How one community rallied to save their hometown movie house | One Detroit

February 23, 2026

The Milford Independent Cinema, a non-profit theater in western Oakland County operated by the Huron Valley Film Organization, recently faced potential closure after its board announced it needed to raise $70,000 by the end of January to remain viable. Community members rallied to support the beloved movie house, which is run by local volunteers through the film organization. At the deadline on January 31st, board member Julie Hill-Lin announced they had successfully secured the necessary funding to keep the theater operating.

Who is affected

The Huron Valley Film Organization (board of directors and community members)
Milford Independent Cinema staff and patrons
Julie Hill-Lin (board member)
Bill Kubota (One Detroit Senior Producer)
Western Oakland County community members

What action is being taken

The Milford Independent Cinema is staying open after securing the necessary $70,000 in funding.

Why it matters

The successful fundraising effort preserves a community-operated, non-profit cinema that serves western Oakland County residents, demonstrating the value local community members place on accessible independent film venues and cultural institutions in their area.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com