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Sundance Cinemas Returns
posted by
Ross Melnick
on
March 24, 2006 at 1:01 pm
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Sundance Cinemas, the on again, off again project from Robert Redford’s Sundance Group, seems ready for its close-up after nine long years. The group, led by former Landmark Theatres executives Paul Richardson and Bert Manzari, has announced the purchase of the Kabuki 8 Theatres from AMC.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the theater is scheduled to reopen in late summer and early fall—just in time for the bulk of independent and art house film releases.
Sundance Cinemas was first announced in 1997 as a joint partnership with General Cinemas, but never opened a single theater. The project was put on further hiatus whne General Cinemas filed for bankruptcy protection and was eventually sold to AMC.
News surfaced last year that under Manzari and Richardson’s guidance (they departed Landmark with its acquisition by Mark Cuban), Sundance Cinemas would be relaunched.
Comments (2)
The Metro would make a perfect venue for Sundance.
While a nice spot, the Metro does not have enough space for more than 2 screens, which makes it too big of a risk financially. The basement storage area could be converted to additional small screening areas, but to make it building-code compliant would cost a fortune. The current equipment and seats have been or are being removed shortly from the Metro.