Makati Cinema Square eyes an indie cinema comeback

Makati Cinema Square has spent years being known for the things people could find outside a conventional mall. Now, as the aging Makati landmark welcomes a new wave of creative businesses, it may be getting something closer to its original purpose: a cinema.

Independent cinema and creative hub Kino Kwadro is teasing its upcoming opening on the mall’s second floor, adding a new chapter to a building whose movie theaters once helped define its identity.

A mall in transition

The opening comes as Makati Cinema Square, now officially Makati Central Square, undergoes a revival. After its cinemas and longtime department store anchor, Plaza Fair, shut down, the mall gradually developed a reputation for specialty shops, galleries and unconventional nightlife.

Its newer tenants include underground music venues and bars, attracting a younger crowd to a place that has retained much of its old-school character.

The mall’s reinvention raises an interesting question: Can a place that once lost its cinemas find a new audience through independent film exhibitions?

Can indie films draw crowds?

Kino Kwadro’s arrival is particularly interesting given the state of moviegoing in the Philippines. Independent filmmakers and film enthusiasts have long faced limited theatrical opportunities, with festival screenings and alternative venues often providing crucial spaces for films outside the mainstream.

But having a cinema is no guarantee of building a community. Its programming, accessibility and ability to attract audiences beyond an established cinephile crowd will determine whether it becomes a lasting part of the mall’s cultural life or another novelty in its growing collection of creative tenants.

For Makati Cinema Square, the challenge is not only to attract a younger crowd. It is to make its evolving identity work without losing the character that made the place worth revisiting in the first place. Meanwhile, Kino Kwadro has yet to announce further details about its opening and programming.