Popcorn! Discounts! SIFF members may use their popcorn punch cards at SIFF Cinema Downtown. Members receive five complimentary popcorns per year, and, yes, chocolate popcorn counts! Members also receive $3 off individual tickets.

Member: $16.50 Online | $17.00 Walk-Up

Adult: $19.50 Online | $20.00 Walk-Up

Senior: $18.50 Online | $19.00 Walk-Up

Student: $18.50 Online | $19.00 Walk-Up

Child: $14.50 Online | $15.00 Walk-Up

SIFF Downtown uses "all-in pricing" so the full ticket price listed includes fees.

Of course! And to “top” it off, SIFF members can use their punch cards for five complimentary popcorns to receive a free small or medium popcorn (chocolate or regular). Enticed? Join today.

If you are already a member and haven't picked up your popcorn card yet, simply ask a Box Office Associate the next time you visit any SIFF Cinema venue.

We post all our open positions here. As soon as we determine which of our current SIFF Cinema staff would like the opportunity to work at this new venue, we will be posting more job openings.

We are very excited to welcome volunteers into our new theater. Please check out our Volunteer page for more information on how to join us.

The Cinerama first opened in 1963 but met with declining business and faced demolition by the late 1980s. Paul Allen purchased the theater and began a series of renovations, creating a destination theater for blockbuster first-run movies and a variety of film festivals. The venue closed following Allen’s death and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pursuant to Allen’s wishes, it was earmarked to be sold with all Estate proceeds to be dedicated to philanthropy.

Vulcan/The Allen Estate licensed the name from the original owner when it reopened 20+ years ago, but did not own the name “Cinerama.” The original terms of use of the name stated that upon sale, the name reverts solely to the owner and cannot be transferred with the property.

SIFF Cinema Downtown will be a temporary name until we determine a feasible timeline of moving forward to involve the public to select a permanent name and funding rebrand costs.

SIFF was presented with an exciting opportunity to acquire the Cinerama in late 2022 and is very grateful for the dedicated board members, donors, and grantors who supported this dream with financing. Without these generous funders, this simply would not have been possible for SIFF. In the coming months, SIFF will need even more community support as we move forward with a Capital Campaign to raise funds for first year startup costs. Consider a donation today.

SIFF is a non-profit, and this acquisition was something we hoped for, but would not have been possible without external funding. These designated contributions, the Wyncote foundation, the Paul Allen Estate’s generosity, and passionate funders made this possible for SIFF and for the community.

Sums of $950,000 allotted in the City of Seattle’s mid-year supplemental budget, and $1,000,000 from King County were both approved August 2023. These funds will make it possible to open the theater as soon as possible and help with:

• Signage – New signage was needed to cover any instance of the Cinerama name/mark, due to the legalities of the trademark law that was a part of the agreement in acquiring the space.
• Staffing - This will be one of the largest expenses to start this business, requiring 20+ employees to be hired and trained prior to opening.
• Acquisition - SIFF will use a portion of the King County funding to help offset the building acquisition costs.
• Equipment Refurbishing - The theater is in beautiful shape, so no major renovations were needed. SIFF has refurbished equipment that had been sitting unused for three years including concessions, IT infrastructure and projection equipment, which all require time and funds. To get to the chocolate popcorn is more work than you would imagine!
• Public Benefit Programs - A large part of the City funds will also be allocated towards starting and sustaining new programs outlined in the budget amendment, including new positions and internships as well as community outreach programming.

Sure! Take a look at the May 11 press release (“SIFF Acquires Seattle Cinerama Theater,” as well as our archived Updates page for some background info on how we got to a reopening date.