Seattle City Councilmember Andrew Lewis and King County Councilmember Joe McDermott are proposing legislation to provide a financial boost to SIFF, the new owners of the Cinerama movie theater, to support the nonprofit’s purchase and operation of the venue.
- SIFF acquired Cinerama from the estate of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in May. The historic theater in the Belltown neighborhood has been closed for more than three years.
- Lewis’ proposed legislation would provide SIFF a nearly $1 million grant to help get the theater reopened and support programming and activations for the public benefit. The funds would come from windfall admissions tax revenues.
- McDermott is also proposing the county council award SIFF $1 million to support Cinerama through an allocation of existing federal and state funds received during the pandemic, The Seattle Times reported.
- Both proposals will be considered at upcoming City and County Council meetings.