Sundance Cinemas
Encyclopedia
Sundance Cinemas is a movie theatre owned by Robert Redford
's Sundance Group
that aims to showcase independent, documentary and foreign-language films as well as some studio projects.
Paul Richardson, President and CEO and Bert Manzari, President of Film and Marketing, have a long and successful career in the motion picture theatrical business. Co-founders of Landmark Theatres
, they formed a partnership over 30 years ago and built the largest and most successful independent film theater circuit in the United States. With 33 locations, the theaters were held up as the industry standard for their respectful presentation of art, independent, and world cinema. Richardson and Manzari's reputation in the industry is stellar, and their relationships with filmmakers, distribution head and other exhibitors are unrivaled in the industry.
In 2005, they approached Robert Redford
to help make a long-standing dream come true; to extend the Sundance
brand into the world of motion picture exhibition.
The first such cinema, Sundance 608
, opened May 11, 2007 at the Hilldale Shopping Center
in Madison, Wisconsin
, and contains six stadium-seated auditoriums, along with a cafe, bistro, bar, rooftop bar, and Gallery 608, which sells local and Sundance-related arts and merchandise. A second cinema, the Sundance Kabuki located in San Francisco, California
, re-opened on December 14, 2007. Sundance Cinema's third theater is located within the Bayou Place
development in downtown Houston, Texas
. The new eight screen theater opened in November 2011 after a $2.25 million renovation.
The company hopes to have about 100 screens nationwide by 2012.
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
's Sundance Group
Sundance Group
In 1969, Robert Redford purchased at the base of Mount Timpanogos in Utah's Wasatch Mountains. He named this land Sundance...
that aims to showcase independent, documentary and foreign-language films as well as some studio projects.
Paul Richardson, President and CEO and Bert Manzari, President of Film and Marketing, have a long and successful career in the motion picture theatrical business. Co-founders of Landmark Theatres
Landmark Theatres
Landmark Theatres is the largest art house movie theater chain in the United States. It is owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner through their 2929 Entertainment. The chain shows mostly first run independent, foreign film, and restored classics though some Landmark theaters also show more mainstream...
, they formed a partnership over 30 years ago and built the largest and most successful independent film theater circuit in the United States. With 33 locations, the theaters were held up as the industry standard for their respectful presentation of art, independent, and world cinema. Richardson and Manzari's reputation in the industry is stellar, and their relationships with filmmakers, distribution head and other exhibitors are unrivaled in the industry.
In 2005, they approached Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
to help make a long-standing dream come true; to extend the Sundance
Sundance
Sundance Resort is a ski resort located northeast of Provo, Utah, spanning over on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos in Utah's Wasatch Range. Snow skiing began on the site in 1944...
brand into the world of motion picture exhibition.
The first such cinema, Sundance 608
Sundance 608
Sundance 608 is the first of the Sundance Cinemas, a branch in the Sundance Group, to open in the United States, just ahead of San Francisco's Sundance Kabuki Theater. Sundance 608's grand opening in its new green setting was held on May 11, 2007. It is located in the Hilldale Shopping Center in...
, opened May 11, 2007 at the Hilldale Shopping Center
Hilldale Shopping Center
Hilldale Shopping Center, also known locally as Hilldale, is a partially enclosed shopping mall in Madison, Wisconsin. Originally opened in October 1962, Hilldale has two anchor stores, Macy's and Metcalfe's Supermarket, the Sundance 608 movie theaters, and over 50 specialty stores .- History...
in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, and contains six stadium-seated auditoriums, along with a cafe, bistro, bar, rooftop bar, and Gallery 608, which sells local and Sundance-related arts and merchandise. A second cinema, the Sundance Kabuki located in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, re-opened on December 14, 2007. Sundance Cinema's third theater is located within the Bayou Place
Bayou Place
Bayou Place is an 130,000 square foot entertainment complex that houses multiple theaters, bars and restaurants located in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. The complex was the former Albert Thomas convention center located in the Houston Theater District at 500 Texas Street...
development in downtown Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. The new eight screen theater opened in November 2011 after a $2.25 million renovation.
The company hopes to have about 100 screens nationwide by 2012.