Sad News: SIFF Ends Its Residency At Capitol Hill’s Beloved Egyptian Cinema

Kinda suspected this might be coming. Last fall, burst pipes caused serious damage at the Egyptian Cinema, 805 East Pine Street, on Capitol Hill causing the Seattle International Film Festival to shut down screenings at the venue. Months have gone by without much news from SIFF or Seattle Central College, the actual owners of the building as when the theater might reopen except for a terse release in June that SIFF wasn’t ready to reopen the venue and that the non-profit was in the processing of cutting staff.

Well, today, it’s official…SIFF, citing budgetary reasons, will not resume its lease at the venue and will no longer operate at that location, instead focusing on its locations downtown at the former Cinerama, and at the Uptown in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, as well as its own SIFF Center home base at Seattle Center.

SIFF release this statement:

Dear SIFF community,

We have some news to share today about the Egyptian. 

After a lengthy decision process and many discussions, SIFF and Seattle Central have mutually decided to end SIFF’s current lease at the Egyptian. As you know, SIFF has not operated out of the building since a flood in the fall of 2024 required its closure for repairs, which were managed by Seattle Central, the building’s owner. 

For many months SIFF has prioritized finding a path to reopen this beloved venue, and we sincerely hoped that we could find a way forward. SIFF is currently prioritizing financial and operational sustainability above all else so the organization can continue the expansive programming offered at our additional three venues: SIFF Cinema Downtown, SIFF Cinema Uptown, and the SIFF Film Center.

Since the fall of 2024, much has changed for SIFF, our city, and the arts industry at large. The reality of the current arts funding landscape, and the work and expenses required to operate a venue of this size and age, meant reopening the Egyptian would not have contributed to SIFF’s long-term organizational stability, which we must prioritize for the sake of the future of the organization.

The Egyptian Theatre has been an integral part of SIFF’s identity for nearly 50 years, and especially the last decade. Its absence has already been deeply felt, and this decision was not made lightly. We are incredibly grateful to Seattle Central for their partnership, and to every audience member who walked through the doors since we began operating the Egyptian in 2014.

You, the patrons, are what make SIFF—and theaters like the Egyptian—what they are. We are so grateful to supporters like you who keep coming to the movies, and who support SIFF so we can keep the cinematic experience alive and well.

Thank you again for your continued, steadfast support of SIFF. This is a difficult moment for SIFF and the film and arts theater community and all of us at SIFF are deeply grateful for your support of our work.

With gratitude,

Tom Mara, SIFF Executive Director

It’s a sad day for LGBTQ+ Seattle and specifically its traditional home neighborhood on Capitol Hill. The Egyptian Cinema has been the main cinema for the community for many decades where it screened hundreds of LGBTQ films as part of its regular screenings as well as during the Seattle LGBTQ Film Festival. The venue has also hosted many live stage events, including many appearances from San Francisco drag queens Peaches Christ and the late great Heklina as well as fun local events like Drag Queen Roasts and special holiday Collide-O-Scope video nights.

Seattle Central has not made any announcement about the fate of the theater space in the building which also houses classrooms. SIFF had assumed the lease of the cinema over 10 years ago after the Landmark Cinema chain went belly up after decades of occupancy at the theater. The Egyptian going dark leaves Capitol Hill with only one cinema space actively scheduling screenings, the Northwest Film Forum on 12th.