The Egyptian Theatre has been an important part of the Seattle International Film Festival since its inception. Originally built as Masonic Temple in 1915, the building’s auditorium was converted into an Egyptian-themed art house cinema by SIFF in 1980. SIFF sold the lease to Landmark Theatres in 1989 in order to fund the organization’s transition to a non-profit arts organization and has rented the venue for the Seattle International Film Festival every year since. In 2013, the former tenant closed the Egyptian’s doors. Once again, SIFF will reopen another shuttered neighborhood movie house, before the venue can be re-opened for year-round programming SIFF received $150,000 challenge match, needing to raise $300,000, to save the Egyptian for the community.
On behalf of the Seattle Polish Film Festival / Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association we presented a check in the amount of $500 toward this campaign. Donations go directly to:
• equipment – a projector, server, and computers for the projection room
• critical repairs – electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and the marquee
• the sound system
• cleaning and maintenance
Zbigniew Pietrzyk, Director of SPFF presented the check to Renee C. O’Donnell, Director of Individual Giving – in charge of all individual fundraising through memberships/individual donations and events and
Branden Hawkins, Community Relations Officer – in charge of all community partnerships through donations and outreach. Also witnessing the event was our visiting exchange student Oliwia and Gail Wodzin, President, SGSCA (taking photo).
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