‘New chapter’ for independent Montreal cinema after Denis Villeneuve donation
Global News
Cinéma du Parc said Quebec-born director Denis Villeneuve is the latest big-name director to show his support for a cherished local theatre.
At a time when many independent movie theatres in Canada are struggling, one Montreal cinema says it is entering “a new chapter” after receiving a major donation from Quebec filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.
Cinéma du Parc announced this week that the Quebec-born director behind “Dune” and other Hollywood blockbusters is the latest big-name director to show his support for a cherished local theatre. He has given an undisclosed amount to help ensure the long-term financial security of the movie house where he has long attended screenings.
The theatre is unveiling a new look on Thursday after spending more than $1.4 million on a facelift. Located in the basement of a shopping centre near McGill University, the cinema’s mezzanine has been overhauled and the theatre’s interior boasts red drapes reminiscent of David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.” Even the bathroom stalls have been upgraded with portraits of movie characters.
Speaking with The Canadian Press, Roxanne Sayegh, the theatre’s executive director, says attendance remains good and the cinema is financially sound, but the money from Villeneuve will help provide much-needed “stability” in the coming years.
“(Villeneuve) knew it was going to be a major investment for the cinema, and he believed in our mission. It’s a cinema that has been also very important in him becoming a filmmaker,” she said in an interview. “He’s been coming to Cinéma du Parc for decades, so I when I reached out to him he accepted to support our cinema.”
This is not the first time Villeneuve has given money to the non-profit team that runs Cinéma du Parc. Last year, Villeneuve donated another sum to Cinéma Beaubien, a Montreal independent movie theatre that is overseen by the same administration.
Sayegh says such support is critical at a time when so many cinemas are struggling.
In March, the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors published a survey of nearly 70 different independent film exhibitors in Canada between December 2023 and February 2024. It found that the industry was in a state of “crisis,” with 60 per cent of respondents saying they operated at a loss at the end of their most recent financial year.
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