Coral Gables Art Cinema photo
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After a tough year for independent theaters in Miami — with challenges ranging from state budget cuts to a standoff between the City of Miami Beach and O Cinema that hinged on First Amendment rights and went global — local arthouse cinemas appear to be thriving once again. In February, the aforementioned South Beach theater announced plans to open a second location in Little River. Then, in July, Coral Gables Art Cinema unveiled its own expansion plans, including a second auditorium, 4K laser projection, and a lobby café, among other upgrades.
But even as it looks to the future, Gables Cinema is looking back. On October 29, the theater marks its 15th anniversary with a gala celebration including red carpet arrivals, live musical performances, and dancing under the stars in the courtyard of neighboring Books & Books.
Founded in 2010, Gables Cinema is a pioneer of the limited but impactful single-screen cinema scene we know in Miami today. With state-of-the-art projection and the only dedicated 70mm projector in South Florida, the theater quickly distinguished itself from the area’s multiplexes. Its 141-seat auditorium, 4K digital projection, reel-to-reel 35mm, and year-round programming set a standard for what a community cinema could be.
In 2024 alone, the cinema hosted 1,145 screenings — up from 976 the previous year — showing everything from indie gems to Oscar winners. Executive director and programming director Brenda Moe and communications and engagement director Michelle Acosta say membership has grown 63 percent in just two years and now exceeds 2,500. By the end of the year, attendance is projected at 54,000 people.
Moe says those numbers reflect a deep understanding of their audience’s taste. Special highlights in recent years have included the one-week Florida exclusive of Pedro Almodóvar’s Room Next Door and the tenth anniversary of the Miami Children’s Film Festival. Later this month, the theater will host German character actor Udo Kier for cult-classic screenings, Sex and the City actor Mario Cantone for a special preview of Can’t Let It Go, and a 50th-anniversary celebration of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
“We work years ahead to bring these events to Miami,” Moe says of Gables Cinema’s diverse programming. “These are programs that take coordination, vision, and a lot of love for cinema.”
Acosta says one of the theater’s biggest hurdles is not securing the films, but communicating the volume of activity without overwhelming the public. “We do so much — sometimes it’s hard to keep track. My role is to make sure the community knows what’s happening, but in a way that’s clear, inviting, and exciting.”
Now, the cultural stewards at Gables Cinema are looking ahead to their next project, though the road to expansion has not been easy.
Pandemic delays, red tape, and rising costs slowed the project, but momentum has returned. In 2023, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded the theater a $250,000 grant for digital infrastructure, including a Digital Cinema Package production suite to support local filmmakers. With city funding and generous donors, the capital campaign reached its $1.5 million goal.
Still, challenges remain. Inspections and permitting are ongoing, and a $200,000 contingency reserve is still needed. The cinema recently raised $24,000 from 85 gifts to close the gap. Donations can be made via the theater’s More Than A Cinema campaign.
“We’re making steady progress,” says Moe. “We don’t just want to celebrate the past 15 years. We want people to know what’s coming: bigger premieres, more directors, more festivals. That’s what excites us.”
Coral Gables Art Cinema 15th Anniversary Event. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 29, at Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 786-472-2249. Tickets cost $200 via gablescinema.com.
