Micro-cinema Cinema '76 on Wednesday closed the doors of its San Juan branch after five years of operations.
"Our hearts may be heavy, but we know this is not goodbye. We believe in the resilience of the Creatives in the industry. We believe in the passion of Filipino movie fans. Magkakasama-sama rin tayo ulit sa loob ng sinehan," said a post on its official Facebook page.
Known as a hub for filmmaker and film enthusiasts, the San Juan outpost of Cinema '76 first opened in 2016 and streamed local pictures both mainstream and indie to a limited crowd in a more intimate setting.
It was also home to events that welcomed exchange between producers, directors, actors, and Filipino cineastes.
Due to pandemic restrictions, movie houses in malls and even smaller venues like Cinema '76 had to cease operations to keep viewers and staff safe against the virus.
"Once the world is ready, Cinema '76 Film Society will continue to serve movie fans looking for a home in our Anonas QC branch."
The Quezon City branch in Anonas LRT City Center was recently transformed into a movie-themed balcony café as COVID-19 shuttered movie-viewing businesses for more than a year now.