An Open Letter to Cinefamily / Fairfax Cinema

July 27, 2018 in commentary, short feature

After yet another derailed attempt at straightforward communications with the Harkhams about Cinefamily, Fairfax Cinema, and the Silent Movie Theater, we release this letter, marking the one-year anniversary of the Board’s failure.

Renovations, Alcohol Coming to Silent Movie Theater (Maybe)

June 26, 2018 in commentary, original reporting

Recent filings with the L.A. Department of Building and Safety indicate Cinefamily/Fairfax plans to begin renovations on the Silent Movie Theater. According to the city engineer overseeing the permit application, “they are doing some interior and exterior work to the existing theater,” including “proposing a small bar at the rear.”

Rehab Scams

May 30, 2018 in commentary, short feature

In the wake of the recent attention paid to the shady rehab industry, we take the opportunity to point out that, hey, Dan Harkham of Cinefamily and Fairfax Cinema is/was active in L.A.'s rehab industry. Sammy Harkham confirms.

Personal Attack “Crossed the Line” — Erin Hensley Tries To Silence Cinefamily / Fairfax Cinema Watchdog

April 01, 2018 in commentary, original reporting

Amidst conversations between this site’s author and Cinefamily / Fairfax’s Erin Hensley, Hensley breaks off communication and takes action to silence this site. (Even before it was cool to cc the provost!)

Details on Fairfax Cinema Trickle Out

February 11, 2018 in commentary, original reporting

Cinefamily’s Erin Hensley confirms that Fairfax Cinema will be a for-profit business, that Dan Harkham is the sole owner, and that Fairfax plans to operate at the Silent Movie Theater showing the same mix of content as Cinefamily. But here’s why they don’t want you to call it a rebranding.

Confirmed: Cinefamily Becomes Fairfax Cinema

January 10, 2018 in original reporting, commentary

In which we contemplate what it means that Dan Harkham, owner of the Silent Movie Theater and controller of Cinefamily, filed papers back in October 2017 for something called Fairfax Cinema.

TL;DR

For the decade of Cinefamily’s existence, and for a certain sort of weirdo, the nonprofit single-screen cinematheque was the best thing about L.A.

In August 2017 we discovered Cinefamily was also a harmful place, especially for workers and for women. Reporting at the time focused on workplace sexual harassment, but when this website investigated we found a deeper rot. Former insiders told us of alleged assault, retaliation, wage theft, and embezzlement—as well as fraud against distributors, taxpayers, and regulators.

Cinefamily’s $2 million annual budget was subsidized by taxpayers and overseen by professionals. If the board of directors had done its job, damage may have been reduced, and Cinefamily might still exist. Instead, evidence indicates some directors were not only aware of problems, but were involved in covering them up.

This website provides original reporting as an ongoing call for institutional responsibility. We seek what the board promised: a credible and comprehensive accounting, victims heard and creditors paid, and a new approach to corporate governance and community accountability.

Please reach out with questions, complaints, tips.