SIFF exiting Capitol Hills Egyptian Theatre

SIFF announced it will not reopen the Egyptian Theatre in Capitol Hill, prioritizing financial sustainability over the historic venue. Executive director Tom Mara stated that the organization will focus on maintaining programming at its three other venues. The Egyptian Theatre has been closed since November due to extensive damage from a water leak affecting several floors of the 110-year-old building. Previous reports indicated that Seattle Central College was optimistic about repairs, but SIFF's decision quashes any hope for reopening. The theater has served as a cultural cornerstone for a decade, but the closure signifies a shift in Capitol Hill's cinema landscape.

Other local art house venues have also faced challenges, with the neighborhood's Harvard Exit Theater repurposed for different uses. SIFF's exit leaves the future of the Egyptian Theatre uncertain, with no plans announced for its next steps. The decline of local art house cinema highlights the changing dynamics of community cultural spaces.