FilmScene in Iowa City announces plan for second screen

IOWA CITY - FilmScene is hoping to expand.

The non-profit cinema in downtown Iowa City announced plans Dec. 1 for a second screen at its current location on the Pedestrian Mall. The Screening Room would have 40 seats, an addition to the 65-seat theater FilmScene has operated since opening in fall 2013.

The theater has previously announced plans for operations at the Chauncey, a 15-story mixed-use tower proposed by local developer Marc Moen just east of downtown Iowa City. That development is tied up in court however, with formal objections filed against related rezonings by neighboring Trinity Episcopal Church and another by citizen group Iowa Coalition Against the Shadow.

The theater is turning to its existing building to expand in the meantime.

'Over our first two years, we've shown over 400 feature films on a single screen,” wrote FilmScene executive director Joe Tiefenthaler in a statement about the second screen. 'We've done a lot with our limited resources, but to serve Iowa City's movie lovers better we need additional screen space.”

Plans call for the Screening Room to be located in gallery space adjacent to the entrance corridor to FilmScene's lobby at 118 E. Washington St. The space will be outfitted with an additional screen, projection and sound equipment, curtains and acoustic treatments and lighting and space improvements.

The project will cost about $30,000, and the theater is currently fundraising for the effort. The room will hopefully be able to open in early 2016, said Film Scene co-founder Andrew Sherburne.