Cinestudio is an independent film theater that opened on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in February 1970. It was founded by a group of Trinity College students that included Peter Stott, Ted Kroll, Peter McMorris, Charles Rumsey, James Hanley, Anne Risdon, Larry Stires and Randy Man. The group of film-obsessed students made a home for themselves in a little-used lecture hall inside the Clement Chemistry Building. The room, unfortunately, possessed troubled acoustics. Within two years, and with the help of Ralph Mauro from National Theater Supply and Lonny Jennings at Dolby, the sound issues were rectified and the room was transformed into a recreation of a 1930s film house. The grand opening (a double feature of "Alice's Restaurant" and The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine") was sold out. Cinestudio screens a variety of second-run, independent, foreign, and classic films. The single-screen venue has a seating capacity of approximately 485, 4K Digital Cinema systems, as well as 35mm and 70mm film projectors for use in studio archive presentations. Cinestudio features a spectacular gold Austrian screen curtain that rises at every show, real balcony seating, and the gold lion courant insignia. I recently visited Cinestudio for the first time. I read about it and an online article and couldn't believe that I had never heard of it before. I parked in a small parking lot on Summit Street and followed the sign which led me through a stone archway. As I walked along the Main Quad, I saw the neon color-changing lights of Cinestudio. Entering Cinestudio is a blast from the past. I purchased my ticket at the Fred Pfeil Memorial Ticket Booth (only $10 a show) and then headed to the concessions area where I purchased a giant bucket of popcorn for only $5. A volunteer told me, "The balcony is nice, but if this is your first time here then I recommend the lower level. You can hear the sound system much better." The interior of the theater was absolutely gorgeous with red accents. The film that I was seeing during my visit was the 1978 remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers": part of the theater's ongoing series "Our National Nightmare: 2026 Anxieties in 1970s American Film". Many screenings at Cinestudio are introduced by a guest speaker; this one featured Roger Benham. Although I have seen this film a number of times before, this was my first time seeing it on the silver screen....and it was so much more frightening now. This was my first visit to Cinestudio, but it certainly won't be my last! read more

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I love Cinestudio, I will support this place foreverrrr! I got to see the secret agent which really wasn't playing anywhere else in my area, besides one showing at AMC that I couldn't make. Cinestudio is now my go to spot for films that don't have large releases or general indie films. The theater is also so beautiful and classic! I can't wait to come back and bring friends. read more

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Returned again tonight at 7 to watch "it was just an accident" (Jafar Panahi, 2025), super intense, very good international film. Highly recommend. read more

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To say that I adore this place would not be doing it justice. I've been enjoying a traditional experience here since the late 80s, 1980s that is. Not sure what kept me away in the last decade but a recent visit to screen Invasion of the Body Snatchers reminded me of the love. No sticky floors, screaming children (hate me if you will but that's a pet peeve of mine), the gilded age ambiance all teleport to a time gone by. From the moment you take the turn into the tunnel and see the marquee, it all flooded back. The festivals, the cartoons from around the world, the foreign films, so much joy packed into memories here. Sharing it with someone new was a lovely treat, another convert was born that night. read more

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I went to see It's a Wonderful Life with my brother and this is a nice theater. The movie was great!

A comfortable and easy to reach location nestled in a small beautiful campus w/ well-lit adjacent parking.Gorgeous glass theatre curtain opens to feature movies.Great selection of movies not found elsewhere, classical a/o memorable. read more

A few weeks ago, I began to see web coverage and print media articles about an intriguing movie. The movie was based on the improbable meeting between Elvis Presley and President Nixon on December 21, 1970. We started checking the local movie listings and it was nowhere to be found.....except at Cinestudio. So today we made our way onto the Hartford campus of Trinity College and undertook our first visit ever to Cinestudio. All I can say is WOW, in fact, make that a DOUBLE WOW!! The theater truly is smack in the middle of the Trinity campus, inside the chemistry building. Although it looks like an elegant Depression-era theater, it isn't. In 1970, some Trinity students decided to remodel a big lecture hall into a carbon copy of a Depression-era 1930's movie palace complete with a balcony. The crown jewel of the theater is an elegant curtain that must be 30 feet tall -it rises majestically at the start of the show. Adult admission was $9 or $7 for seniors. The theater is pretty bare bones- with no concessions except a soda vending machine downstairs. The audio and visual quality were excellent, and the volunteers that ran the ticket office were super nice. Cinestudio operates with a volunteer staff of 50 arts-loving folks, and the theater is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arts organization. You have to see it to believe it. read more

