'Something to remember this theatre by': Fans of the Towne Cinema 8 collecting submissions for book
A local film collective is looking to keep the memory of a defunct downtown movie theatre alive.
Last month, the Towne Cinema 8 - located at 301 Notre Dame Avenue - went up for sale after being closed since the pandemic.
The Towne 8 was the last commercial movie theatre to operate in downtown Winnipeg. The announcement of its sale caused an outcry from the local movie-loving community.
"Our collective had quite the emotional response to the closure of this cinema and we also noticed that many folks did, as it was one of the more accessible theatres remaining in Winnipeg," said Meganelizabeth Diamond, director of the Winnipeg Underground Film Festival (WUFF).
"It was a place you could go and see a movie for five dollars," she said.
Diamond is one of the organizers of the "Towne 8 Project," which seeks to collect media, memories, and stories about the nearly 42-year-old theatre. "We are accepting submissions with a rolling deadline in response to the closure of our beloved downtown cinema," Diamond said.
Submissions can include photos and video of the theatre, as well as essays, collages, paintings, and other tributes.
Diamond said they have been receiving a lot of written submissions so far. "Folks just remembering some of their favourite films, or some of the funnier instances they’ve had at the theatre."
She said all submissions will be collected into a book about the Towne 8 to be released next year.
They also hope to hold a film screening at the book launch.
"We just really wanted to harness that energy and have something to remember this theatre by," said Diamond.
Submissions to the Towne 9 Project can be made at the WUFF website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | N.Y. grand jury votes to indict Donald Trump, sources tell CNN
A grand jury in Manhattan has voted to indict Donald Trump -- the first time in American history that a current or former president has faced criminal charges, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

EXCLUSIVE | Security increased for prime minister's advisers after break-and-enter incidents
Ottawa Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the residence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national security adviser, the second such incident involving one of his top aides in recent months.
'Nova Scotians' sense of safety was rocked': RCMP failures dominate inquiry's final report into 2020 mass shooting
A long list of failures by Nova Scotia RCMP leadership and policing systems dominate the final report into Nova Scotia's April 2020 mass shooting.
Memes, ski etiquette and that missing GoPro video: Highlights from the Gwyneth Paltrow trial
When two skiers collided on a beginner run at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016, no one could foresee that seven years later, the crash would become the subject of a closely watched celebrity trial.
Research points to common infections as cause of liver disease outbreak in kids
Scientists think they may have pinpointed the cause of a mysterious outbreak of liver disease that affected children worldwide last year.
House abandoned by couple who 'disappeared' years ago nightmare for neighbour on upscale street
A Toronto man, whose neighbours vanished eight years ago and left their home completely abandoned, said he's fed up living next door to a property that is in complete disarray.
UCP candidate, slammed for comments on pornography in schools, quits
A candidate for the United Conservative Party in southern Alberta has resigned after she posted a video claiming children are being exposed to pornography in schools.
Here's how to know if someone is struggling with a video game addiction: Expert
A scientist at CAMH says video games have similar addictive features to gambling which cause social isolation of the individual and dependency on the activity.
'No question there need to be changes': PM responds to Nova Scotia mass shooting commission report
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered a brief initial response to the final report from the Mass Casualty Commission (MCC) into Canada's worst mass shooting, which claimed the lives of 22 people in Nova Scotia in 2020. Vowing changes will come, here's what Trudeau said in Truro, N.S.