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Cinema Paradiso faces funding shortfall after state cut; CRA to explore short- and long-term options
Summary
Cinema Paradiso told the Hollywood CRA on Jan. 15 it faces a $50,000–$80,000 operating shortfall after a reduction in state cultural funding; the CRA will work with the owner and Broward Film Society on short- and longer-term options.
Cinema Paradiso, the downtown film venue on Hollywood Boulevard, informed the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency on Jan. 15 that a recent state funding cut has produced a shortfall in the range of $50,000 to $80,000 and could imperil the theater’s near-term operation.
The Broward Film Society, which operates Cinema Paradiso and a sister venue in Fort Lauderdale, has said it will prioritize the Fort Lauderdale site and is weighing options for the Hollywood location. CRA staff said the organization previously benefited from CRA marketing support but that a 2019 change in state law restricts the CRA’s ability to provide certain marketing subsidies. Board members asked staff to work with the landlord, Ken Siegel, the Broward Film Society and local stakeholders on both short-term bridging strategies and longer-term operator solutions.
Why it matters: board members and staff framed Cinema Paradiso as a cultural anchor for downtown whose programming can draw residents and visitors on foot. The theater’s survival, they said, has implications for downtown foot traffic, restaurants and the CRA’s broader cultural strategy.
What officials said
Lisa Leota, Redevelopment Operations Manager: "Prior to COVID, Cinema Paradiso's numbers were stronger than their sister location in Fort Lauderdale." She told the board the theater’s financial strain is a function both of COVID-era changes in moviegoing and of limited internal marketing capacity at the Broward Film Society; the CRA has historically helped by promoting the venue to downtown audiences.
Board discussion and next steps
Board members suggested short-term fundraising among private owners, condominium associations and downtown businesses; ideas discussed included a coordinated appeal for $5,000–$10,000 contributions from multiple stakeholders. Board members also asked the CRA to require greater reciprocity from the theater — for example, to run public-service announcements or City event promotions on the theater’s screen — if the CRA provides further support.
The CRA will:
- Continue discussions with the Broward Film Society and landlord Ken Siegel and seek commitments from the theater on how the venue will support downtown marketing in exchange for any aid. - Circulate a plan for short-term bridging support and for potential long-term operator alternatives and report back to the board within 60 days.
Board members emphasized they do not want open-ended subsidies without clear deliverables (audience-development commitments, marketing reciprocity, or a viable operating plan). Several members asked staff to obtain the theater’s recent box-office and attendance data before the next report.
Ending
The board agreed to pursue a coordinated short-term rescue plan and to explore a longer-term operator or nonprofit that will actively market and program the venue for downtown audiences. Staff will return with an update and any recommended actions within about 60 days.