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You really can't beat the ambiance here. You won't find anything else like this in Connecticut either. You can see classic movies in a theater that will make you think you've travelled back in time. Whether you choose the balcony seats or to sit down front you won't regret stopping here. Now if people would just stop bringing their dinner with full-on silverware and grocery bags of loud snacks it would the best cinema experience anywhere. read more

Cinestudio - Cinema Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

My favorite place to see a film - whether its new release in HD/4k, a classic that's been remastered, an independent, student film or a foreign film that provides context (or a distraction) to the day to day life we are lost in at times...As a former student worker who saw his first concert film (Stop Making Sense) many years ago and now a repeat visitor who frequently "heads over" to see a film I would never have heard out without the curation of quality films James & Peter are committed to. Bottom line -- beautiful theater, phenomenal sound & projection and great people. read more

Lovely theatre but give yourself time to find it. The seats are comfortable. They are theatre style, as in you go to a theatre or orchestra, and much nicer than the big chain movie theatres unless you are at an imax. The quality of the movie and surrounding movie goers is also a plus. Quiet, super clean. Everyone was friendly. The staff at the front desk is awesome as well. It IS hard to find!! Map attached to my review. Hope it helps! read more

Cinestudio - How to get there. This is from the stairs side. For another entrance call ahead. This is the way we found it. - Cinema Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

I doubt there is a finer theatre in Connecticut. There is nothing not to love. They achieve what I imagine few theatres do: feature the highest technology in sound and vision in a beautiful, restored, historic theatre, with intoxicating ambience in no small amount. What's more, this is a non-profit that has functioned as a labor of love for nigh on 50 years. One of the student founders is still at the helm! There is nowhere else around to experience beautiful 4K and 70mm (both restorations and that rare new film event). And again, the sound is revelatory. Usually you expect to sacrifice these achievements for the experience of an independent/historic theatre, but not here. I could go on, but just see for yourself. If you love cinema, you will love Cinestudio. read more

Cinestudio has saved me from many an overpriced movie ticket and from boring rainy days. This is Trinity's on-campus movie theater which shows independent and mainstream films (plus a smattering of live broadcasts and old movies) a couple weeks after they go out of theaters. The theater is beautiful, first of all. It is warm unlike most movie theaters. They don't have concessions so stop at CVS on the way. The service is great and the place seems to be mostly staffed by college students. It's usually quite empty with the exception of some events. I appreciate the diversity of the films they offer. It seems that they really try to have something for everyone. read more

I don't know how else to put it-- in its college campus location, Cinestudio is a gem among marbles. Set on Trinity College's campus, this nonprofit independent movie theater is so unique to the Hartford area, and yet still relatively unknown by many folks outside of the college campus. Apart from Real Artways on Arbor Street, there are few, if any, local theaters that will screen documentaries, independent films, classic movies, and critically acclaimed foreign films at ALL, let alone all in the same month. I've seen Casablanca, Howl, and a few other films there so far. With its 1930s film house ambiance, Cinestudio allows for the perfect cinema experience. If you want to see this season's hyped up current blockbusters, you'll probably need to go elsewhere! Scope out Cinestudio's schedule to see what's coming up. The only downside is the cost-- it's $8.00 for a ticket-- still less than the $11 you'd pay elsewhere, but still not cheap. read more

