Rehoboth Beach Film Society

What Rehoboth Beach Film Society does

Rehoboth Beach Film Society (RBFS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 in Sussex County, Delaware, that operates Cinema Art Theater (CAT), a two-screen art house cinema in Lewes, Delaware, and produces the annual Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival (RBIFF). The organization serves as the only art house cinema in Sussex County, providing year-round first-run independent, documentary, and international film programming Wednesday through Sunday, alongside specialty programming including The Met: Live in HD, National Theatre Live, Reel Art Appreciation art documentaries, and seasonal mini-festivals such as the PRIDE Film Festival (with CAMP Rehoboth), Jewish Film Festival, Black American Film Festival (with SDARJ), Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair (with American Cinematheque), and a Classic Film Series. The 28th Annual RBIFF is scheduled for November 1–8, 2026, and historically draws more than 5,000 attendees; the 2023 Silver Anniversary festival sold 2,201 tickets across 27 screenings, with 15 sold-out sessions.

The organization runs a hybrid revenue model across seven streams: ticket sales, six-tier annual memberships ($40–$1,100/year), Main Theater (104 seats) and JEMS Theater (36 seats) rentals, individual donations, corporate/organizational sponsorships, on-screen advertising reaching 1,000+ weekly patrons, and branded merchandise. GTM is event-driven, anchored by RBIFF and supplemented by year-round specialty series. Technology stack is intentionally lean: Eventive for ticketing/scheduling, FilmFreeway for filmmaker submissions, and a Dolby 7.1 surround sound upgrade in the Main Theater. Distribution is regional across the Mid-Atlantic, with festival overflow venues at Possum Point Players Theatre in Georgetown, DE, and the Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware in West Lewes.

RBFS is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors (President Charlie Jones, Vice President Antonia Blucher, Secretary Gary Moore, Treasurer George Farrah, plus 8 directors) and an Advisory Council of 4, supported by an approximately 6-person staff (Executive Director Dave Bever, Theater Manager Rebecca Micheal, Customer Service Specialist Geoff Lerer, CAT Associate Kirsten King, Marketing & Community Relations Manager Kim Wilkins, Programmer Shelby Cooke), with an RBIFF Artistic Committee chaired by Lisa G. Black. Funding sources include grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts (in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts) and the Longwood Gardens Foundation, alongside an in-kind $15,000 Panavision equipment grant. The organization operates from a mailing address at 179 Rehoboth Ave., Unit 1457, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, with the Cinema Art Theater located at 17701 Dartmouth Dr., Lewes, DE 19958.

Name

Rehoboth Beach Film Society

Legal name

Rehoboth Beach Film Society

Website

https://rehobothfilm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rehoboth Beach Film Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Cinema Art Theater, a two-screen art house in Lewes, Delaware, and the annual Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival, serving Sussex County film enthusiasts across year-round independent cinema and specialty festivals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art House Cinema

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)

Keywords

• Art house cinema
• Independent film festival
• Film society programming
• Specialty film exhibition
• Cultural cinema screenings

Headquarters

HQ city

Rehoboth Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from screening admissions at Cinema Art Theater, including CAT This Week first-run films, special screenings, and alternative programming. Group sales available for 20+ attendees at discounted member rate.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership program with multiple tiers ($40-$1,100/year) providing access to discounted tickets, priority festival access, and member perks.
3. Theater Rentals: Private event rentals of Main Theater (seats 104) and JEMS Theater (seats 36) with tiered hourly rates. Group sales at reduced admission rates.
4. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting Cinema Art Theater renovations, the film festival, and general operating support.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsorships across film festival and theater programming with various marketing activation benefits.
6. On-Screen Advertising: On-screen ads reaching 1,000+ weekly theater patrons across two screens, with custom design services included.
7. Merchandise Sales: Online merchandise store featuring apparel and branded items through third-party platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rehoboth Beach Film Society operates the Cinema Art Theater (CAT), a two-screen art house cinema in Lewes, Delaware, screening independent, documentary, and international films year-round Wednesday through Sunday. The organization also produces the annual Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival (RBIFF) and multiple specialty film festivals (PRIDE, Jewish, Black American, Bleak Week), plus live broadcast programming including Met Opera Live in HD and National Theatre Live.

Product overview

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society (RBFS) operates the Cinema Art Theater (CAT), a two-screen art house cinema in Lewes, Delaware, as its core product. The organization delivers year-round first-run independent films, documentaries, and international cinema through CAT This Week (Wednesday-Sunday programming). Beyond regular screenings, RBFS offers a portfolio of specialty programming including the annual Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival (RBIFF), The Met: Live in HD opera broadcasts, National Theatre Live performances, Reel Art Appreciation art documentaries, and seasonal mini-festivals (PRIDE Film Festival, Jewish Film Festival, Black American Film Festival, Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair, Classic Film Series). Additional revenue streams include theater rentals (Main Theater and JEMS Theater), tiered membership programs, on-screen advertising, and merchandise sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival (RBIFF): Annual international film festival celebrating independent cinema, now in its 28th year. Features documentaries, features, shorts, and international films with filmmaker Q&As and special events.
• PRIDE Film Festival
• Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair
• Rehoboth Beach Jewish Film Festival
• Rehoboth Beach Black American Film Festival
• CAT This Week
• The Met: Live in HD
• National Theatre Live
• Reel Art Appreciation

