How a push for community allowed FilmScene to buy its original building

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FilmScene, an Iowa City cinema, purchased its original Ped Mall location for $2.3 million.

The nonprofit Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City (RSFIC) partnered with FilmScene to make the purchase possible.

FilmScene has two years to raise the down payment and will make mortgage payments to RSFIC over 20 years.

The first unofficial screening at FilmScene was held before the carpet was installed and a ticketing system was in place. But there were seats, a projector, a visiting filmmaker and people who believed in the idea.

"It is of those moments along the way, where you're like, 'all right, this is becoming real," Executive director and cofounder of FilmScene, Andrew Sherburne said.

More than 8000 people donated to a crowdfunding campaign over that frutiful