There are two pieces of equipment in the Garneau Theatre that we simply cannot do without. Our digital projector and popcorn machine are what turn the Garneau into Edmonton's finest place to celebrate film, otherwise we would just be a big beautiful art-deco room with a bunch of chairs. These machines create the sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas of the cinema experience—they imbue a rich sense of nostalgia that we all associate with "a night at the movies." From the day Metro Cinema first moved into the Garneau Theatre in 2011, we have relied on the same projector and popcorn machine for over 9000 events. This year, these old faithful friends have let us know in their own way that they are ready to retire and pass the torch to a new generation. So with that, we are setting our sights on purchasing brand new ones!

This is an exciting move for Metro, but it is also an expensive one. We are asking members of the community to come together and be part of this exciting new venture, and help keep the cinema experience alive at the Garneau Theatre. We are aiming to raise $95,000 by the end of June for the purchase of an industry standard, state of the art Barco projector, as well as a new Gold Medal commercial popcorn machine with a larger capacity 52oz kettle that will help us handle the popcorn demands of our increasingly busy shows.

There's also a special opportunity for one lucky contributor. For every $25 you donate to this campaign, you will get a charitable tax receipt and one entry into a draw, occurring July 1st, where the winner will become "Programmer for a Day." That's right, by helping us purchase these items, you might just get the opportunity to work with the Metro Cinema team to bring your vision of cinema magic to the big screen at the Garneau, with the help of the new projector!

Additional rules:

• The reward draw will be conducted July 1st, upon completion of the fundraising campaign.
• Some restrictions apply. Film choices and screening dates are subject to availability and Metro Cinema approval.
• No purchase necessary. To enter the draw you can also submit a 1500 word essay on your favourite film and receive one entry slip for the "Programmer for a Day" draw. A PDF copy of your essay can be submitted to info@metrocinema.org