{"id":197914,"date":"2026-06-10T15:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T21:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/?p=197914"},"modified":"2026-06-10T15:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T21:38:20","slug":"slfss-big-upgrade-comes-just-in-time-for-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/community\/slfss-big-upgrade-comes-just-in-time-for-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"SLFS’s Big Upgrade Comes Just in Time for Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

After years in the making, the Salt Lake Film Society<\/a> (SLFS) has completed a major renovation to the <\/span>Broadway Center Cinemas <\/span><\/i>that they hope will greatly improve the viewer experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

In an effort to prioritize comfort for its patrons, and after a calculated and prolonged process, SLFS installed new seats for the first time since 2011. The SLFS has always tried to stay ahead on upgrades, and after reopening in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing the seating in the theater became its next mission. SLFS President and CEO, <\/span>Tori Baker<\/b><\/a>, spoke on the process behind the renovation.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cExperience is our highest priority,\u201d Baker says. \u201cWe knew this was the first big improvement we wanted to make.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
SLFS approached the revamp with their own vision of inclusion and togetherness. <\/span>Photo courtesy of Austen Diamond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Baker and her team didn’t cut any corners when deciding on what kinds of chairs to use and how they would fit into the theater rooms, allowing all moviegoers to be able to experience the upgrade.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWe started with architects first. They go through the proper sightline in our theaters and find what works for us,\u201d she says. \u201cBefore, the seats were donated from <\/span>Thanksgiving Point<\/span><\/i>, and realistically, they weren’t manufactured for our theater.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While other theaters spring toward the newest recliners or luxury seats, SLFS approached the revamp with their own vision of inclusion and togetherness in front of the big screen. In a press release, the company announced how its seat selections differ from typical theater chairs:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe new seats are wide-base gliding chairs, specifically the Rex Glider model. Unlike luxury recliners with mechanical footrests, these seats do not fully recline. Instead, the back of the seat gently glides and adjusts to the viewer\u2019s natural posture, allowing for comfort while maintaining an upright, engaged viewing position. They are designed to enhance comfort without isolating viewers from one another. The absence of footrests helps preserve sight lines and the shared experience of watching a film together in a communal space.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to seeing <\/span>Blade Runner 2049 <\/span><\/i>in full force, you can do it from seats that are environmentally friendly. Newer mechanical recliners often break down, and the replacement rate is much higher than the gliding chairs SLFS selected. The new seats are also 100% natural and part of a bigger mission than just comfort. SLFS believes that other theater layouts create isolation and physical separation from other patrons, but at the <\/span>Broadway Center Cinemas<\/span><\/i>, you can experience a communal feeling in a shared space.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIn a world where technology increasingly isolates us, cinema remains one of the few places where people gather for a shared emotional journey. Our auditorium design reflects that belief. Comfort matters \u2014 but connection matters more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
SLFS wants to get butts in seats for this year\u2019s <\/span>Summer Showdown<\/span><\/i>. <\/span>Photo courtesy of Austen Diamond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SLFS has big things coming this year in the wake of the upgrade and wants to get butts in seats for this year\u2019s <\/span>Summer Showdown<\/span><\/i>. Until September, you can find yourself watching cult classics like <\/span>Velvet Goldmine <\/span><\/i><\/a>or <\/span>Tank Girl<\/a>, <\/span><\/i>or if you missed Oscar winners like <\/span>The Mask <\/span><\/i><\/a>or <\/span>The Shape of Water<\/a>, <\/span><\/i>Salt Lake Film Society\u2019s <\/span>Summer Showdown <\/span><\/i>has you covered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Baker also sees the seat upgrade as a way to set SLFS apart from other experiences and strives to keep the local theater on the vanguard of new ideas and innovations.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cArt houses are always at the forefront, and our mission is to ensure we are honed in on the art form,\u201d she says. A big task like this is a process, and through both SLFS\u2019s relentless adaptation and a loyal community and contributors, the project is finally completed. \u201cThree screens were down for five months, and that’s where the donors come in,\u201d Baker says. \u201cArt needs participation. It’s a part of the model we are allowing to be shown in our community that reflects back to the community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more about what’s going on at the Broadway Center Cinemas:<\/em><\/strong>
\nSalt Lake Film Society Summer Showdown: The Handmaiden vs Gone Girl<\/a><\/strong><\/em>
\nFilM\u00e9xico: A Cinematic Love Letter to La Patria<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

To help SLUG Magazine continue its support of independent film, consider joining our community of donors!<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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