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Fundraisers shine for Star Cinema

Sidney's one and only movie theatre seeks funds to stay afloat

Star Cinema has sealed a deal to get new seating and is getting closer to its fundraising goal to purchase new digital projectors.

The theatre has been raising funds for a few months to make much-needed improvements to the community movie theatre, which has served Sidney for 14 years.

“We only started [raising money] three months ago so it’s really encouraging that the community has come together to help out this much,” said theatre manager Lindsay Pomper. “It’s amazing to see the community come together and respond like this and we are so grateful.”

The theatre was selling seats to raise money to upgrade them. The sold seats will be inscribed with a name requested by the purchaser. Some purchasers bought the chairs, which were valued between $150 and $1,000, in memory of loved ones, and others bought them to put their grandchildren’s names on them, said theatre advocate Susan Simosko.

The seats have already sold out, helping the Star raise $83,845.20. The theatre is now on to its next goal of purchasing digital projectors to replace their current 35mm projectors.

“We have a real need for the projectors,” Pomper said. “With film for the projectors we have being discontinued in the next year or so, we need to make the upgrade to digital.”

The Star’s goal is to raise $200,000 in order to be able to cover the seat upgrades and the costs of the two digital projectors they plan on purchasing.

The community will have another chance to support the theatre this month with a benefit concert taking place Sunday, Sept. 16.

The concert, A Starry Afternoon of Music, will run from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Beacon Park. It will feature Bayside Big Band and The Islanders, and Star Cinema will provide popcorn.

“The concert is not only a way for us to raise money for the Save Star Cinema fund but it’s also a way for us to say thank you,” Pomper said.

The concert is a free event but all donations from admission and refreshments will go towards the Save Star Cinema fund.

For more information or to donate, visit www.starcinema.ca or call 250-655-3384.