As the Globe Theater goes up for sale, downtown movie theaters are dwindling

Many in Calgary's film industry are worried about the potential sale of another iconic downtown theater and what it could mean for the local arts scene.

The owners of Globe Cinema are currently looking for a buyer.

Having screened independent and smaller films for decades, the venue is considered a cultural hub and the last of its kind in Calgary.

“We've basically made the Globe our home,” said Brenda Lieberman, head of the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF). “We can't imagine where and how the festival would be if it wasn't here.”

This may ultimately be the story that happened.

Lieberman believes a sale isn't imminent, but eventually Globe will be turned upside down. If so, it wouldn't be the first loss of an independent cinema in Calgary.

Some old theaters — like the one in Eau Claire — will be torn down for housing and transit. Others, such as the Bolshoi or the Palace Theater, have been transformed from mere cinema venues into multi-purpose event spaces.

Some old theaters — like the one in Eau Claire — will be torn down for housing and transit. Others, such as the Bolshoi or the Palace Theater, have been transformed from mere cinema venues into multi-purpose event spaces.

This left the film industry somewhat behind.

“These spaces are going away and they're not coming back,” said Catherine Penhale, acting executive director of the Calgary International Film Festival. “Without these spaces, we're going to have a hard time promoting Alberta and Alberta content.”

CIFF also used Globe chairs for a long time.

Next year, it will switch locations to a notification location. Penhale says the festival will miss the atmosphere of Globe.

“Overall, the screening capability in downtown Calgary is at very existential risk,” he told CTV News. “Whoever buys it, whether it's an angel investor or a private corporation — if they don't have a mandate to create access for local artists and local festivals, we're going to struggle a little bit.” Right now, all of our cinema-ready spaces are privately owned, so we represent the whims of the business.”

The good news? Representatives of CUFF and CIFF believe that the current owner of the building is in no rush to sell the still profitable building.

CTV News reached out to Riley's Enterprise Solutions for more information about the sale.

We have not received a response at the time of publication.