Brand new campaign from the Loft’s website:

What is Building For The Future?
Building For The Future is a campaign to raise $2.5M in order to deliver a superior film-going experience by expanding The Loft, updating technology, and making the entire facility fully accessible.

What is The Loft?
The Loft Cinema is authentic Tucson – a beloved local arts organization dedicated to creating community through film. The Loft promotes the appreciation and understanding of film, honors the vision of filmmakers, and celebrates the ideas brought to life through the art of film.

Established 1972
The Loft has been a Tucson treasure for 40 years. The Loft is BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE so that generations to come will have a community space to share the joy of experiencing stories told through motion pictures for the next 40 years.

What makes The Loft special?
The Loft is Tucson’s premiere venue for art films: independent, foreign, alternative, classics and documentaries. Since The Loft became a nonprofit in 2002, the cinema has hosted more than 400 filmmakers and has screened films from 56 countries. The Loft curates both the international Loft Film Festival and the Tucson International Children’s Film Festival, shows plays from the National Theatre in London, art film classics from the archives, crazy b-movies and cult classics. The Loft’s Education Initiative has many key local, national and international partners and eclectic programming like Science on Screen and the Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

Some of The Loft’s Accolades
• Voted Best of Tucson by the readers of the Tucson Weekly every year since 2002
• Honored with a Lumie from the Tucson Pima Arts Council in 2005 for Emerging Arts Organization
• 1 of only 17 cinemas in the U.S. invited by the Sundance Institute to join its Art House Project
• 1 of only 9 cinemas in the country to take part in Sundance USA
• 1 of only 2 cinemas to host both annual editions of Sundance Film Forward

Why fix what isn’t broken?
Yes, we like it how it is too, but our aim is to provide our audience with the most amazing viewing experience possible. Our commitment to excellent programming will not change—we will continue to run our full spectrum of events from Mondo Mondays to Essential Cinema, but we will be able to provide more consistent showtimes, screen more films, and most importantly, host more community events!
Plus – WE’RE GOING TO MAKE IT AS GREEN AS WE CAN!

Why is The Loft expanding?
A simple answer is because there’s just too much “awesome” being produced and not enough square footage to contain it, but let us explain further…
Have you ever…
Noticed how crowded the lobby gets when there are 500 people in the building—or even 200?
Stood in line at the concession stand for an eternity to get a glass of wine? (WE KNOW IT GETS BETTER WITH AGE, BUT SERIOUSLY)
Wished The Loft could keep a film around longer, or that showtimes weren’t so darned confusing?
Adding one indoor theatre, one flexible outdoor space, a more spacious lobby, a bigger concession stand (with more good stuff to eat and drink), improved sightlines, more comfortable seats and accessible restrooms* will greatly improve your experience at The Loft. (*DON’T WORRY LADIES, THE RED TILE WOMEN’S RESTROOM WILL SURVIVE!)

Why bring The Loft up to date?
The Loft must invest in new digital equipment—both projection and sound—because technology is significantly changing for the first time since talkies replaced silent film. The Loft is going to continue to show great films, both new and classic, so we have to adapt to this change. Although we are adding digital technology, The Loft is dedicated to showing 35mm prints whenever they are available. We need to return to the days when films were shown on reel-to-reel projectors, which will allow us to borrow prints from archives and studios, preserving and improving our ability to show films on film for years to come.

Building for The Community
Based on statistics from our Sundance Art House colleagues, adding a third screen to The Loft will increase revenue exponentially. It will also provide the extra space and time for twice as many community collaborations, including film festivals and special screenings. These partnerships help local organizations increase awareness, raise funds and promote good causes that bring the community closer together.

Division of Dollars
$870,000 Land & Building Acquisition
$950,000 New Construction
$350,000 Renovation
$330,000 Technology

How?
Only one way—with YOUR help! And your friends! And heck, even your casual acquaintances! People who love The Loft! People who love movies! People who love Tucson!

When?
We hope to break ground in November, in time for the Loft Film Fest and our 40th anniversary celebration.

Naming opportunities for the larger donations and recognition for EVERYONE who helps!
For more info please contact Debi Chess Mabie at dcm@loftaz.com.

You can donate online here:https://payments.auctionpay.com/ver3/?id=w025907

The Loft Cinema is at 3233 E. Speedway.

I have been a loyal Loft Cinema volunteer for over three and a half years, and would encourage all of you who love the Loft’s independent & art films to please help with this proposed campaign. This week alone I saw a documentary about the disparity in breast cancer health care between the rich & poor in America (“The Education of Dee Dee Ricks”), and “Monte Walsh”, a Western benefit last night for the Empire Ranch Foundation (click here.) And this expansion groundbreaking should be completed in time for the Loft’s 40th anniversary this year.