How A Former Senior Netflix Staffer Launched One Of Japan’s Buzziest Indie Cinemas
Former Netflix executive Matt Kelson has opened Cineyama, a 43-seat independent cinema in a former kindergarten in Yamanashi Prefecture, about an hour west of Tokyo. The venue gives local audiences access to international and independent films, and offers a new cultural space in a town attracting families seeking a quieter life outside the capital.
Kelson, who worked at Netflix for around 11 years and previously ran an indie cinema in Detroit, established the venue after being laid off and deciding to stay in Japan with his family. The kindergarten had been abandoned for a decade; gaining approval from the city and residents took about three months, followed by a year of renovation and consultation. Since opening in spring, Cineyama has welcomed more than 3,000 people in its first six months and offers digital, 35mm and 16mm projection.
In short
- Former Netflix staffer Matt Kelson opened Cineyama in rural Yamanashi.
- The 43-seat cinema has welcomed more than 3,000 visitors.
- Its programme centres on international and independent films.
Explained simply
Independent cinemas are small venues that show films outside the main commercial circuit, including international and independent work. In Japan, many cinemas are concentrated in larger cities, so people in smaller towns may have fewer chances to see those films locally.
Cineyama is a 43-seat cinema in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, set in a former kindergarten. Its founder, Matt Kelson, previously worked at Netflix and ran an independent cinema in Detroit; the venue also gives the town a new cultural space as some families move away from the capital.
The project involved converting a building that had stood empty for years, with input from local residents and the city. Its mix of digital, 35mm and 16mm projection allows it to show films in different formats.
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