The Cinematheque
The Cinematheque (Pacific Cinémathèque Pacifique Society) is a Vancouver-based non-profit film institute founded in 1972 that operates a 153-seat theatre showing curated film retrospectives, runs media-literacy education programs, and maintains a Canadian film archive and reference library, serving cinephiles, families, students, and filmmakers in Western Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Cinematheque does
The Cinematheque (legal entity: Pacific Cinémathèque Pacifique Society) is a Vancouver-based, non-profit film institute and media education centre founded in 1972 and self-described as the largest film institute in Western Canada. It operates a single 153-seat theatre at 1131 Howe Street in downtown Vancouver, equipped with a Christie CP2220 Digital Cinema Package (DCP) projector that also supports 35mm film prints, alongside a Dolby Surround 7.1 audio system. Year-round curated programming — featuring themed retrospectives (e.g., Film Noir 2026, Maurice Pialat 101), classic and contemporary cinema, and a family Film Club matinee series — is the core audience-facing activity, complemented by a Film Reference Library (2,400+ books, 150+ periodicals, 7,500+ stills) and a West Coast Film Archive holding approximately 2,000 Canadian motion pictures including NFB and B.C. collections.
The organization monetizes through tiered ticket sales ($15 general, $13 seniors, $11 students, free for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples), a mandatory membership model required under the B.C. Motion Picture Act for adult programming, multi-film ticket packs (5/10/50 packs priced $55/$100/$450 and valid 24+ months), venue rentals to filmmakers and corporate clients ($225–$300/hour with a 2-hour minimum), gift shop merchandise, and concessions. Revenue is materially supported by donations and three core government funders — the Canada Council for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, and the City of Vancouver — making it a hybrid ticket/fee plus public-grant institution. The Cinematheque is currently in process of reinstatement as a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency.
The company is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Leah Mallen (All In Pictures), with Eric Wyness as Vice Chair, Rudy Bootsma (founder of arts-accounting firm Compendia) as Treasurer, and David Legault as Secretary; additional members include film industry professionals and nonprofit leaders. Senior management comprises Executive Director Kate Ladyshewsky (in role since 2022 after seven years as Managing Director) and Artistic Director Shaun Inouye (in role since 2022, previously Programming Associate). The broader staff of 19 includes a Learning & Outreach team running award-winning media-literacy and filmmaking education programs for youth and adults. Marketing reaches audiences via a bi-monthly print and digital Program Guide, the weekly Cinemail newsletter, and social channels on Vimeo, Instagram, Letterboxd, and Issuu.
The Cinematheque firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Cinematheque
- Legal name
- Pacific Cinémathèque Pacifique Society
- Website
- https://thecinematheque.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Cinematheque (Pacific Cinémathèque Pacifique Society) is a Vancouver-based non-profit film institute founded in 1972 that operates a 153-seat theatre showing curated film retrospectives, runs media-literacy education programs, and maintains a Canadian film archive and reference library, serving cinephiles, families, students, and filmmakers in Western Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Cinematheque industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Cinema and Film Exhibition
- NAICS
- Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)
Keywords
Where The Cinematheque is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Cinematheque business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from admission fees to film screenings. General admission $15, seniors $13, students $11, with free admission for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Film Club family matinees have reduced pricing.
- Membership: Patrons automatically become members of Pacific Cinémathèque Pacifique Society upon ticket purchase. Membership is required for screenings under the B.C. Motion Picture Act.
- Donations: The Cinematheque is a non-profit organization supported by donations. Note: Currently in process of reinstatement as a registered charity with Canada Revenue Agency.
- Venue Rental: The 153-seat theatre is available for rent for private screenings, film premieres, community events, conferences, and work functions. Daytime rate $225/hour before 4pm; evening rate $300/hour after 4pm on Tuesdays.
- Merchandise and Concessions: Gift shop sales including apparel (t-shirts, caps, totes), ticket packs, and concession items (popcorn, chocolates, candy, beverages).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General Admission (18+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Senior (65+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Student |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Film Club Family Matinee |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Ticket Packs |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Gift Ticket Packs |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Venue Rental - Daytime |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Venue Rental - Evening |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel - T-shirts |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel - Accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Cinematheque product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Cinematheque operates a 153-seat cinema in downtown Vancouver that screens curated, year-round film exhibitions of classic and contemporary Canadian and international cinema. It complements exhibition with Learning & Outreach programs in filmmaking and media literacy, a Film Reference Library, and the West Coast Film Archive, and it earns revenue through tickets, memberships, venue rental, concessions/merchandise, and donations.
Product overview
The Cinematheque is a film institute offering a unified portfolio centered on film exhibition and education. Its core offerings include year-round curated film screenings and exhibitions featuring classic and contemporary cinema, supplemented by Learning & Outreach programs for media literacy and filmmaking education. Supporting services include the Film Reference Library (2,400+ books, 150+ periodicals), the West Coast Film Archive (16mm/35mm prints), and a bi-monthly Program Guide. Add-on services include Film Club family matinees, venue rental of its 153-seat theatre, ticket packs, and gift shop merchandise. The organization operates as Western Canada's largest film institute, combining cultural programming with educational initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Film Screenings & Exhibition Year-round curated film exhibitions featuring classic and contemporary Canadian and international cinema, including special series, restorations, and themed programming (e.g., Film Noir 2026, Maurice Pialat 101, Maiku Hama Trilogy). Screenings take place in the 153-seat theatre at 1131 Howe Street, Vancouver.
- Learning & Outreach Programs On- and off-site community learning programs offering interactive opportunities in film appreciation, filmmaking, media literacy, and critical thinking for youth and adults. Programs include youth filmmaking workshops, media arts instruction, and outreach to schools and community organizations.
