We will miss you, Landmark Cinemas (By Frank Sabatini Jr.)
Indie Films, Downtown, Metro Area
Remaining Venues for Indie Movies
By Frank Sabatini Jr.
After a 34-year run, San Diegans bid a sad farewell recently to the Hillcrest Landmark Cinemas, a multi-screen theater that was an oasis for foreign and American independent films as well as cultural film festivals. Its closure in January marked the final end to Landmark’s once-thriving presence in San Diego after the gradual closures of nearby, affiliate movie houses such as The Guild, The Park, and The Ken over past years.
The culprits: Streaming movies; affordable big screens for the home; a 14-month Covid lock down that began in 2020; and the supposed $40,000 monthly rent for the Hillcrest space, per an onsite conversation we had with a manager who requested anonymity.
Fortunately a few options still exist for escaping the Hollywood blockbusters.
Digital Gym Cinema in the East Village
Everything from cult flicks to classic and foreign movies roll into this small non-profit theater, which also hosts obscure Japanese horror films as part of its Wired Nightmares film series. Among the random films that caught our eye for February are Grizzly Man (Feb. 10), a documentary of a daring conservationist who lived among a tribe of grizzly bears in Alaska. We’re also stoked about the 1955 French thriller, Diabolique (Feb. 16), and the newish movie, Conclave, which runs throughout February and examines the covert process of how popes are chosen.
Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills
This outdoor movie venue boasts a 20-foot screen, a canvass roof, and comfy seating for about 75 people. It shows movies ranging from old classics to recently released hits. Foreign films occasionally find their way onto the schedule. The venue is sandwiched between Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria and Tops Salon. We’re particularly fond of the unbeatable $3 concessions.
UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
What has long been a multi-screen venue for mainstream movies in the Hazard Center in Mission Valley will now attempt to fill part of the void left by Landmark Hillcrest. For starters, the venue will begin hosting LGTBQ films throughout the year on behalf of FilmOut San Diego, beginning with I Think I Do on Feb. 12. And the company’s corporate heads are reportedly intent on bringing in more independent films in the near future.
