Gateway Film Center suspends in-person movies
The Gateway Film Center is suspending live movie screenings as a result of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Franklin County, the theater announced Monday.
Instead, the film center will focus on offering virtual cinema options. Beginning Wednesday, it will add two new titles, “Coded Bias” and “Born to Be,” with more to be added weekly, according to a statement.
This comes just a few months after the Ohio State University campus-area theater reopened on Aug. 31, with limited screenings and new safety protocols following a five-month shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our commitment throughout this crisis has been to listen to experts and community leaders and adapt as the situation requires,” Chris Hamel, president of Gateway Film Center, said in a statement to the Dispatch.
“We know some of our audience members will be disappointed to miss some of the films we’d usually be bringing to Columbus, but we have seen an overwhelmingly positive amount of support from our community that this is a responsible decision. We are grateful for this support and I look forward to when we can bring audiences together again.”
Other local theaters are carrying on with in-person screenings.
“We’re taking the cue from the governor,” said Eric Brembeck, who owns both Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse in Clintonville and Grandview Theater & Drafthouse. “We haven’t had any known COVID-19 cases because we’ve done the right things and socially distanced. Our buildings have been recently renovated so our HVAC systems are robust.”
Additionally, AMC Theatres, Cinemark Theatres and Marcus Theatres have not announced plans to close proactively.
Some venues, including the Drexel Theatre in Bexley, have maintained virtual-only screenings since the spring.
The Wexner Center for the Arts will remain all-virtual, with one exception, according to Melissa Starker, creative content and PR manager. The venue’s live offering, “Everybody’s got a little light, under the sun,” a program of short films curated by Cameron Granger, is on view through Dec. 27. ethompson@dispatch.com @miss_ethompson