Photo courtesy of cinéSPEAK

Local cinephiles will have to wait until at least the Fall for the launch of cinéSPEAK’s brick-and-mortar microcinema in West Philly. The new 75-seat theater was originally planned to open at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community at 48th and Baltimore in June, but the COVID-19 pandemic made these plans impossible.

In the meantime, the organization, which has been holding mobile film screenings for almost seven years, has launched a virtual cinema featuring independent titles from around the world previously only available in-theater. Each week, cinéSPEAK premieres entertaining and provocative domestic and international cinematic works. 

This Friday, May 1, cinéSPEAK will present three new titles from Kino Lorber, Outsider Pictures and Oscilloscope Laboratories: Capital in 21st Century, Nuestras Madres / Our Mothers, and The Infiltrators. Tickets are $12 and 50 percent of all sales directly benefit cinéSPEAK’s current and future operations – including their West Philadelphia brick-and-mortar cinema launch. For more information, to watch the trailers and register for special events accompanying the screenings, go to cinéSPEAK’s Facebook event page.

cinéSPEAK presents globally-minded independent and repertory film programming, focusing on the stories of individuals and communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream cinema. The emerging independent cinema, founded by West Philly resident Sarah Mueller, engages diverse audiences, promotes community togetherness and encourages people to demand social justice both on-screen and throughout society.

To keep up with cinéSPEAK’s news and upcoming events, check out their Facebook page, while their website is under construction.