Boxoffice - October 2018

NATO NEWS
THE PROSPECTOR THEATER, RIDGEFIELD, CONN.
as a roundtable convened by the Small
Business Administration. In that setting,
both organizations played key roles in
educating regulators about the impact
of such rules on small businesses.
The labels of “for-profit” and “nonprofit”
for business entities are important
differentiators of tax status at the IRS but
should not define or restrict how exhibitors
work together to protect and advance
the moviegoing experience. NATO
looks forward to nonprofit theaters’
increased involvement in NATO’s technology
efforts to support a high-quality
theatrical experience in theaters everywhere,
and to explore new innovations in
cinema presentation and sound.
Through increased interaction with
nonprofits at NATO events, I believe
members might learn from, and be
inspired by, their nonprofit colleagues.
With their commitment to the communities
they serve, nonprofits have developed
extraordinary talent in guest relations.
As the old adage goes, “Necessity
is the mother of invention.” Often with
limited funds, nonprofits have found
amazing ways to attract and retain their
avid supporters. Many nonprofits host
film festivals and offer diverse programming
and specialty film series. Older
moviegoers can enjoy their favorite films
from decades past and younger guests
can discover old Hollywood classics at
their community theaters.
Nonprofit exhibitors have experimented
with innovative ideas that subsequently
spread throughout the industry.
Alternative content, for example, has
long been offered at many nonprofit
community-based cinemas. Visit your
neighborhood nonprofit theater, and you
will likely discover cool local eats, including
beverages from nearby microbreweries
and other unique and upscale concessions
choices created by local chefs. As
in the for-profit sector, many nonprofit
theaters provide employment for persons
with disabilities. One of NATO’s newest
members, The Prospector Theater in
Ridgefield, Connecticut, deserves a special
shout-out, as approximately 70 percent
of its employees self-identify with
a disability. Nonprofits have also been
responsible for saving many historic theaters
across the United States. Through
ambitious grassroots fund-raising efforts,
nonprofit organizations have successfully
restored some of America’s most beautiful
and iconic movie theaters.
A word about NATO and the Art
House Convergence (AHC): The AHC
plays a vital role in safeguarding and
innovating in the art house space. NATO
and AHC will continue to serve important
and complementary roles in the
industry, and we look forward to our
ongoing relationship with the dedicated
team at AHC.
At the time this article was written,
nine nonprofit theater organizations,
representing 11 locations and 39 screens,
have joined NATO. They are: a/perture
Cinema, Winston-Salem, N.C.; The
Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tenn.;
Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline,
Mass.; Gateway Film, Columbus,
Ohio; Michigan Theater Foundation,
Ann Arbor, Mich.; The Prospector
Theater, Ridgefield, Conn.; SCERA
Corp., Orem, Utah; Salt Lake City Film
Society, Salt Lake City, Utah; and the
Sie FilmCenter (Denver Film Society),
Denver, Colo. These cinemas, and the
nonprofit exhibition community at
large, bring passion and creativity to the
moviegoing experience. I applaud them
and welcome them to NATO, and invite
other nonprofit cinemas to become
members of the association. n
26 BOXOFFICE ® OCTOBER 2018