Independent Film Center to Open This Fall

Earlier this month, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) approved the plans for a 3,000-square-foot theater building in the Tisbury Marketplace complex in Vineyard Haven. Applicant Reid “Sam” Dunn, an architect and developer of the Tisbury Marketplace, will own the building. Dunn plans to lease the building for 15 years to Richard Paradise, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society (MVFS) a member supported nonprofit. The MVFS holds film screenings throughout the year at different Island theaters and produces the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival every fall.

The proposed theater will be built in the corner lot next to Rocco's Restaurant and will hold a 190-seat theater. While Dunn will cover the costs of the building itself, MVFS is responsible for paying for the interior and equipment necessary to make it the first digital cinema on the Island.

Paradise is confident the theater will be a benefit to the entire Island community.

“We’ve collaborated with a lot of nonprofits on the Island up until now and I see us continuing to be a community resource,” said Paradise. “Other nonprofits need a place to do their thing, be it the chamber music society, or improv organizations, they will be able to use of film center for their program needs.”

MVFS plans to follow the model of what Paradise calls, “a legitimate film center.” This includes showing films that are small releases and independent titles and also hosting panels, speakers and discussions centered around film and the arts. Paradise said he has no interest in competing with other Island commercial theaters.

“Even our children’s programming will have an art-house independent focus. We won’t be playing "The Chipmunks" movie, that’s better suited to the Island’s other theaters,” he said.

The theater will have only one screen, but Paradise plans to keep that one screen going all year long showing Hollywood classics, matinee screenings of films for seniors during winter months and maybe late night shows during summer months.

“It’s going to be a seven day a week, year round endeavor and that’s the most exciting thing,” said Paradise.

With the MVC’s approval, the next step for Dunn and Paradise is to secure bank funding for the project and since MVFS is a nonprofit, it means they have had to kick into fundraising mode very fast. According to Paradise, the MVFS has never had to do major fundraising until now. 

“We’ve never had to ask the public for money to operate,” said Paradise. “We’ve always been able to cover our costs through memberships and volunteers.”

Paradise and Dunn plan to have the building ready in time for the film festival this coming September.