Cinemas vs. microcinemas: What to expect in the newly opened Cinema '76
In case you missed it, Cinema '76 has opened its doors on Nov. 17 after almost two years of closure.
With a limited capacity and a reenergized spirit, the local cinema house is now showcasing international titles such as Spencer, Dune, Black Widow, and Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings.
Raring to support local cinema houses and visit the indie haven that is Cinema '76 Anonas branch? Here's what you need to know about microcinemas.
At its core, microcinemas are essentially a more intimate version of cinemas. Compared to the usual theatre houses in the country that can house more than 200 people on different screens, Cinema '76 only has two screens that can cater to 140 people at a time.
However, with Alert Level 2 lockdown regulations allowing only 50% capacity for indoor venues, Cinema '76 only has one screen open allowing 48 people. Their iconic blue couches now only permit one person each for physical distancing, adding to the lesser capacity for viewers.
Aside from the facilities, microcinemas also don't need to follow regular film schedules so they can run their own shows based on filmmaker, theme, or event.
"We can program film festivals so they can share their titles here or we can do our own programming. We can do a retrospective and themed showings," said Daphne Chiu, EVP and general manager for TBA Studios. "During MMFF, we counter-program and run the best films of the past year."
A few other examples include 'Cinema 76 showcasing LGBTQ+ themed films in Pride Month and women-centered films during Women's Month in March.
Chiu also shares that there's a special kind of niche market when looking for the cinema house, as it's nestled on the third floor of the Anonas LRT City Center in Quezon City.
"Microcinemas [in the country] are also strategically not placed inside a mall, talagang hahanapin mo siya so there's a joy of looking for that place," Chiu said.
Cinema '76 Anonas and Cinema '76 Café are located at the second floor of the Anonas LRT City Center, Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City. They are open for block screenings or private screenings via [email protected].