Oh, Cinestudio...how I miss you...especially on those cold nights when cuddling up on the couch to watch a cult classic on my own just feels sad. I used to spend a night or two a week here when I lived in Hartford. These days, I'm rarely able to catch a show when I'm in town, though I still receive their schedule and promos. Good movie mix of classics, indie films, docs, and new-ish fare (never any stinkers, except those selected for their pungency, specifically)...which is tough when you realize that (at least for the most part) they book months out and publish their schedule at the beginning of each semester. Sight and sound is better than you'd think it would be when you walk up to the collegiate gothic building attached to dorms, I promise. Not the most comfy of theaters, to be sure, but appeals to the 'curtain wave' and old-school indie film viewing world. As an average sized woman, I don't have much issue with their old-timey seating...I can imagine that anyone super-sized, either height or weight-wise would far less comfy, though, so, be warned. Incredibly fond and visceral memories...A good place to catch an unexpected flick... read more

Cinestudio is one of Hartford's treasures. One of my fond memories of my years living there was trudging across Trinity's campus on a Friday or Saturday night towards the red lantern at the doorway to the theater. I saw a lot of really cool movies there - Bullets Over Broadway, the cleaned up re-release of Vertigo, Le Cercle Rouge (!) - made all the cooler because I could watch them from a balcony seat in a theater with a lot of character. Bravo, Cinestudio! read more

What an amazing gem hidden right in the middle of Hartford. But you won't feel like you're in the capital city. It's like stepping into another country, another time. You have to experience it for yourself. Recommendations: bring your own food, but there is a soda vending machine. Saw a movie in the winter and it was very very warm up in the balcony, so don't overdress. Oh and bring a date here- I guarantee you will earn many points for style and creativity. read more

A/V QUALITY: the sound system is very good, clear, and crisp. The screen is not huge, but is proportional to the theater. SERVICE: is friendly and relaxed, since the theater is often staffed by students. LOCATION/AMBIANCE: it's nice to come onto a beautiful college campus to watch films. The theater has a vintage feel which is wonderful and rare nowadays. The fact that they feature independent and art house movies makes them a destination in the Hartford area. They also feature current or recently release movies. VALUE: movies are $8 or $7 for Friends of Cinestudio, which is a pretty good deal. There are no real concessions, but I did find a soda machine in the back room of the lower level. I think they allow you to bring your own snacks, but don't hold me to it. read more

Gorgeous theater, sumptuous sound, good films. If I lived nearby, I'd be addicted.

Cinestudio on Trinity's campus is a great place for film buffs. It has a great sound system, good prices and a great ambiance. That old style stage curtain is delightful, and they usually play good music while you are waiting for films to start. You won't find anything like this in the Hartford area. Cinestudio offers a wide variety of films. You can watch classic movies in a theater or films that are in their second release. Whether you choose the balcony seats or to sit down in front you won't regret visiting this theater. Watching classic movies in this Trinity theater will make you feel as if you have travelled back in time. Whether you choose the balcony seats which I never do, or to sit down front you won't regret stopping here. The audiences are usually very respectable, no talking during the film. I absolutely loved the recent Kurosawa Film Festival; it was the first time I had ever seen Akira Kurosawa's 1950 masterpiece "Rashomon" on the big screen. Most recently, I really enjoyed watching the remastered print of Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 masterpiece "Battleship Potemkin" with friends; after the film we went over to the Wood n' Tap to discuss the film, using my iPhone for research. I also like the idea of getting a second chance to see a film that I missed in the regular film houses. If you live in the Hartford area and haven't visited this theater, you are missing a wonderful film experience. read more

A not-for-profit 501c3 since 2002 or so, Cinestudio has been a staple on the Trinity campus since the 70s after students converted a large lecture hall into a recreation of a 1930s film house. From just-out-of-theaters-not-yet-on-film flicks to classic hollywood that you won't find anywhere else, Cinestudio movies are a must-see for anyone unwilling to pay $11 for tickets (it's only $7 here for students) or interested in expanding their cinematic horizons. It's open to Trin students and non-students alike, and I'm thrilled I happened upon it. read more

best place for independent films, and the gay & lesbian film festival this is the BEST of the year. at the end of May...