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Special Events
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July 25, 2008
Cashetta: Queen of Magic!
Monthly at Cinema Paradiso
» read more
August 1, 2008
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Monthy at Cinema Paradiso
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August 2, 2008
FAB! Films for Kids!
This month featuring "Harriet the Spy", plus a scavenger hunt for the kids!
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August 6, 2008
Free Member Screening
Special Advance Screening of "Man on Wire"
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August 8, 2008
The Miami International Short Film Festival
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August 16, 2008
Kuantum's New Age Film Festival
An event dedicated to clarify through Science all of those happenings in life we cannot find any explanation to
» read more
August 18, 2008
Cinema Verite
Monthly classic film screening and discussion
Next Up.....
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August 23, 2008
Saturday Summer Serials
3 action packed classic serials featured weekly at Cinema Paradiso
Featuring:
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September 18, 2008
The Ballet comes to Cinema Paradiso
Direct from The Bolshoi Ballet
FLIFF and Emerging Pictures present the World's most famous ballet company in HD, in the comfort of Cinema Paradiso's plush comfortable seating right here in downtown Fort Lauderdale
» read more
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Fort Lauderdale's Arthouse Movie Theater
Cinema Paradiso is South Florida's most unique art house movie theater presenting films from around the world The theater boasts the most comfortable and plushest stadium seating in South Florida along with a full bar, lobby and courtyard tables.
Each week Cinema Paradiso presents the latest in independent, foreign, and documentary films, along with other specialty presentationsand concerts. Virtually all the films presented at the theater will be the only South Florida screening.
  
Added in 2007, the "Paradiso Patio" courtyard adds to the unique Cinema Paradiso experience and is a great place to host a wide range of functions.
Cinema Paradiso lobby today (below) and Cinema Paradiso lobby circa 2003 (top)
Concession
Along with the movies, Cinema Paradiso is also a great place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine, beer or cup of coffee. The "Reel Cafe" features a Full Bar, Beers from around the world, over 30 wine selections, Coffee and Teas and of course "regular" movie concessions.
Cinema Location
503 SE 6 Street in downtown Fort Lauderdale, one block east of Broward County Courthouse on south bank of New River.
Call
954-525-FILM (3456)
Tickets
Cinema Paradiso Ticket Prices
FLIFF members $5, Seniors and Seniors $7, General Admission $8
Plastic
Visa, Amex, MC
Parking
Parking is free at street meters after 6pm nightly and all day on Sundays. You can also park for free at the County Courthouse Parking Garage Mon _ Fri from 4:45pm and all day and night on Saturday and Sunday. To access the garage, enter off of SE 3rd Avenue, just south of the bridge. Pull your car all the way to the southeast corner of the garage. You can park their and take the corner exit, which is just steps from Cinema Paradiso. Call for updates.
Don't worry if you have to take a parking slip from the machine, you will not have to pay as that the garage is free for our guests.
For Directions click here
Located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, Cinema Paradiso is the perfect venue for a wide range of events. For rental information click here
For the current schedule, click here
Cinema Paradiso History
 
In 1997 the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival moved it's offices and began showing movie at the inspiring Vinnette Carroll Theater, the original home of the First Methodist Church of Fort Lauderdale, and Cinema Paradiso was borned! Established in 1905, this church boasts over 100 years of Fort Lauderdale history!
In 1905 a lot was purchased from the Florida East Coast Railroad for $35 and the First Methodist Church was erected on S.W. 6th Street and Andrews Avenue.
On September 18, 1926, the building was completely destroyed by a Hurricane.
A structure was completed the following year on the original site to serve the growing congregation.
 Having the foresight that the city was rapidly expanding, church leaders purchased four lots on S.E. 6th Street in the early 1940’s. By 1947 the new church was completed, called “The New First Methodist Church”, the current home of Cinema Paradiso.
By the 1960’s the congregation outgrew the Church and the building went under the charge of the County where its functions reportedly ranged from a family counseling center to narcotic storage for the courthouse!
In 1986 the building was retrofitted as a stage theater for use by the actress, director, and playwrite Vinnette Carroll, the first African-American Woman to direct a Broadway Show. From 1986 to 1997 the Vinnette Carroll Repertory Theater presented live performances.
In the 1990’s Ms. Carroll fell ill and activity in the theater declined. FLIFF moved in the winter of 1997 and the two groups were to jointly use the building. However, Ms. Carroll’s health never allowed her to produce more then two performances a year. (Additional information on Ms. Carroll can be found at the bottom of this page).
 With the theater getting little use, FLIFF began presenting a full time movie schedule. In 1998, with Grants, along with corperate and private donations and services, the Cinema Paradiso of today was born!
In 2007, the “Millennium Club” was created, which through mainly private donations added the current marquee, lighted sign,, bathroom renovations, creation of the “Comerica Corner” lounge area, new screen and sound improvements, and other interior renovations. Through Millennium Club donations and the purchased of signature bricks, the fully covered “Paradiso Patio” Courtyard was constructed.
 
Cinema Paradiso following Hurricane Wilma in 2005 & after Millennium Club renovations in 2008
Still lots of work to be done and we are always looking to the community for their support!!!
There are many ways you can get involved and become a part of the legacy, for more information, contact Gregory Von Hausch via email at greg@fliff.com
About Vinette Carroll
Vinette Carroll became the first African American woman to direct a play on Broadway, when DON'T BOTHER ME, I CAN'T COPE opened on Broadway in 1973. Her success was repeated in 1976, with collaborator Micki Grant and Alex Bradford, with YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH GOD, which garnered three Tony nominations. Carroll remains the only African-American woman to receive a Tony nomination for Direction.
In 1967, Carroll founded the Urban Arts Corps, which trained minority performers in all theatrical disciplines and specialized in works by African-American writers and composers.
In 1986, Ms Carroll with tremendous community and governmental support, transformed The former First Methodist Church into the Vinnette Carroll Theatre. Ms. Carroll, a lover of the process, wrote, directed and nurtured many works at the theatre.
Her work touched and inspired hundreds, if not thousands of young artists. Ms. Carroll died in 2002.
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