Lights, camera, action: the Velvet Room micro-theater to celebrate Wilmington’s film scene

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Attention all moviegoers, a new theater is coming to Wilmington this summer.

The Velvet Room will be a one-screen micro-theater located on Castle Street.

Co-owners Ian Simpson and Anthony Durret both love movies and wanted to bring something special to Wilmington.

Simpson said the theater will show a variety of movies from silent films to well-known classic, but it will also focus on celebrating Wilmington’s rich film history.

“We’re going to have a really local, Wilmington feel from having local props from movies that have been filmed here, but also you know, playing local films, independent productions, and as far as new releases, we will be able to still play more independent releases,” Simpson said.

Simpson said they hope to have the theater open by summer.

A crowd-funding drive supporting the microcinema and bar has already collected $7,500 in less than a week.