O Cinema Bids Farewell to Wynwood With a Free Party

O Cinema Wynwood is closing this weekend — but not without a final farewell party.

"O Cinema was part of the first wave of Wynwood," explained codirector Kareem Tabsch. "We wanted to honor our friends and say a bye-bye to the neighborhood to thank everyone for supporting."

The art theater, which opened its doors in 2011, will celebrate eight years in Wynwood with a farewell party Saturday, March 16, from 6-9 p.m. The free party will have a guilty-pleasure pop soundtrack by DJ Hottpants. while artists in residence AMLgMATD will be exhibiting "DisPlacement." There will also be complimentary drinks and snacks like popcorn and candy to honor their cinema roots, but don't expect a farewell movie.

"We'll have videos and shorts and fun stuff on the screen from our eight-year history, but this is more for people to congregate and have fun in the space," said codirector Vivian Marthell, who will also be celebrating her birthday that night. "We want this to be a sweet bon voyage."

The closing was first announced back in September to make way for an 11-story apartment-and-retail project called Wynwood Green to be developed by the Miami homebuilding giant Lennar. The building's 189 residential rental units, 324 parking spaces, and about 17,000 square feet of commercial space will tower over the neighborhood.

While those against gentrification might be upset, fans of independent and foreign movies need not get too teary-eyed. This is the end of O Cinema's first location, but the organization continues to screen movies daily at its North Beach location. O Cinema also has "other things in the works," Tabsch says, "including a long-term permanent home you'll probably hear about later this year."

But first, on Saturday night, they will party.

O Cinema Wynwood Closing Party. 6 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at O Cinema Wynwood, 90 NW 29th St., Miami; o-cinema.org. Admission is free.