SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake Film Society (SLFS) is transforming the moviegoing experience for cinema lovers with brand-new, boho-luxe, environmentally sustainable, and accessibility-forward seating and auditorium upgrades at the nonprofit’s Broadway Centre Cinemas location—while remaining open for films throughout the renovation. With construction phased to ensure continued programming, at least three auditoriums will remain open at all times, creating the best seat for independent film and an even more welcoming space to settle in, snack up, and get lost in a great movie experience.

Made possible by a generous grant from the AHE/CI Trust, SLFS will be upgrading all six Broadway cinema auditoriums to reflect International Living Building Challenge values: place, beauty, health and happiness, equity, and the environment. As the renovation unfolds, patrons and donors will enjoy material experiences that match the high-level cinematic curation SLFS is known for, bringing harmony between the recently upgraded presentation and sound systems and the comfort and style of a world-class arthouse experience. SLFS will also push the envelope on environmental remodels in cinema.

“This is an opportunity for SLFS to connect more directly to the environment we call home,” said Tori A. Baker, CEO of Salt Lake Film Society. “Top of mind for us as we look to the future of our facilities is the health of air quality, and the Great Salt Lake. We intend to set a high bar of environmental standards internally both with this project and future projects, contributing to our community’s wellness and longevity.”

Movie lovers can anticipate two styles of cinemas upon completion:

  • Boho-luxe cinemas: Three auditoriums will feature wide-base seating that glides smoothly and is covered in luxurious, natural fabrics and colors. Custom “date-night” seating will convert two seats into a loveseat-like experience with side tables for popcorn, drinks, and treats.
  • Modern classic cinemas: Three auditoriums will have roomier, durable seating made of natural and recycled fibers in warm earth tones.

All cinemas will bring the community experience together for comfort and beauty, especially during sold-out screenings and filmmaker guest events. Guests can also expect innovative ADA access and turnarounds, new entry doors, improved lighting, environmental flooring, new beautifully recycled-material sound panels, and walls. Front-row guests get a little extra love too, with select seats featuring built-in footrests for peak relaxation.

Accessibility is a top priority in this upgrade. Each auditorium will feature new platforms at the center rear, designed for patrons with mobility limitations offering not only improved access but also premium sightlines. SLFS will also install flip-up armrests throughout every auditorium, providing wheelchair users who prefer to transfer into standard seating greater flexibility. In addition, the theatre will introduce new sensory accessibility features in partnership with KultureCity and will continue to offer audio description devices and assisted-hearing options, including closed-captioning devices and open captions at all Wednesday screenings.

All materials were sourced to achieve the highest environmental standards ever applied to cinema seating in the United States. The project incorporates carbon-neutral manufacturing and offsets, supporting responsible farming and strong economies in the U.S., and ensures innovation continues on environmental cinema seating for future arthouses and commercial cinemas to learn from. The seating concept, project coordination, and on-site installation were led by Kotobuki Seating International and Ferco Seating Systems Ltd, both part of Kotobuki Seating Group, an internationally renowned public seating group with more than 110 years of experience serving the world’s most iconic cultural, civic, exhibition, and entertainment venues worldwide.

“There are lots of definitions of sustainability in building projects around the world, but SLFS’ is way above what anyone has done because it is defined by the leaders at SLFS and the community,” said Keiko Sutton, Kotobuki Seating CEO.

Industry-wide, cinema seating—especially “luxury” recliner systems—often rely on energy-intensive mechanisms and are replaced on five-year cycles, contributing to landfill waste. The materials used for SLFS seating and auditorium are designed to last more than 30 years and are composed of highly recyclable materials. Wall materials are manufactured from recycled bottles and plastics, and the flooring is made from natural, renewable materials such as linseed oil, wood flour, limestone, jute, and pine rosin—making it biodegradable, non-toxic, and often climate-positive by absorbing more CO₂ than it emits during production. These materials support renewable electricity use in manufacturing, high recycled content, and contribute to green building certifications such as LEED, while offering health benefits through the absence of phthalates and plasticizers.

“This is about making moviegoing feel special on multiple levels from the moment you arrive,” said Sarah Sinwell, Board Chair of SLFS. “Independent film and Utah deserve a space where audiences can truly connect and enjoy the cinematic experience—and we’re building the best seat for that future right now.”

During the renovation, community support remains essential to SLFS’s mission. Moviegoers can support the nonprofit by attending screenings throughout the upgrade and by considering membership in the Red Carpet Club.

Tickets and details for all films are available at slfstix.org.

About Salt Lake Film Society (SLFS)

Founded in 2001, Salt Lake Film Society (SLFS) is an Oscar-nominated federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit cinema with a mission to exhibit, create, and preserve the cinematic experience. SLFS that screens motion-picture films at the Historic Tower Theatre (established in 1928) and the Broadway Centre Cinemas (established in 1989). SLFS has established cultural film festivals such as FILMEXICO, MASIMA: Pacific Island Film Festival, and Czech That Film, as well as the MAST (Media Accelerator Studio) for animators.

Now celebrating 25 years of impactful mission work, SLFS serves as an economic anchor in downtown Salt Lake City and the 9th and 9th neighborhood, continually innovating to create immersive, transformative, and engaging cinematic experiences accessible to everyone in the community. SLFS programs unite artists, their films, and audiences, allowing them to experience films as they were meant to be seen—in a darkened room, on a big screen, in the company of friends, family, and neighbors. Supporters can donate at slfstix.org/donate/give-to-slfs.