FLIFF to Open Additional Venu

FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TO REOPEN THE ICONIC GATEWAY THEATRE

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Fort Lauderdale, FL (April 28, 2021) — In March 2020, the COVID pandemic shuttered Broward County’s oldest movie theatre, The Classic Gateway Theatre, which has lain dormant now for more than a year.

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) is about to change that, as FLIFF has entered into an agreement with the property management company, Smith Moses Morris and Associates, to lease the iconic theatre. Gregory von Hausch, President and CEO of the Film Festival, and Managing Director Heather Gilchrist negotiated and brought the deal to fruition.

“This past year has been a great challenge for all of us. With the addition of the Gateway Theatre, we look forward to celebrating a post-pandemic film renaissance with a wide array of offerings, special events and viewing options,” commented von Hausch. “The Gateway has a rich history in South Florida, and having a theatre with four screens and 690 seats will make a tremendous difference in what we can offer to the film-loving community,” added von Hausch.

Along with an enthusiastic Board of Directors, longtime FLIFF Superstar member and donor Scott Bennett had championed the idea of having the festival add the Gateway’s four-plex to their present single screen venues at Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale and Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood. To help facilitate the deal, Bennett made a generous initial investment this year, with a commitment to provide annual donations in 2022 and 2023 through the Scott L. Bennett Charitable Fund at Our Fund Foundation.  Board member and volunteer director Janet Schwartz also provided additional funding.

“After many years of presenting films at Cinema Paradiso and Savor Cinema, we are excited to take the next step in growing our festival, as well as increasing our year-round offerings of diverse films and special events,” commented Skip Margerum, FLIFF Chairman of the Board

Bennett noted “It was important to me personally and as Board Chair of Our Fund Foundation to assist in the growth opportunity for FLIFF to provide the movie programming which had long been presented at the Classic Gateway Theatre. The entire Fort Lauderdale community will benefit from the continuation of this iconic theatre.”

FLIFF plans to reopen the theatre, with a return to its original name The Gateway Theatre, Memorial Day Weekend – – just one month before the ground-breaking ceremony 71 years ago on June 30, 1950.

The Gateway quickly gained a reputation as a location for world premieres. The theatre opened its doors on March 24, 1951 with a parade down Sunrise Boulevard and the world premiere of Bill Mauldin’s comedy Up Front starring David Wayne. On December 21, 1960, the Fort Lauderdale Spring Break production, “Where the Boys Are” made its world premiere, with appearances by several of the film’s celebrated stars, including: Paula Prentis, Tim Hutton, Maggie Pierce, and producer Joe Pasternak putting Fort Lauderdale on the map as the Spring Break capital. Back then the Gateway housed a single auditorium of 1,600 seats, but with the increased popularity of multiplex theatres, in 1976 it was divided into two auditoriums, and in 1984 it featured four auditoriums.

Corporate sponsorships are available to help with the cost of renovating areas of the theatre and to create a sleek, fresh new look that will add nuance and panache, while retaining the existing charm.  Renovations and upgrades are planned for the lobby concession and bar, restrooms, outdoor lighting, and a reimagined walkway among other updates.

For further information on sponsorships and benefits, email Gregory von Hausch at Greg@fliff.com

About Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) is presented by the Broward County Film Society, a 501c3 not for profit organization committed to showcasing and celebrating the best in independent and international films. The organization programs and operates Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale and Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood, two year-round arthouse cinemas that screen the same great films audiences expect from FLiFF almost every day of the year; offers FLiFF OnDemand virtual cinema so that audiences can stream festival-worthy films from home; produces satellite festivals—from St. Augustine to the Bahamas to the Arctic Circle and beyond,—and a variety of cinema-centered experiences through FLiFF On Location; and provides educational programming, resources, and recognition to emerging filmmakers via FutureMakers.

About Our Fund

Founded in 2011 by community activists and philanthropists who observed that LGBTQ causes in the region were under-funded, Our Fund Foundation was launched to create the most livable community in the country for LGBTQ people in South Florida.  Following the model of community foundations across the country, Our Fund strengthens community agencies and their leaders, mobilizes donors and inspires giving.  In its first 10 years, Our Fund has secured an asset base of $20M+ and annually grants out $1.5M to local agencies in support of LGBTQ causes and programs.