Bryn Mawr Film Institute

You met the Challenge! Thank you

BMFI is pleased to report that as of December 31, 2012, generous donors and friends have met and exceeded the $5.5 million goal of the Theater Challenge Campaign.

This extraordinary support from an exceptional community activates the plan that will keep BMFI programmatically exciting—and financially sustainable—for years to come.

Thank you for your patience over the past months as we made our case for support and asked for your help. Your donations ranging from $5 to $500,000 have more than met the $5.5 million goal of the campaign.


Now we can get to work!

The funds raised will be used to:

  • Meet the match required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) grant
  • Build two new theaters with up-to-date projection booths and additional restroom facilities
  • Renovate the two existing theaters with more comfortable seating, better proportioned auditoriums, upgraded sound and light isolation, improved fire protection and HVAC systems, and renovated restrooms
  • Create an endowment to enhance BMFI education programs and support facility maintenance
  • Strengthen the BMFI balance sheet by retiring and restructuring a significant portion of the initial acquisition and construction financing
  • Help defray the cost of conversion from 35 mm film to digital projection. This industry-mandated conversion was not anticipated at the launch of the campaign and more funds must be raised to fully cover this expense. Read Main Line Times reporter Cheryl Allison's story on BMFI's new digital equipment and get a video tour here.

What this means for you

  • A greater selection of first-run main attractions and classic films
  • More value for your BMFI membership (now is a great time to join!)
  • Faster turn-over of films
  • A better film-watching experience with more comfortable seats and better projection
  • More film studies and discussion opportunities to choose from
  • A vibrant film center for Bryn Mawr and the region

This is the final phase of the decade-long mission to renovate and revitalize this historic Bryn Mawr theater—a project the Commonwealth believes in, a project we can all be proud of: a quartet of beautiful theaters to do justice to the programming that our audiences love, and to make Bryn Mawr Film Institute a more financially secure organization.

You can be part of the excitement

You can show your support for the new theaters and honor someone special by sponsoring a theater seat. The donor's name will be engraved on a permanent plaque affixed to one of the beautiful new seats, providing a lasting record of your support for great film exhibition and education. You can find all the details here.

There are many other ways to show your support for the Bryn Mawr Film Institute building project:

A look at the future of Bryn Mawr Film Institute

Construction of the new addition will begin in the early months of 2013. Film screenings are expected to continue uninterrupted during construction, with screenings starting in the new theater just as the existing theaters close for renovation.

The site plan (below) shows the theater addition on the west side of the existing theater building. All patrons will still enter at the Lancaster Avenue entrance under the Hamilton Marquee and via the historic Rutkowski Box Office.


Elevation of the new addition as viewed from Central Avenue


Artist's rendering of the new theaters


Thank you

The generosity of people like you has allowed BMFI to deepen our commitment to showcasing the best cinema in the world. We hope you will visit Bryn Mawr Film Institute often, so you can experience what your support has made possible.


Box Office