FilmScene celebrates 100,000th customer

IOWA CITY — On Dec. 23, balloons dropped and Champagne flowed as the staff at FilmScene welcomed Jo and Jim Scott and their family to a screening of 'Manchester by the Sea.'

Three years after the independent theater opened for business on the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City, the Scotts — who are members of the organization — were counted as the 100,000th customers.

'Getting to 100,000 happened a lot faster than we imagined,' said Andrew Sherburne, who founded FilmScene with Andy Brodie in the fall of 2011 and opened the theater, 118 E. College St., Suite 101, on Thanksgiving weekend 2013. 'It speaks to the huge interest for film we brought to downtown Iowa City. It's great to see a community that supports independent cinema and quality film and wants to see it in the kind of environment it's meant to be seen in.'

The Scotts moved to Iowa City from Park City, Utah — home to the Sundance Film Festival — about a year and a half ago and said they were introduced to FilmScene by their daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Dan Cummins.

'We believe in what they're doing,' said Jo Scott. 'I really like film and they show a lot of films you can't get in the regular theaters.

'It's a really great thing for Iowa City.'

Jo and Jim Scott attended the movie on Dec. 23 along with Laurie and Dan Cummins and their daughter Katie, as well as another daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Brad Blomberg and their three children, Andy, Scott and Emily, from West Lafayette, Ind.

'We had no idea they were nearing this landmark,' said Jo Scott, who purchased the tickets. 'We're just standing there in line and all of a sudden this happens. It was a lot of fun.'

FilmScene has two screening rooms. The first, called 'Scene 1,' seats about 65 people. The second, called 'The Screening Room,' opened earlier this year and seats about 35 people.

Sherburne said the first two years, about 31,500 people saw movies at the theater.

'This year, it ticked up a bit with the addition of The Screening Room,' he said. 'That room gives us flexibility to keep films longer and add a few films. Plus, it gives us breathing room and the ability to host special events and community screenings.'

FilmScene operates as a not-for-profit. Admission is charged for films, but memberships at a variety of levels — from $25 to $1,000 — are offered for individuals and families. Sherburne said the membership list has grown to more than 1,000.

FilmScene also relies on corporate sponsors like MidWestOne Bank, which helps present about 30 films each year as part of 'The Picture Show' series for children and families, as well as The Bread Garden, which helps present the Vino Verite series of films during which the company's experts select wine to pair with each film.

Sherburne said the idea behind FilmScene remains simple: bring great films to downtown Iowa City. This past year, they've screened 250 feature films, he said.

'That's a lot for a two-screen cinema,' he added.

The mission, however, is bigger.

'We see this as part of the cultural heart of the community,' said Sherburne. 'We wanted to build a community of movie lovers, not those who wanted to see a movie and then walk out the door to the parking lot, but those who wanted to stick around and have a discussion about the film.

'This is communal and our attendance reflects that. It's a dream come true and a piece we're going to continue to build on as we grow.'

To learn more about FilmScene and all its programs, visit icfilmscene.org.

Here is a look at some of the upcoming shows at FilmScene in downtown Iowa City:

Tuesday

- 'Manchester by the Sea' — 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

- 'The Eagle Huntress' — 6 p.m.

- 'Seasons' — 8 p.m.

Wednesday

- 'Manchester by the Sea' — 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

- 'Seasons' — 6 p.m.

- 'The Eagle Huntress' — 8 p.m.

- 'Beauty Queen Butcher' — 10 p.m.; part of the 'Late Shift at the Grindhouse' series

Thursday

- 'The Secret Life of Pets' — 3 p.m.; part of 'The Picture Show' series

- 'Manchester by the Sea' — 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

- 'The Eagle Huntress' — 6 p.m.

- 'Seasons' — 8 p.m.

Sunday

- 'Do Not Resist' — 7 p.m.; part of the 'Vino Verite' series