Screening: Saturday, March 23, 2024 – 1:00 pm
Venue: Galaxy Cinemas, 72 Commerce Park Drive, Barrie
GUEST IN ATTENDANCE - Includes a post-screening Q&A with the film's Director MATT FINLIN
“Think of it as a Canadian Cinema Paradiso.”
– Pete Hammond, DEADLINE
Deep in the woods near Kinmount, Ontario, lies a movie theatre like no other in the world. Since its opening in 1979, the Highlands Cinemas has grown to become a sprawling five-screen complex full of movie memorabilia, vintage projectors collected from closed theatres all over the U.S. and Canada, and – as if that weren’t enough – dozens of cats. Its existence stands as a testament to the tenacity of its sometimes cantankerous owner, Keith Stata. But as we see in director Matt Finlin’s affectionate and richly detailed portrait – which was shot over five eventful years — Stata faces unprecedented challenges as he tries to keep his movie palace alive amid a global pandemic. In capturing Stata at moments high and low, the film celebrates the Highlands’ idiosyncratic impresario as an emblem of the grand passions that the movies have long inspired.
MATT FINLIN
Matt Finlin is a Canadian director and producer known for his work in the film and television industry. He has gained a reputation as an award-winning documentary filmmaker and television producer with a passion for producing content for charities. Finlin has collaborated closely with several high-profile celebrities, including Eddie Vedder and Selena Gomez, in their philanthropic endeavours. He is highly respected for his dedication to social causes and is always looking for ways to use his talents to create positive change in the world.
"The Movie Man" is his first feature film, which had it's it’s world premiere at The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Finlin is a co-founder of Door Knocker Media which is a leading production company in Toronto.