Labia campaign ensures grand dame’s future

THE Labia Cinema’s Thundafund crowdfunding campaign is set to soon pass the R200 000 mark, less than a week after it began – ensuring the future of the 65-year-old grand dame.

The fund has already gone thousands of rand beyond their “tipping point” milestone of R150 000, which means they can pay off one preowned digital projector, ensuring “the future of independent film pro- gramming in Cape Town”.

The next and final goal is R2 million which would mean they can digitise three screens, pay off the digital projectors they have already purchased and the rest will be used to give the Labia “a whole lotta love”.

Owner Ludi Kraus said he felt overwhelmed by the fundraising website’s success. He said the Labia was not directly involved in running the campaign, which was actually started by friends and supporters.

The Labia went digital on July 25, meaning it is already “saved”. But the aim of the fund is to pay off equipment and upgrade the sound.

Thundafund’s “accelerator” for the Labia campaign, Erica Schofield, said they reached a “brilliant” R60 000 on the first day and since then had seen “bursts of pledges”.

She’s cautiously optimistic that they will reach the R2m goal.

Go to www.thundafund.com/ thelabia to read more about the campaign or make a donation.