PHOTO VIA ENZIAN THEATER
Enzian Theater (Website) in Maitland is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a fundraising campaign for a major projection upgrade. The theater has announced a $150,000 capital campaign to install a reel-to-reel projection system capable of screening both 35mm and 70mm films, along with improvements to its sound system and projection screen.
The project will replace Enzian’s aging 35mm platter projector, which studios rarely approve for screenings, with state-of-the-art reel-to-reel equipment. This change will give the theater access to thousands of archival prints and historic works, while also allowing it to screen films in 70mm, a format embraced by more modern directors like Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and Paul Thomas Anderson.
Programming Director Matthew Curtis described the move as a “game-changer” that will elevate the experience for cinephiles and casual audiences alike. Executive Director Wade Neal emphasized that showing real film is central to the theater’s mission of celebrating cinema as art.
The Cult Classics series, which features 35mm films twice a month, is already among Enzian’s most popular programs. With the new equipment, programming could expand to include silent films preserved in archives, international masterpieces, and cult favorites presented as originally intended.
To date, the theater’s Governing Board, Advisory Council, and supporters have pledged $80,000 toward the $150,000 goal. The public campaign launched on October 1, with installation planned for summer 2026.