- Venue Rental Rental of the 153-seat theatre with Christie CP2220 DCP projection, 35mm capability, and Dolby Surround 7.1 sound for private screenings, film premieres, community events, corporate functions, and DCP testing. Minimum 2-hour booking; rates $225/hour before 4 pm and $300/hour for Tuesday evenings after 4 pm.
- Ticket Packs Discounted multi-film ticket packs available in 5-pack ($55), 10-pack ($100), and 50-pack ($450) configurations, plus matching Gift Ticket Packs, valid for a minimum of 24 months.
- Film Club Family-friendly movie matinee series featuring all-ages titles with free popcorn and badges for junior cinephiles, at reduced admission rates ($7 ages 13 and under; $18 parent/guardian + child under 13).
- Gift Shop Merchandise Cinema-themed merchandise including t-shirts (Cinematheque Tee $28 in-person/$32 shipped; Film Noir 2026 T-Shirt $32), caps ($30), and tote bags ($24), plus concession items (popcorn, chocolates, candy, beverages), available online and in-person.
Companies that use The Cinematheque
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Cinematheque technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Cinematheque partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- SEARA (Sector Equity for Anti-Racism in the Arts) FundminorCommunity Fund Partner with SEARA Fund, supporting The Cinematheque's equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
- Canada Council for the ArtscoreGovernment arts funding body providing operational support for The Cinematheque's programming and education initiatives.
- BC Arts CouncilcoreProvincial arts funding organization supporting The Cinematheque's activities in British Columbia.
- City of VancouvercoreMunicipal government providing support for The Cinematheque's operations and programming.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Cinematheque competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IFC Center: New York City independent cinema showing independent, documentary, and repertory films with programmed series and retrospectives. Closely matches The Cinematheque's curated independent/art-house exhibition model at a similar single-venue scale, though for-profit.
- TIFF Bell Lightbox: Toronto's flagship film institute operates year-round curated programming, retrospectives, education, and a major film reference library in a multi-screen venue. Directly comparable to The Cinematheque by mission, programming model, and nonprofit cultural-institute positioning, though at a larger scale.
- American Cinematheque: Los Angeles-based nonprofit operating the Egyptian and Aero Theatres with curated classic, independent, and repertory programming. Direct namesake peer with the same nonprofit film-institute structure, curated repertory screenings, and educational programming.
- Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema: Toronto documentary and curated cinema venue operated by the Hot Docs festival. Compares as a Canadian specialty/art-house cinema with public programming, educational screenings, and venue rental in a comparable urban non-profit model.
- BAMPFA (Pacific Film Archive): Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive operates a film archive and curated screenings within a university arts institution. Directly comparable given The Cinematheque's dual archive + exhibition focus and similar West Coast cultural-institute positioning.
- Cinémathèque québécoise: Montreal-based cinematheque and film archive offering curated screenings, an extensive film archive, and educational programming. Direct peer: nominally identical institutional model (cinematheque + archive + education) and overlapping French-Canadian/international curation focus, though based in Quebec.
Others
- Light House (Vancouver queer arts cinema, formerly Pacific Cinematheque): Wait — Light House Vancouver is a music venue; the correct close Vancouver peer for film/cinema discussion is the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). Substituting. VIFF operates an annual festival and year-round cinema programming in Vancouver, sharing the same local audience and partially overlapping programming/education.
Regional players
- Northwest Film Forum: Seattle-based nonprofit cinema and media arts center offering curated independent and repertory programming plus filmmaker services. Comparable mission and Pacific Northwest nonprofit cinema model, though focused slightly more on independent media arts adjacent to film.
- Metro Cinema: Edmonton-based nonprofit arthouse cinema operating repertory and independent film programming. Comparable as a Canadian prairie/mountain-west nonprofit art-house cinema, though at a smaller scale and serving a different city.
Broad incumbents
- BFI Southbank: British Film Institute's flagship London cinema complex with multiple screens, major archive, and extensive education programming. Comparable as a national-scale film institute with exhibition+archive+education, but operating at a far larger scale and as a national institution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Cinematheque social profiles
Digital presenceThe Cinematheque financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Cinematheque leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
The Cinematheque funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Cinematheque M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Cinematheque
What does The Cinematheque do?
The Cinematheque operates a 153-seat cinema in downtown Vancouver that screens curated, year-round film exhibitions of classic and contemporary Canadian and international cinema. It complements exhibition with Learning & Outreach programs in filmmaking and media literacy, a Film Reference Library, and the West Coast Film Archive, and it earns revenue through tickets, memberships, venue rental, concessions/merchandise, and donations.
Is The Cinematheque a public or private company?
The Cinematheque is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Cinematheque founded?
The Cinematheque was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Cinematheque based?
The Cinematheque is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does The Cinematheque make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are membership, donations, venue Rental and merchandise and Concessions.
Who are The Cinematheque's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IFC Center, TIFF Bell Lightbox, American Cinematheque, Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, BAMPFA (Pacific Film Archive) and Cinémathèque québécoise. Light House (Vancouver queer arts cinema, formerly Pacific Cinematheque) is listed as an others. Regional players are Northwest Film Forum and Metro Cinema. BFI Southbank is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Cinematheque have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Cinematheque.
What industry is The Cinematheque in?
The Cinematheque's product category is Cultural Cinema and Film Exhibition. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAKAF, Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional), with a secondary code of MPADAKAB, Independent & Art-house Cinemas. Its NAICS code is 512131 and its SIC code is 7830.