Synopsis of Your Cinema Needs You Documentary

When Your Cinema Needs You premiered at the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta, in December 2023, it drew thousands of attendees over multiple sold-out screenings which set in motion a concerted effort to bring the aging cinema back to life. 

The feature length documentary, directed by Luke Fandrich, explores the extensive history of Canada’s oldest surviving purpose-built cinema, and its successful release brought international attention to a landmark that few outside of the small prairie city in which the theatre is located had heard about before. 

The Monarch Theatre opened in 1911. Over the decades, it underwent various ownership changes and survived multiple shifts in the film industry — from silent films to sound, from 35mm reels to digital projection. In 2023, after two years of inactivity, the non-profit Monarch 1911 Society acquired the building and talks about reopening the theatre began. Fandrich’s documentary, based on archival research, interviews with former employees and patrons, and newly uncovered historical materials, had already been teased as the ideal film to reopen the theatre with. According to local media reports, its release was strategically planned to align with the reopening of the theatre for public programming.

Initial screenings were held inside the Monarch itself. Demand exceeded expectations, prompting a series of extensions to the premiere run as new screenings were added. Former staff members and long-time patrons attended the premieres, contributing to the excitement surrounding the reopening. Coverage in the Medicine Hat News emphasized that the film brought attention to the theatre’s role in the community and to broader discussions about heritage preservation.

The film’s subject — the rise, decline, and renewal of a historic single-screen cinema — aligns with a wider pattern affecting similar venues across North America. Independent and heritage theatres have faced sustained financial pressure due to changes in movie distribution, competition from multiplexes, and the growth of home streaming. Fandrich’s film positions the Monarch as a case study in how such spaces can adapt and survive through community investment, volunteer support, and municipal partnerships.

Following its local debut, Your Cinema Needs You entered the international festival circuit. Over the course of 2024, it screened in more than 30 cities in 12 countries. It received 25 festival nominations and 14 awards, including eight for Best Documentary. At several film festivals, organizers noted parallels between their historic venues and the Monarch Theatre, underscoring the documentary’s relevance beyond its immediate geographic context.

The film also had measurable local effects. Increased attention led to a rise in volunteer inquiries and financial support for the theatre’s restoration work. Discussions about heritage preservation gained visibility in civic and cultural forums, with the film frequently cited in media coverage related to the Monarch’s revitalization. This aligns with Fandrich’s stated intent to produce a work that would document the theatre’s history while supporting its future.

In March 2025, the film premiered online through TELUS Originals, allowing national audiences to view it for free. This streaming release expanded the reach of the project and introduced the Monarch’s story to viewers across Canada. Fandrich stated in interviews that many people who had heard of the film but could not attend earlier screenings contacted him after its digital debut, sharing new stories about other independent cinemas across the country.

Critical reception focused on the documentary’s straightforward storytelling and emphasis on historical accuracy. The film uses archival footage, photographs, and first-person accounts to create a thread through over a century of experiences.

The documentary’s extended premiere run over several months helped to fuel early progress on the Monarch’s restoration. According to reports, exterior work continued through 2024 and 2025, with further upgrades planned to modernize technical systems while retaining the theatre’s historic architecture. The building’s heritage value, previously a matter of limited public awareness, became more widely discussed. The film contributed to this shift by centralizing the theatre’s timeline in a single narrative accessible to the public.

Your Cinema Needs You involved extensive research to showcase a history that had only been thinly documented. Fandrich identified gaps in the historical record and sought out surviving documentation and oral histories to clarify conflicting accounts of the theatre’s early years. For example, the Monarch Theatre’s claim as one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in Canada required precise verification of operational timelines, closures, and ownership changes. 

The claim of the Monarch Theatre being the oldest surviving purpose-built cinema remains the standout definition promoted by Your Cinema Needs You. The Monarch was built for the sole purpose of screening movies when it opened in 1911 and was never a venue for vaudeville or live theatre - this is a key detail that sets it apart from the vast majority of theatres built at this time.

The documentary’s impact can be divided into several categories: awareness, engagement, preservation, and external recognition. Awareness was achieved through screenings, press coverage, and the online release. Engagement occurred through increased volunteerism and public attendance at events. Preservation was supported indirectly by stimulating interest in the theatre’s history and future. External recognition came through festival screenings and awards that drew attention to Medicine Hat and the Monarch Theatre on an international stage.

As of 2025, the Monarch 1911 Society continues restoration work on the theatre. Public interest remains sustained through events, heritage programming, and educational activities. The film continues to be referenced in ongoing updates surround the venue. 

While only one part in a collaborated effort to revive the Monarch Theatre, Your Cinema Needs You consolidated historical information, increased public visibility, and built momentum for the theatre's preservation in a way that is still fueling the discussion about the future of this landmark today. 

