Historic Capitol Hill Cinema Egyptian to Close Permanently
SEATTLE – Seattle’s Capitol Hill โคneighborhood isโ losing a โคpiece of its cinematic history as the SIFF Cinemaโ Egyptian will permanentlyโข close its doors. The closure follows important water damage sustained last fallโฃ from a โขpipe โleak,ultimately leading SIFF to terminate โขits lease.
The single-screenโข theater, a fixture in the city since 1916, will not reopen.The decision marksโฃ the end ofโ an eraโ for film lovers on Capitol Hill and represents a shift for SIFF, the Seattle international โขFilm festival, as it navigates โฃa changing landscape for โฃindependent โคcinemas. While repairs to the โขbuilding are now โคcomplete, theโ space will be availableโค for โnew tenants.
“After a lengthy decision process and many discussions, SIFF and Seattle Central have mutually decided to end SIFF’s current lease at the Egyptian,” SIFF Executive Director Tom Mara stated in a news release. “Much has changed for SIFF,โ our โขcity, and the arts โindustry at large.”
The building’s history extends beyond film; โit originally served as a Masonic Temple โfor many years before being acquired and renovated by SIFF in 1980. Landmark Theatresโ later operated the venue for a period.
SIFF continues to โoperate three other Seattle-area theaters: Cinema Downtown, the Uptown in Lower Queen Anne, and the Seattle Film Center in Seattle Center. The lease was held โwith Seattle Central College, which owns the building.