Movie Love Part Two: The Egyptian Is Back Open For Business This Weekend With Greatest Hits

Guillermo del Toro’s fantasy classic, “Pan’s Labyrinth” is a highlight of the re-opening weekend for the Egyptian.

There’s been a hole in all of our hearts ever since The Egyptian Theater closed up shop last year after tenant Landmark Cinemas pulled the plug on operating the venue. Landlord Central Seattle Community College raised the rent and Landmark decided they couldn’t commit to a new lease at the higher rate; single screen cinemas have a hard time remaining profitable in an age of megaplex mall cinemas and digital streaming home video options. Rumors circulated about possible tenants including Seattle Theatre Group and Seattle International Film Festival with SIFF ultimately submitting and winning the bid and the right to a 10 year lease on the beloved theater space. The Egyptian became the 5th screen in the growing SIFF empire joining the screening room at SIFF Center at Seattle Center and the 3 screens at SIFF Cinema at The Uptown, the vintage venue that SIFF took over 3 years ago.

After weeks of refurbishing, the Egyptian is ready to open for their Grand Opening Weekend starting Friday, October 3 and running through Sunday. SIFF is treating fans to a festival of the cinema’s greatest hits over the years, iconic films that played for many weeks at the theater. And, as an added bonus, the tickets are only $5…or, FREE with a receipt from a Capitol Hill business (dated for this weekend only).

Friday kicks off with one of the Egyptian’s biggest hits, the 19 week long running French hit, Amélie will screen at 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm on Friday, followed by Seattle native son Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon at 9:30 pm and the fantasy classic, Pan’s Labyrinth will take the 11:55 pm/midnight screening spot.

The hits continue Saturday and Sunday, (full list here) with two queer films being highlighted on Sunday. The Australian comedy hit, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert will screen at 7 pm on Sunday night followed by the film that made queer icon, Tilda Swinton a star, Orlando (based on the Virginia Woolf novel) at 9:30 pm.