The idea began when co-founders Ellis Sutton and Eddie Locks attended a small film screening at File Systems of Coffee. There were only a handful of people in the room, but the atmosphere felt intimate, intentional, and deeply communal. After the screening, they asked the owner when the next event would be. His response was simple: “I don’t know. You tell me.”

That moment sparked the beginning of Coffeehouse Cinema.

Drawing from backgrounds in film production, creative development, and marketing, the team set out to build something that felt different from traditional moviegoing: a warm, curated space where audiences could discover bold short films, connect with filmmakers, and engage in meaningful conversation.

What began as a small screening experiment quickly revealed something bigger: audiences were hungry for film culture that felt personal, thoughtful, and human. Coffeehouse Cinema was built on the belief that movies are more than content. They are experiences best shared together.

Today, Coffeehouse Cinema continues to champion emerging filmmakers and community-driven exhibition, turning coffee shops into spaces for storytelling, discovery, and connection.