Amid a national decline in cinema screens and attendance, Central Florida’s independent arthouse cinemas are celebrating 40 years in business, finding a strong foothold with special programming and local fans.
Maitland’s Enzian Theatre recently celebrated its James Bond-style casino royal gala and fundraiser and 40 years of film and friendship. The anniversary offered owners Philip and Sigrid Tietke an opportunity to look back at the business that began in 1985 when Philip’s sister Tina dreamed of the concept.
“She came to the conclusion that Central Florida needed an independent cinema. She went to my father and asked if he would betray her and he said yes,” Philip said. “She found the facility and had an architect who designed the building. I did a business plan for Enzian before it opened. That’s how it started. It’s always with the family.”
Part of Enzian’s first draw included gourmet dishes guests could order while watching the movie, thanks to a collaboration with chef Mark Rodriguez, who owned the adjacent Jordanian glove restaurant.
“The Sentinel had an article praised the fact that he didn’t even have a freezer. Everything he offered had to be fresh,” Philip said. The concept of that film cafe has remained part of the theater’s success throughout history. “We cook to hurt the order. It’s a very tough business because 200 people can show up at once and all those tickets can hit the kitchen at the same time.”
Amidst the financial difficulties of the late 1980s, Sigrid intervened to guide the theatre into a new era.
“I saw a lot of possibilities everywhere I saw. Getting to know the independent film business was a fun adventure,” she said. “We bravely moved to a kind of independent foreign film, and opened on Friday. We built up memberships. Some of those same things still work today.”
The emergence of the Florida Film Festival, which began in 1992, also helped pave the way for Enzian’s future success. Philip conceptualized the idea in the period, with far fewer film festivals.
Now around 15 years old, Edenver represents another pivotal moment in the organization’s history.
Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel
Edenver at the Enzian Theatre in Maitland was painted in early 2020 (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
“All of a sudden we were in the restaurant business, not just in the food and cinema business,” Philip said.
The theater owner said that programming director Matthew Curtis, who has been doing the same job since 1996, has been taking the lead and has Enzian’s success in the lineup of films and special events.
“Our special programming brings people in. People travel everywhere to watch 35mm Enzian movies. It’s lost art,” he said. “The fact that Enzian could have done this for all these decades and did it on a single screen. It’s not a small miracle, it’s a big miracle.”
The successful series that attracted sold-out crowds include 13 Halloween movies, park popcorn flicks, cult classics, unpleasant brunches and music Mondays.
Sigrid said even in the age of widespread streaming and home entertainment, Enzian proves that it is a place where people can enjoy gathering and socializing from home.
“I attribute it to the social theory of ‘great good places’. If the main place you spend time is home and work, then in general there is a third place you go to that is a great good place,” she said. “The idea is that there are no barriers to entry, it’s diverse, it’s safe and interesting. It’s a place where you meet people and hang out. That’s Enzian. That’s what attracts me about it more than anything.”
Sigrid acknowledged the benefits of meetings every day as Enzian turned on the lights and adapted to make the business run harder.
“We are lucky more than most nonprofits in terms of meeting our customers every day, several times a day. We run 360 days a year. We are always in touch with our audience,” she said. “I think Enzian has worked so hard for 40 years and has done an incredible job of achieving his goals. Enzian is now beginning to learn how to tell his story to the community, and will probably act like a nonprofit.”
Find @pconnpie on Instagram or send an email at pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
Original issue: 5am Eastern Standard Time, March 3, 2025
