DETROIT – Paula Guthat calls Cinema Detroit the best kept secret in Detroit.
The movie theater is tucked away in a historic school building along the city's Cass Corridor.
Guthat and her husband, Tim, run the space. It was their dream to open up a theater in the city.
"Most of what I show are the truly independent movies," said Paula Guthat. "That was one of the reasons why we wanted to open a theatre. We would hear about these cool movie releases, but they would only be shown in LA, New York Chicago and never Detroit."
The couple found the perfect space in the former Burton International School building, which was built in 1912.
"We showed some silent movies that were actually newer than the building, and that was a cool feeling," said Paula Guthat. "The oldest one I've actually shown is from 1919, so the building is always older than the movies, and that's a cool thing."
The Guthat appreciate being surrounded by history while trying to create a future for film in the city.
"We want to become trusted voices when it comes to film, so we can say look, 'We have these good movies come out and see them,'" said Paula Guthat.
These self proclaimed "movie freaks" show anything from Oscar winning films, to Sundance Film Festival Shorts to movies made in Michigan.
"Our first date was the directors cut of Blade Runner," said Paula Guthat. "We're just movie freaks. Movie nerds."
They try and keep everything as local as possible, from the movies to the concession stand. Detroit made Popcorn is freshly popped an hour before show time and bottled Faygo is available to purchase.
"You just don't open up a movie theater nowadays," said Tim Guthat. "It's crazy. It just goes against conventional wisdom, but I think our passion just made us jump."
Cinema Detroit is open seven days a week. Tickets are $8.
Show times and movie schedule: http://cinemadetroit.com