The Enzian Theater is a
nonprofit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
arthouse
An art film, arthouse film, or specialty film is an independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience. It is "intended to be a serious, artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal", "made prima ...
movie theater
A movie theater (American English) or cinema (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), also known as a movie house, cinema hall, picture house, picture theater, the movies, the pictures, or simply theater, is a business ...
located in
Maitland, Florida
Maitland is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States, part of the Greater Orlando area. The population was 19,543 at the 2020 census. The area's history is exhibited at the Maitland Historical Museum; the city also hosts the ...
. The theater hosts the
Florida Film Festival
The Florida Film Festival, produced by Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, is an annual international film festival.
Overview
The Festival includes narrative and documentary features and shorts, animation, midnight movies, and educational fo ...
and several other local film festivals. The name "Enzian" is the German word for
gentian
''Gentiana'' () is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family ( Gentianaceae), the tribe Gentianeae, and the monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With over 300 species, it is considered a large genus. Gentians are notable for thei ...
, a genus of mountain flower. Patrons sit in chairs around tables where drinks and meals are served during the film. The Enzian's motto is "Film Is Art".
History
Founded by Tina Tiedtke in 1985, Enzian showed six to twelve classic films a week and occasional live shows.
The theatre opened on February 15, 1985 with a showing of D.W. Griffith's ''
Broken Blossoms
''Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl'', often referred to simply as ''Broken Blossoms'', is a 1919 American silent melodrama film directed by D. W. Griffith. It was distributed by United Artists and premiered on May 13, 1919. It ...
'' and star
Lillian Gish
Lillian Diana Gish (October 14, 1893 – February 27, 1993) was an American actress best known for her work in movies of the silent era. Her film-acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912, in silent film shorts, to 1987. Gish was dubbed the "F ...
attended the event.
In 1989, Enzian refocused on first-run independent feature films.
See also
*
John Tiedtke
References
External links
*
Enzian Theatre Reviews
Theatres in Florida
Buildings and structures in Orange County, Florida
Tourist attractions in Orange County, Florida
Maitland, Florida
501(c)(3) organizations
{{Florida-stub