2025 Year End Thank You
A Message from MSP Film’s Executive Director
Dear Friends,
As 2025 draws to a close, we want to thank you for being part of MSP Film’s exciting new chapter at The Main Cinema.
And what a year it’s been. Since January 1, you and fellow film-lovers have filled more than 165,000 seats at The Main. You’ve joined us for thought-provoking films from around the world, celebrated our international film festivals and special events, and embraced the voices, stories, artists, members and friends representing the many cultures that define MSP Film.
We believe deeply in the power of art and cinema to unite, inform and transform. With your support, we’re defying the odds—and the division and isolation of our time—by building a community that’s proudly inclusive, multicultural and forward-thinking. Together, we’re reaffirming the joy of gathering, discovering and connecting through the shared magic of film.
One of you told us – echoing the sentiments we hear from so many of you – that we are not only ‘at the heart’, but we ‘are the heart’ of our neighborhood. This means the world to us, and says it all…
Whether you purchased one ticket or twenty-five, became a member or renewed your commitment, or made a gift large or small—thank you.
Your belief in our mission inspires everything we do. Your support truly matters.
Read our FY25 Annual Report here
Donate here (and help us secure a generous match of all gifts made by 12.31.25)*
We do it for you. We can’t do it without you!
Susan Smoluchowski
Executive Director
MSP Film
PS Save the date for the 45th Annual MSP International Film Festival, April 8-19, 2026! This is a rare milestone in the world of film festivals, and we plan to make the most of it…with you!
*All gifts to MSP Film, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, are tax deductible. Our EIN: 41-1802905
MSP Film’s Major Accomplishments in 2025
- Welcomed 165,000+ curious, engaged, multinational filmgoers to our hub, The Main Cinema
- Became a true Downtown Destination, a beacon in our Historic St. Anthony Main Neighborhood and a revitalizing force along the Mississippi riverfront
- Presented a unique range of 600+ carefully curated films, representing more than 100 cultures and countries around the world – ‘something for everyone’ – daily, on five screens at The Main
- Hosted filmmakers and other guests from near and far throughout the year, greatly enriching the filmgoing experience
- Welcomed 1,000 new members, many of them students, a testament to our broad relevance
- Continued to build our community partnerships, so vital to all of the work we do
- Developed new and further grew existing programs ranging from Images of Africa to Cinema Club
- Expanded our cornerstone events
- The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) – April
- Welcomed nearly 40,000 attendees over 12 days in April, at what is widely considered our annual harbinger of spring and the regional international public event
- Presented 200+ award-winning films from across the globe
- Hosted 150+ visiting artists and filmmakersEstablished Industry Day with Director Ang Lee as special guestLaunched Culture Days, recognizing MN’s rich cultural heritageGrew our footprint beyond The Main, Capri, Landmark St Paul and Rochester to Edina
- Cine Latino – October
- Welcomed a record 4,000 attendees over 5 days, at least 50% of whom were native Spanish/Portuguese-speakers
- Offered 15 high-profile Spanish and Portuguese language films
- Hosted nightly receptions and parties
- The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) – April
- Hosted many other regular film festivals and special screenings at The Main with a wide range of community partners, from The Great Northern, The Black European FF, Il Cinema Ritrovato, The ICC’s Italian Film Festival, The Cuban Film Festival, TC Jewish Film Festival, MIZNA’s Arab Film Festival, to Sound Unseen, and so many more…
- Completed a comprehensive rebranding exercise led by KNOCK Inc., to better reflect our increasingly multifaceted programming and community presence
- Undertook a new round of major upgrades at The Main, all in an effort to improve the artist and audience experience, with funding provided by Best Buy and by YOU!. Key upgrades include:
- Purchase and installation of new laser projectors and new audio systems in three Houses
- Purchase and installation of new seats in House 1
- Ongoing transformation of our long-underused loggia into The Film Strip
- Hired several new year-round employees, to help us sustain our continuing growth: a Community Engagement Coordinator, an Events and Partnership Coordinator, a Social Media Coordinator, a Tech Director, a Development Manager, and two Programmers, who along with a remarkable crew of Cinema Staff, numerous contractors to manage our cornerstone events, and our longtime, dedicated, core Management and Programming Team, make it all happen for you!
- Brought on four new Board members from the corporate, small business, national film, arts and tech industries, complementing our existing Board of 12 community leaders, academics, artists, philanthropists, legal advisors, designers, and more…
- Increased our annual budget to $3.2M (from $1.7M in 2019), with a healthy balance of earned and individual and institutional contributed income, to support our continuing growth
- Last but not least, and driven by this tremendous momentum, we began work on our next level Strategic Plan to inform and guide our work for the next five years.