Latest news with #VivianMarthell
CBS News
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
O Cinema responds to Miami Beach's eviction threat over documentary "No Other Land"
Civil rights groups, community leaders and artists are coming to the defense of the O Cinema theater on South Beach, which has been threatened with eviction for its screenings of the controversial film No Other Land . On Tuesday, Vivian Marthell, the CEO of O Cinema, was joined by representatives from the ACLU, the Miami Light Project and the Community Justice Project to discuss the First Amendment concerns raised by Miami Beach's threat of eviction and withdrawal of approximately $40,000 in city grant funding. "O Cinema has long been known for its commitment to presenting a wide range of voices and viewpoints. The ability to document history and share diverse perspectives is a fundamental First Amendment right—one that cannot be erased or suppressed simply because those in power disapprove of a particular message," O Cinema said in a statement. The documentary No Other Land , made by a Palestinian-Israeli team, shows a group of Palestinian villages' interaction with the Israeli military in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank. It has received international acclaim and was recently awarded the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Every screening at O Cinema has been sold out. Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner calls the movie antisemitic and a "…one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people…" On Wednesday, the city's commission will vote on a resolution to "terminate for convenience the O Cinema lease" and "immediately discontinue grant funding." In a statement, the Jewish Voice for Peace South Florida said, "The Mayor's attacks on the film are unfounded, unconstitutional, and reflect not only his own support for Israel, but also his unwillingness to allow points of view critical of Israel."
Axios
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
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."
