Film buffs have a lot to be excited for in 2023, as Cinema St. Louis has announced their plans to purchase the Hi-Pointe Theatre, the oldest locally owned arthouse theater in St. Louis, as their new base of operations.
Bree Maniscalco, executive director of Cinema St. Louis, notes that the 31-year-old organization has long taken a nomadic approach to their film programming and festivals, but wanted something a bit more permanent.
“Years ago, our former board president Kim Tucci said that he always wanted CInema St. Louis to have a home,” Mansicalco says. This search for a potential home led to conversations with the James family, who have owned the Hi-Pointe since 1977. “When we had a meeting with the family, we put it out there and said, ‘If you ever think of selling the theater, we would be interested,’” Maniscalco says. “And it turns out that the stars aligned.”
Having the Hi-Pointe Theatre as a home base opens up many new possibilities and opportunities for Cinema St. Louis’ future offerings.
“Having a home, we will have a reliable source people know they can turn to for cinematic film experiences that you can’t get elsewhere,” Maniscalco says. “An arthouse cinema has this long, rich tradition of creating programming that is tailored to a community and offers a chance to tell diverse stories and make an affordable experience for everyone.”
Cinema St. Louis plans to build on their existing festivals to include more repertory programming and special screening series throughout the year. They’ve already sought guidance from other arthouse cinemas from around the country to help inform what the future holds for the new space. Additionally, Maniscalco hopes that the increased operations at the Hi-Pointe can help raise funds to support expanding Cinema St. Louis’ educational programming, including turning CSL’s summer filmmaking camps, which are put on in conjunction with the St. Louis Public Library, into a year-round program.
Cinema St. Louis is set to close on the purchase of the Hi-Pointe Theatre in January and will start hosting programming in new space in early 2023.
“We hope to make it a place where everyone feels welcome…everyone’s theater,” Maniscalco says.
