BMFI Ready to Expand From 2 to 4 Screens

Bryn Mawr Film Institute is a week away from final permission to expand from two to four screens at its Lancaster Avenue theater.

The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners' Building and Planning Committee approved BMFI's request speedily at Wednesday night's meeting. A final vote from the regular board, whose full membership comprises the Building and Planning Committee, is scheduled for Dec. 19.

Executive director Juliet Goodfriend told Patch she is hoping to start construction on the $3 million project in February and finish within about nine months. Construction is expected to cause minimum disruption to existing theater business.

The institute needs township permission to consolidate parcels on the west side of its property. The $3 million project is being funded through a three-year-old BMFI fundraising campaign with an overall goal of $5.5 million. More than $5.3 million has come in already, Goodfriend said, some of it earmarked for other projects, such as a recent digital-projector upgrade.

With the expansion, Goodfriend said, "our patrons will have twice as many movies to go to," as well as additional opportunities to see opera and ballet broadcasts and other programs.

For showtimes and synopses of BMFI films and other events, visit brynmawrfilm.org.