Products and services

• Cinema Art Theater (CAT) Year-round art house cinema featuring first-run independent films, documentaries, features, and international films shown Wednesday through Sunday on two screens (Main Theater with 104 seats and JEMS Theater with 36 seats) at the Lewes, Delaware location. Dolby 7.1 surround sound in Main Theater.
• Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival (RBIFF) Annual multi-day international film festival celebrating 28 years in 2026, featuring international films, documentaries, features, shorts, filmmaker Q&As, industry events, and 14 'Best Of' Blue Wave Art Glass Awards. Held in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
• The Met: Live in HD Live broadcast series of Metropolitan Opera performances from New York screened at Cinema Art Theater in high-definition with Dolby 7.1 surround sound. Sponsorship partnership with Delmarva Public Media.
• National Theatre Live Live broadcast series of plays from London's West End filmed in front of theater audiences and screened at the Main Theater (104 seats).
• Reel Art Appreciation Curated film series showcasing art documentaries including Great Art on Screen and Exhibitions on Screen, featuring documentaries about artists, museums, and cultural landmarks.
• PRIDE Film Festival Annual LGBTQ+ film festival featuring films by LGBTQ+ cinema creators reflecting diverse faces of the community experience. Co-sponsored with CAMP Rehoboth community organization.
• Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair Weeklong film series presented in partnership with American Cinematheque, featuring films exploring dark themes, stark imagery, tragedies, existential fear, nihilism, and acts of brutality.
• Jewish Film Festival Annual film festival featuring Jewish-themed films and special events celebrating Jewish culture and filmmaking.
• Black American Film Festival Annual film festival presented in partnership with Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ), showcasing films by and about Black Americans.
• Classic Film Series at CAT Special two-week screening runs of classic films on the big screen at Cinema Art Theater, featuring curated classic film programming.
• Theater Rental Private theater rentals at Cinema Art Theater including Main Theater (104 seats plus 4 wheelchair spaces) and JEMS Theater (36 seats plus 2 wheelchair spaces), plus group sales rates for 20+ attendees. Tiered hourly pricing: Main Theater $500 for two hours (minimum), $150 each additional hour; JEMS Theater $175 for two hours (minimum), $75 each additional hour.
• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership levels (Individual $40, Plus One $70, Silver $200, Silver Plus One $325, Gold $750, Gold Plus One $1,100) offering discounted tickets, priority festival access, free CAT This Week screenings, and member perks.
• On-Screen Advertising On-screen advertising reaching over 1,000 theater patrons weekly across two theater screens at Cinema Art Theater, with custom ad design included.
• Online Merchandise Store Online merchandise store featuring branded apparel including t-shirts and other branded items sold through third-party platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 attendees annually at the film festival
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record.

• Delaware Division of the ArtsOthersState agency that supports the organization through grants, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)OthersFederal agency providing grant support for the organization as part of broader arts funding in Delaware.
• American CinemathequeStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to present Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair, a weeklong festival featuring films exploring the darkest sides of humanity. American Cinematheque curates and provides content for this specialized programming.
• Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ)Strategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for presenting the annual Black American Film Festival, promoting diverse voices and stories.
• CAMP RehobothStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization co-sponsoring the PRIDE Film Festival, supporting LGBTQ+ cinema programming.
• VarietyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment industry publication supporting the festival as an esteemed partner.
• Possum Point Players TheatreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdditional festival venue in Georgetown, DE for Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival screenings.
• Unitarian Universalists of Southern DelawareChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdditional festival venue in West Lewes for Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival screenings.
• Delmarva Public MediaStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors Met Opera Live in HD programming at Cinema Art Theater.
• Delmarva Public MediaGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal media partner sponsoring the Met Opera programming series.
• FilmFreewayChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilm submission platform used by filmmakers to submit work to the annual festival.
• Cape GazetteGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper partnered for festival coverage and documentary screening promotion.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jacob Burns Film Center: Nonprofit art house cinema and education center in Pleasantville, NY offering independent film programming plus festivals and educational programs, highly comparable to RBFS in structure and audience.
• Angelika Film Center: Independent art house cinema chain focusing on independent, international, and documentary films, a direct comparable to RBFS's Cinema Art Theater in programming mix and audience.
• Film Forum: Nonprofit art house cinema in New York City dedicated to independent, documentary, and repertory film with year-round curated programming, closely matching RBFS's mission and exhibition model.
• Landmark Theatres: Art house cinema chain operated by Cohen Media Group, showing independent and foreign films, highly comparable to RBFS's independent film exhibition focus.
• Coolidge Corner Theatre: Nonprofit art house cinema in Brookline, MA hosting independent, documentary, and repertory films alongside specialty festivals, a strong operational analog to RBFS as a nonprofit cinema society.
• IFC Center: NYC-based nonprofit-adjacent art house cinema specializing in independent, documentary, and international film with year-round programming, mirroring RBFS's CAT This Week model.

Broad incumbents

• American Cinematheque: Los Angeles-based nonprofit repertory cinema organization that curates classic, cult, and specialty film programming; actively partners with RBFS on Bleak Week, making it both a content partner and a broader-scope peer.
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: National cinema chain with art house, repertory, and specialty programming alongside mainstream titles, a broader incumbent in the exhibition space that competes for independent film audiences.
• Sundance Institute: Major nonprofit film institution running the Sundance Film Festival and year-round filmmaker support, a much larger institution in the same independent film festival space.

Regional players

• SFFILM: San Francisco-based nonprofit film society producing an annual festival and year-round programming, a comparable film society model but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rehobothfilm
• Instagraminstagram.com/rehobothbeachfilmsociety
• Xx.com/rehobothfilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rehoboth-beach-film-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rehoboth Beach Film Society