A group of local filmmakers and fans have leased the Mayfair theatre from its owner, ensuring films will continue to be shown at the historic cinema for at least a decade.
The group, comprised of local filmmakers Lee Demarbre and Ian Driscoll, entrepreneur John Yemen and one of the Mayfair's current projectionists, Paul Gordon, announced Tuesday they entered a ten-year lease with Stephen Ng, the theatre's current owner.
Demarbre says under the group's management the theatre will, for the most part, show art house, foreign and cult films, as well as movies made by local independent filmmakers.
The Mayfair will close at the end of November and re-opens Jan. 2, 2009. Demarbre says the group will use the time to clean the theatre, replace the seats and upgrade the sound system.
Last month, city council voted to designate the cinema a heritage site, protecting it from demolition.