Cindependent, the nonprofit behind Mariemont Theatre's restoration, has merged with the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival to form a single organization called the Cindependent Film Festival presented with LADD.
The first unified festival runs Wednesday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 20, at Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine, featuring more than 80 films representing over 10 countries, according to Soapbox Media. The lineup will also include masterclasses and networking events.
"At some point, we had to ask ourselves: does Cincinnati really need two organizations working incredibly hard, often toward the same goals, when we could put that energy into building something bigger together?" Cindependent founder and Executive Director Allyson West said.
The merger follows another milestone for the organization. Cindependent reached its $1 million community fundraising goal in July to reopen the Mariemont Theatre. That money funded new projectors, audio equipment, screens, rebuilt seats and repaired auditorium houses, WLWT reported.
The theatre held its soft grand opening on Friday, Aug. 28. Screenings at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. kicked off a month-long series of films from 1938, the year the theatre first opened.
Board President Jack Crumley said on Aug. 14, when the reopening was announced, that months of rebuilding seats, repairing auditorium houses and installing new equipment had been "unlocked by the incredible support of the community."
LADD, which partnered in the merger, will support the unified festival's administrative and development work. The organization brings experience building accessibility into cultural programming.
The festival has gained national notice. "The Singers," a short film that won Best U.S. Short Film and Best Director for Sam A. Davis at the 2025 Cindependent festival, went on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, the Cincinnati Business Courier reported.
West has said the Mariemont Theatre will serve as a year-round home for film, education and community programming.
Ticket pricing and the full film lineup for the Sept. 16–20 festival have not been announced.
Upcoming community dates:
- Sept. 16–20: Cindependent Film Festival at Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine
- Sept. 23: Hamilton County seeks resident input on economic development strategy
