The century-old Mariemont Theatre, the Village of Mariemont's longtime neighborhood cinema, is getting a nonprofit second act. Cindependent, the Cincinnati film nonprofit best known for its annual festival, has stepped in as steward and says it will repair the building, upgrade projection and sound, and run a year-round slate of independent, international, and family films. Organizers say community donations have already unlocked equipment orders, and they are aiming for a mid-summer reopening.
Cindependent announced in late January that it would take over operations from the private group that also runs the Esquire and Kenwood theatres. The operator closed the building in February at the owner's request, leaving the six-screen cinema dark while transition plans were worked out, according to WXIX-Fox19.
How Cindependent plans to run the theatre
Cindependent has published a three-phase revitalization plan, titled "Restore and Reopen," "Repair and Reimagine" and "Program and Sustain." The plan prioritizes new projection and sound equipment, accessibility improvements, and lobby and auditorium repairs. The effort is being led by founder and executive director Allyson West and an advisory committee of local civic leaders, and West has framed the move as more than a simple business shift. "This is about more than movies; it's about preserving a community treasure," she said. The nonprofit says its model will lean on memberships, rentals, and philanthropic support to keep the venue affordable and artistically ambitious, as detailed by WCPO.
Funding and a realistic timetable
Local leaders and grassroots donors have pushed the campaign close to a seven-figure target, allowing Cindependent to put down a sizable deposit on projection and sound systems, organizers told WLWT. Mariemont, Fairfax, and Columbia Township each pledged $25,000 toward the equipment order, and Cindependent says the deposit unlocks an estimated 12-week timeline to reopen after equipment is delivered, per local reporting. The group still plans further fundraising to cover building repairs, concessions and a reserve for early operations, so the financial curtain does not drop just as the lights come back up.
Programming and festival ties
Cindependent says the Mariemont will remain a neighborhood arthouse and also serve as a year-round home for filmmakers, workshops and youth programs. The organization has registered the theater with ArtHouse Convergence to align programming with other nonprofit cinemas. Cindependent plans to fold the venue into its festival calendar: the 2026 Cindependent Film Festival is slated for Sept. 16-20 and will be presented with Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled (LADD), according to Cindependent. Memberships called "Friends of the Mariemont Theatre" are designed to give locals early access to tickets and a say in programming.
What comes next
Village officials and the Spinnenweber family, which owns the building, have publicly welcomed nonprofit stewardship and support for the project, while Cindependent says it plans to retain the theatre's current employees during the transition, as noted on Mariemont Theatre. A Village of Mariemont memo shows council leaders and neighboring jurisdictions pledged funds that helped unlock the equipment order, according to the village document. Organizers say they will publish showtimes once systems are installed and inspections are complete, and they are continuing outreach to members, volunteers, and filmmakers to shape the reopening season.
