Savor Cinema

Savor Cinema is a year-round arthouse movie theater located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is operated by the Broward County Film Society, the not-for-profit organization behind the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF). The theater is one of Broward County's only year-round arthouse cinemas, alongside its sister venue Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood, Florida. Its building, constructed in 1947 as the First Methodist Church of Fort Lauderdale, is notable for its old-world architecture and stained-glass windows, and it now functions as both a cinema and an event venue. The theater's programming is closely tied to FLIFF, which was established in 1986 and presents more than 60 American independent and international films during its annual festival each February. Savor Cinema also screens the latest American indie and international films daily throughout the year. The venue features 212 plush faux-leather rocker stadium seats, a full proscenium stage with state-of-the-art lighting, audio and projection systems, and a large furnished courtyard used for receptions, parties and networking events. The building has a layered history. After serving as a church, it was used by Broward County for functions reportedly ranging from a family-counseling center to narcotics storage for the courthouse. In the mid-1980s it was retrofitted as a stage theater for actress, director and playwright Vinnette Carroll, becoming the Vinnette Carroll Theater. In the late 1990s, management was handed to the Broward County Film Society, which renovated it for film projection. Around 2000 it opened as the Festival Arts Cinema, primarily used for the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and was eventually renamed Cinema Paradiso. A later renovation updated projection and sound equipment, redid the seating platform, installed plush velvet seats, and refreshed the theater and lobby. Today the theater remains operated by the Broward County Film Society and serves as its headquarters, and it is featured predominantly during the annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

Savor Cinema occupies a building constructed in 1947 as the First Methodist Church of Fort Lauderdale, at the site of Fort Lauderdale's first church. After the congregation moved to a larger location, the building came under the charge of Broward County, where it reportedly hosted functions ranging from a family-counseling center to narcotics storage for the courthouse. In the mid-1980s the building was retrofitted as a stage theater for actress, director and playwright Vinnette Carroll, the first African-American woman to direct a Broadway show, and it became known as the Vinnette Carroll Theater. In the late 1990s, after Carroll fell ill and activity in the theater declined, the County handed management of the building to the Broward County Film Society. A second renovation fitted the existing theater with film projection equipment. Around 2000, the movie theater opened as the Festival Arts Cinema, primarily used for the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. It was eventually renamed Cinema Paradiso, in homage to the Oscar-winning film that featured a church turned movie house, and opened as a year-round art house cinema. A few years later the theater underwent a third renovation, updating projection and sound equipment, redoing the seating platform (eliminating the theater-in-the-round feature that was not conducive to movie watching), installing plush velvet seats, and cosmetically updating the theater and lobby. Today the theater is still operated by the Broward County Film Society, functioning as its headquarters, and is featured predominantly during the annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. The venue now operates under the name Savor Cinema and features 212 plush faux-leather rocker stadium seats, a full proscenium stage with state-of-the-art lighting, audio and projection systems, and a large furnished courtyard for receptions, parties and networking events.

• 2000

  Movie theater opens as the Festival Arts Cinema, primarily used for FLIFF.

• 1986

  Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) established.

• 1947

  Building constructed as the First Methodist Church of Fort Lauderdale.

• Building retrofitted as a stage theater for Vinnette Carroll, becoming the Vinnette Carroll Theater.

• Broward County hands management to the Broward County Film Society; second renovation adds film projection equipment.

• Renamed Cinema Paradiso and opens as a year-round art house cinema.

• Third renovation updates projection and sound, redoes seating platform, installs plush velvet seats.

• Theater operates as Savor Cinema, serving as FLIFF headquarters and primary festival venue.

A historic, non-profit arthouse cinema and event venue in downtown Fort Lauderdale, serving as the headquarters and primary festival venue of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

• Year-round arthouse film screenings

• Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival programming

• Event venue rental (receptions, parties, networking)

• Proscenium stage with lighting, audio and projection systems

1. 1Fort Lauderdale Film Festival – Fort Lauderdale Film Festival + FLIFF Cinemasfliff.org
2. 2History of Savor Cinema – Fort Lauderdale Film Festivalfliff.org
3. 3About – Fort Lauderdale Film Festivalfliff.org
4. 4Savor Cinema – Wikidatawikidata.org