Synopsis of Clay, Creativity & the Comeback

Clay, Creativity & the Comeback, directed by Luke Fandrich, is a compelling documentary that tells the story of Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat, Alberta, highlighting the power of creativity, resilience, and community action. 

Released in 2019, the film chronicles how a once-abandoned ceramics factory was revitalized through the dedication of passionate individuals, transforming it into a vibrant cultural and educational hub. While focused on a specific site, the documentary resonates broadly, illustrating how heritage preservation and collective effort can reshape communities.

Medalta Potteries was a cornerstone of Medicine Hat’s industrial identity, producing functional and decorative ceramics that reached markets across North America. However, by the 1950s, economic shifts and changes in manufacturing led to the factory’s decline. Buildings were left vacant, kilns grew cold, and the site faced the risk of disappearing entirely from public memory. 

Fandrich’s documentary about Medalta and the surrounding clay district captures this decline while emphasizing the crucial role of those who fought to preserve it. Individuals such as James Marshall and Jack Forbes dedicated years to advocacy, restoration, and fundraising, ultimately securing Medalta’s designation as a National Historic Site of Canada.

The film’s strength lies in its human storytelling. Through interviews with volunteers, historians, and artists, Fandrich paints an intimate portrait of the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs involved in saving Medalta. The documentary does more than recount historical facts; it conveys the emotional investment of those who recognized the factory’s cultural and historical significance. Viewers witness the determination required to preserve the past, along with the joy and satisfaction of seeing the site return to life.

Clay, Creativity & the Comeback has had a meaningful impact on both local and broader audiences. Locally, it has renewed interest in Medicine Hat’s industrial history and inspired community pride, showing that collective action can achieve remarkable outcomes. 

For educators, historians, and cultural enthusiasts, the documentary provides a resource for understanding how heritage preservation intersects with creativity and civic engagement. By highlighting workshops, exhibitions, and educational programs at Medalta, the film also emphasizes the ongoing role of art in connecting the past to the present.

Ultimately, Fandrich’s documentary is a celebration of resilience and the ambitions of a community to reimagine their heritage for a new generation. It demonstrates that even neglected spaces can be revitalized when people work together toward a shared vision. Beyond its historical focus, the film encourages audiences to recognize the value of cultural heritage, inspiring other communities to preserve and repurpose their own forgotten landmarks. 

Clay, Creativity & the Comeback ensures that Medalta Potteries is remembered not only as an industrial heritage site but as a living testament to the ceramic arts. The success of these efforts further emphasizes the importance of dynamic community spaces and the potential for renewal that emerges when dedicated artists rally around them.

Your Cinema Needs You at the Paramount Theatre

My thanks to the Kamloops Film Society for selecting my documentary, Your Cinema Needs You for a series of screenings to help celebrate the 70th birthday of the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Kamloops, British Columbia last weekend. 

Seeing this project travel the world and play in so many unique and historic venues has been the cherry on top of what we saw happen back home with the Monarch Theatre. 

Thank you so much for the continued support!

Newsmaker of the Year: Luke Fandrich

I'm grateful, humbled, and very surprised. 

Yesterday, the Medicine Hat News announced in a full front page spread that I, Luke Fandrich was their 2024 Newsmaker of the Year - recognizing the success of my documentary, Your Cinema Needs You about the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta. 

I only got the heads up a couple weeks ago that my name was being thrown around about this, but when we ran those first premiere shows of the documentary at the Monarch one year ago I really had no idea what 2024 had in store or just how far this film would end up going. 

I want to thank this community for their involvement throughout so much of this journey. 

Telling this story - in this way - would've been impossible without so many of you reaching out, sharing your experiences, and supporting the project from the very beginning. I can't downplay what a significant detour my year took, and the doors that opened, because of how well those premiere shows did. 

I want to thank the team at the Medicine Hat News for their coverage throughout the course of production of the documentary and for this recognition. Seeing this announcement was an amazing way to both cap off and kick off a year. Thank you!

Monarch Documentary Wins 14 Festival Awards

Without being able to properly respond to each individual message this week, let me just say thank you one last time to everyone who made this experience unforgettable. Thank you to the cast and crew, to all the audiences and supporters, to the producing team, festival organizers, promoters, and on and on and on. I'm incredibly proud of what we all achieved.

With the international film festival tour for my documentary Your Cinema Needs You concluding this month it's finally hitting just how much happened this year. More here.

A special shout out to the Monarch Theatre and to everyone in Medicine Hat, Alberta too. If we weren't already feeling the hometown love throughout all of this, the documentary was once again a front page story this week. It's been an ending right out of a Christmas special.

New irons are in the fire for 2025. Stay tuned.

International Film Festival Tour Concludes

It's finally over! After 10 months, the international film festival tour for my feature documentary, "Your Cinema Needs You" has finally come to an end! So, how'd we do? 

