IFC Center to open in New York City's Historic Waverly Theater
Center will showcase independent film, and serve the independent film community with State-of-the-Art-Digital Editing Facilities.

By Mr. Corey Boutilier

I had heard a little bit about a new movie theater opening in New York's Greenwich Village but didn't know much more than that. So, I ventured down to the new facility to check it out today.

Turns out that the folks who run the Independent Film Chanel are opening their first "Brick and Mortar" facility. IFC has traditionaly been a media company including a television network and a film production and distribution unit. Now with their new IFC Center they will provide the Greenwich Village community with a "rich cultural asset."

On Thursday, June 9th they had an opening party, but the center isn't really set to open to the public until this Friday. The event was attended by members of the independent film community including Naomi Watts, Harvey Weinstein, Rosie Perez, Paul Rudd, Paul Reiser and filmmakers Rebecca Miller, Alfonso Cuaron, James Toback, and Gary Winick.

The center is located at 323 Avenue of the Americas between West Third and West Fourth streets. The theater space was first opened in 1937.

The facility will include three theaters dedicated to independent films, digital editing suites and a large cafe and meeting area.

There will be NO advertisiments before a screening. There will be plans to show shorts prior to features. "No other independent theater in New York or in the United States is screening shorts before each screening." This acording to their press release.

The center will open on Friday with the New York premiere of "Me and You and Everyone We Know" a Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize winner. The Center will also present a brand new 35mm print of DA Pennebaker's "Don't Look Back" on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Bob Dylan's legendary 1956 UK tour.