20-02-2025
O Cinema announces second location, mainland expansion
O Cinema, Miami's beloved nonprofit indie theater, announced plans this week for expanding to Little River — and it's asking its fans to help.
The big picture: Since 2011, the theater has offered unique and accessible cinema programming to the 305 — from foreign-language and first-run films to the annual Oscar Nominated Short Films event.
Now, it's planning to once again bring its mission to the mainland with a second location.
Catch up quick: The cinema has been on the Beach since 2019, when its original Wynwood location was replaced by an apartment building.
It took over the former home of the Byron Carlyle Theatre in North Beach before settling into its current location in South Beach.
Driving the news: In a social media post Wednesday, the cinema announced a $2.75 million expansion campaign to complete the Little River project by June: "Will you join us in making O Cinema bigger and better?"
Money raised will fund three cinemas, a public gallery, and two spaces for community use, plus a lounge and concessions.
Funding will also support staffing and a reserve fund for a 10-year lease. A $750,000 grant from the Knight Foundation has already been secured.
Between the lines: Programming will continue at the South Beach location, as will its partnerships with the Miami Beach Bandshell, the Bass Museum of Art, and Fienberg-Fisher K-8, co-founder Vivian Marthell told Axios.
The intrigue: O Cinema's first location in Wynwood helped reshape the district into an arts hub. Its expansion into Little River could help cement the area as Miami's coolest neighborhood.
In the post, the cinema said it chose Little River because it's "meeting the community where it is."
"O Cinema Little River will thrive in a community already embracing creativity, collaboration and innovation."
