If you love independent cinemas, you do not want to miss Magic Hours. This gorgeous 45-minute documentary lovingly captures a variety of movie houses (and the dedicated people who keep them running) across Alberta. Magic Hours is free to stream on CBC Gem today.
We talked with filmmaker Levi Holwell about the project and what drew him to the world of indie cinemas.
Please introduce yourself and the project Magic Hours:
My name is Levi Holwell and I’m a filmmaker based out of Alberta, Canada. My film Magic Hours is a wistful invitation into the world of struggling movie houses across Alberta. Through the 45-minute documentary, audiences meet some of the passionate protectors reviving, re-inventing, and sometimes letting go of these once vital community spaces.
What inspired you to make Magic Hours?
In 2024, the global landscape of cherished movie houses faces profound uncertainty and increasing public indifference. Traveling through small rural towns in my home province, I found myself consistently drawn to the quiet, overlooked theatres nestled on street corners. I often wondered about their caretakers and their dedication to preserving these cultural landmarks.
Through Magic Hours, I aimed to explore themes of dedication, passion, and resilience in the face of adversity, paying homage to the lives intertwined with these theatres.
Having made Magic Hours, what do you wish more Canadians knew about brick-and-mortar cinemas?
In many cases in smaller communities across Canada, the independent movie theatre is often one of, if not outright, the oldest building in the town. They are unique architecturally, and significant historically. Across many decades they have served as critical hubs out of which community building and the arts have flourished and I wish we were doing more to ensure their future survival and viability.
Why do you think cinemas are important?
I think they are important for a number of reasons but the simplest reason is I really believe in the value of seeing movies in movie theatres. Of course everyone is watching movies in so many different ways these days but I think film as an art form is intrinsically linked to cinemas and I’ll always vouch for setting time aside to view a film in these spaces when we are able to. It enriches the experience in so many ways.
What is your favourite moviegoing memory?
I’ll say seeing It Follows at the Globe Cinema back in 2015. It was a Calgary Underground Film Festival sponsored screening and they showed it to a packed audience on valentines day. Starting with arriving at the theatre on a cold February night and ending with walking back to the car after the movie, the whole experience was sublime.
Where can people watch Magic Hours, and how can they follow your upcoming work?
Magic Hours is available to stream now, exclusively on CBC Gem. You can follow my work on instagram at both my personal page @leviholwell and my business page @leftsidepictures.