Over the course of this year the story of Canada's oldest, surviving, purpose-built cinema (the Monarch Theatre located in Medicine Hat, Alberta) was officially selected and screened at film festivals in more than 30 cities in 12 countries. 

The icing on the cake is that during this time we also picked up 25 festival nominations and 14 wins (including 8 in categories for best documentary)! 

I can't say thank you enough to all of the cast and crew who made this possible. Also, thank you to everyone in Medicine Hat who came out to one of the 16 premiere shows at the Monarch Theatre earlier this year. Without that initial reception I never would've pursued such an ambitious (and long) festival run. 

Details about what's next and where you can finally see the documentary are soon to come. I just wanted to say thank you again! A project like this wouldn't have been possible without the support you've shown. Original post here.

Next Steps, Milestones, and the Documentary

In the process of working on an update for tomorrow, it hit me that it was exactly one year ago that we finalized plans for the premiere screenings of "Your Cinema Needs You" and set the gears in motion to finally reopen the Monarch Theatre. 

This was meant to mark the end of the documentary. It wasn't. 

Who knew it would kick off a new series of side quests that (incredibly) would last another year. The 3 night premiere, which felt ambitious at the time, turned into a 16 show run with thousands turning out to see the debut (the encore of the encore of the encore). 

Not bad start for an indie doc.

And then the film festival run began. 

More news tomorrow about what's next.

Your Cinema Needs You in Australia

Your Cinema Needs You has picked up its final film festival selection and is off to Australia! This selection marks the 12th country the documentary has traveled to this year and will conclude the limited release / international film festival tour that kicked off in February 2024.

International Film Festival Tour Expands to 25+ Cities

"Hey, what's been happening with the Monarch Theatre documentary and when can we see it?" I've probably been asked this question more than any other this year. With the last festival schedules now being finalized, here's a brief (and overdue) update about the international film festival tour for "Your Cinema Needs You" directed by Luke Fandrich.

Needless to say, there have been no shortage of surprises throughout this entire experience. Since the premiere run ended back in February 2024, "Your Cinema Needs You" has been on an ambitious international film festival tour which quickly surpassed expectations for what this release would look like.

In the last 8 months, the indie doc about Canada's oldest cinema has gone on to screen in over 25 cities across 11 countries. From Los Angeles to Montreal to Berlin to Istanbul to Tokyo, the movie continued to pick up official selections in new venues that further pushed the release down the road as we built momentum.

These were all really good problems to have.

Where are we now? The notifications about final festival selections for 2024 are expected in the next few weeks. Regardless of the outcomes, this will see the festival run conclude this December and should fast-track public viewing options soon after. This means the long-teased wide release is finally on the horizon.

I'll get into more of the behind the scenes about this entire chapter in a future post.

Once again, thank you for the continued interest, patience, and support through all of this. I wouldn't have even pursued this detour had all the premiere shows in the Monarch Theatre not been such a huge success. It's been a life-changing ride.

More details to come.

The Oldest Surviving Cinema in Stockholm, Sweden

After a year of film festival screenings for my documentary, Your Cinema Needs You, including two of which that took place in Sweden, I made a point of visiting the oldest still-operating movie theatre remaining in Stockholm. This is the Zita, a small, but beautiful art house cinema that first opened in 1913. What can I say? All of the research about old cinemas that went into the production now has me actively searching them out on my travel shoots.

 

Searching For Hollywood's Oldest Cinema

With the film festival tour for my documentary, "Your Cinema Needs You" and some of my travel shoots overlapping this year, I've made a point of searching out old cinemas in a lot of the different places that I've been going.

In Los Angeles, a city full of incredible theatres, I thought it would be interesting to find the oldest cinema in Hollywood. This lead me down a bit of rabbit hole.

For starters, until Hollywood was incorporated into Los Angeles in 1910, the town had regulations specifying no theatres. Once incorporated, this changed quickly. The first cinema built in Hollywood in 1910 was called the Idyl Hour, which was later renamed the Iris Theatre, however the location changed several times in just a few short years. A very familiar story.

With only a few images and an old fire map to go on, the theatre would've been located on prime real estate on Hollywood Boulevard. Unfortunately, when I went to see what was there today this is what I found - an empty lot with a direct view of the Hollywood sign.

The cinema had been defunct since the 1920s and the name moved again, but I was curious if the building had been repurposed or modified. What makes this location special is just how many incredible cinemas are still in the area.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre (now the TCL Chinese Theatre) is just a few blocks away and in addition to still hosting movie premieres to this day, it's endured as one of the most famous movie palaces in the world. Quite the contrast from where the Iris began over a century ago.

Each of these detours makes me further appreciate what was uncovered in making the documentary about Medicine Hat's Monarch Theatre. It's a fascination about how much has changed, what's been left to find, and that through it all that little cinema back in Medicine Hat has survived when so many others didn't.