The Community Film Institute, a successor to the Community Theatre Foundation, established in 2001, is a non-profit organization that operates a movie theater in downtown Fairfield.
The Community Theatre at 1424 Post Road opened in the early 1920s as a vaudeville house, switched to a film format in 1929, added a second screen in 1979 and was closed in May 2001 by Loews Cineplex, which was unable to compete with the two large cineplexes on Black Rock Turnpike - one in Fairfield, the other next door in Bridgeport.
The Community Theatre Foundation was created to reopen the landmark movie theatre, staff the theatre with volunteers, offer discounted prices on movie tickets and donate proceeds beyond operating and capital expenses to area charities.
The theatre, reopened by the foundation in December 2001, shows second-run films, art and independent films at a cost of $4, and its concession stand also offers discounted prices on popcorn, soda and candy.
The twin-screen movie theatre includes a balcony that dates to 1933 and an indoor box office.
Movie times vary, but the theatre generally shows evening movies Monday through Friday, and matinee and evening movies Saturdays and Sundays.
Parking is available on-street and in a nearby municipal lot near the corner of Reef Road and the Post Road, behind the Sherman Green gazebo.