working directly with the Executive Director and board committees to plan, coordinate, and execute future film programming, fundraising initiatives, outreach to community stakeholders, and daily operations. They will assist the staff in adapting many longstanding processes to the circumstances of Covid-19. Exact duties will be tailored, as much as possible, to the successful applicants’ specific skills and interests.

The successful applicant will be comfortable with both self-directed and team-based work environments, possess strong oral and written communication skills, and have experience with creative programming and event management. Familiarity with the film industry, marketing and communications systems, event management, and customer service are all assets but not required.

This position will be funded in part through the Canada Summer Jobs program. Special consideration may be given to applicants between the ages of 15 and 30, and to full-time students returning to studies in the fall.

Cover letter and resume may be sent in confidence to director@metrocinema.org.  The deadline for applications is July 13th 2020.

 

Click to download a PDF of the job posting.

 

Metro Cinema Relaunch Statement

As you may know, cinemas around the province have recently been given the guidance to light up their screens and start welcoming back moviegoers as our province launches into Phase 2. We here at Metro Cinema couldn’t be more excited to open our doors and start showing films again. It is important that when we open, we provide a safe, sanitary, comfortable, and enjoyable environment for all our patrons and staff, so we are now working to implement all of the guidance from Alberta Health Services. Community safety will be a top priority as we move towards our re-launch. For now, our screen will remain dim as we work towards an opening date that works for all involved.

Our new operations and procedures will include:

  • At least 2m of distance between seats, with accommodation for family units and cohorts
  • Cashless and no contact payment options
  • Staff PPE and enhanced sanitation procedures including regular disinfecting of auditorium seating
  • Reduced capacity to allow for ease of social distancing
  • New packaging for Edmonton’s best theatre popcorn
  • So much hand sanitizer!

The support from our community through this time period has been amazing. Edmontonians have shown a level of generosity and care for one another that we can all be proud of and we are glad that we can once again open our doors as a community hub and celebrate film with everyone. We will be announcing our official re-launch date and upcoming programming very shortly and we look forward to seeing you all out at the movies. Until then our top priority is making sure that our venue is safe for everyone.

 

Sincerely,

Dan Smith
Executive Director

Download Metro Cinema Relaunch Statement

Support Metro Cinema! COVID-19 Emergency Campaign

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Metro Cinema closed its doors on March 16, 2020. Our utmost priority is the safety of our community, patrons, volunteers, and staff. At Metro Cinema, our mandate is to bring people together through film and media art, and while our physical space is closed to help “flatten the curve” of transmission, we will continue to promote great movies and a sense of community, any way we can.

These recent events have given us time to reflect on what community means to us. Our shared spaces and experiences carry a new level of importance. Though we are now apart, isolated from one another, we do believe that it is kindness, community, and human connection that will carry us through this. We also believe that this new appreciation for community is not a fleeting moment, but that it will form the foundation of the “new normal” we find on the other side of this. We are certain that Metro Cinema’s role in the community will be more important than ever in the months and years ahead.

When it is safe to do so, we hope to open our doors and help bring a sense of normalcy back to daily life but we will need the community’s help to do so. This interruption in our operation puts a significant strain on our finances and threatens our future. We are seeking emergency support at this time, so that we can continue to be Edmonton’s home to gather, and share great film experiences for many years to come.

You can contribute to our emergency funding campaign here. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Donations of $100 or more, as well as Silver Screen passholders, are also eligible for Metro Cinema Society membership!

If donating isn’t an option for you at this time, there are still ways you can help us!

  • Attend one of our Virtual Screenings. We’ve partnered with distributors to bring art house titles to you at home – 50% of the screening fee goes to us. 
  • Book our marquee for a special message! It’s a unique and safe way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Email info@metrocinema.org if you’re interested! 
  • Purchase passes from our online store. Our passes have no expiry and come in Adult or Student/Senior options. 
  • Purchase a Silver Screen Pass, which will get you single non-transferable admission to more than 800 Metro screenings each year, and some screenings by partners and renters of the Garneau. 
  • Amplify us on social media. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Like, comment, and share our posts. Tag us with the movies you’re watching and what you’re doing to stay busy. 
  • Purchase a Metro Cinema t-shirt from Print Machine, whose #HereforGood campaign helps small business in Edmonton. Our shirt features a custom design from poster favourite Borys Tarasenko – it’s the perfect fashion for self-isolating or video calls!

Your support will not only help us to continue to bring community through cinema, but it also lets us know that cinema is worth fighting for.

Time Enough Vodcast

The Time Enough Vodcast is an opportunity to meet some of the staff, volunteers, and board members that make Metro Cinema what it is. While we observe the current recommended social isolation and quarantine conditions, we’ll also be checking in on a few folks and discussing the various ways in which we’re all filling our time during this unexpected hiatus. Keep your eyes peeled on Metro Cinema’s social media channels for updates, but otherwise, stay safe, and enjoy!

We’ve put all of the vodcast episodes into a single playlist, so you can skip to whichever video you like through the top right icon.

Give Yourself a Break! COVID-19 Diversions

It can be tempting to try and fill all of our newfound time at home with productivity. Downtime is crucial to your mental, emotional, and creative well-being, though, which is just as important as your physical health. Share your suggestions or the diversions you’ve been up to!

Metro Cinema Crosswords

Fun Stuff

 

Keep Yourself Informed! COVID-19 Resources

Community is more important now than ever, and even though our doors are closed, we’re still here to support you. Here are a number of resources for your physical, mental, and financial health and well being.

Local Resources

Provincial Health Resources

National Health Resources

International Health Resources

Economic Resources