A man in Brazil turned his childhood dream into a small cinema for film lovers

SAO PAULO (AP) 鈥� Carlos Costa would never forget the summer day his grandmother took him to the movies. He was 6 years old when he first walked into a dark theater to watch 鈥淥 Trapalh茫o nas Minas do Rei Salom茫o,鈥� a 1977 comedy that remains one of the country鈥檚 biggest box office hits.

鈥淲hen I saw that giant screen, wow, I was mesmerized. I thought: someday I鈥檒l have a movie theater of my own,鈥� he said. 鈥淔ifty years later, that dream has come true.鈥�

In 2022, Costa opened Cine LT3, a 35-seat cinema in . Using his savings and credit card, he spent about 100,000 reais ($18,600) to renovate an old garage, buy vintage wooden seats 鈥� which he found in an old shuttered theater in the countryside 鈥� and transform the space into a movie theater.

The screening room now occupies what was once a studio 鈥� a space behind the garage of his small company that was left idle during the pandemic. Costa, who worked as a TV producer, opened the studios in 2012 and rents them out for screening tests and commercials. Where cars once stood, there are now tables and chairs where moviegoers can wait for their sessions, along with a small counter where he sells popcorn, snacks, soft drinks and wine.

There鈥檚 also a small box office where Costa sells tickets to walk-ins. To buy in advance, customers must send him a WhatsApp message to reserve directly.

鈥淭he movie theater is just me. I project the films, make the popcorn, sell the tickets, everything. For economic reasons, I can鈥檛 afford an employee,鈥� Costa said. 鈥淏ut I also think that鈥檚 part of the charm. I know the regulars by name, and that鈥檚 what makes this place different.鈥�

A tale of resistance

Cine LT3 has established itself as a small haven for film lovers, slowly building a loyal neighborhood community and drawing movie buffs with programming that stands apart from the city鈥檚 multiplexes.

Costa’s independent cinema is also part of a resistance of venues surviving outside the mall circuit. According to 2024 official data, there were only 423 screening rooms in small theaters like LT3 across the country. In contrast, nearly 90% of Brazil鈥檚 3,542 cinema screens operate inside shopping malls.

Some of the country’s most traditional stand-alone cinemas now rely on corporate sponsorships to stay open. Many others have shut down and been demolished. In Sao Paulo, where the buildings remain, the former screening rooms have often been repurposed into evangelical churches or adult movie theaters.

Even the venues that survived have faced the threat of closure in recent years. When that happens, local movie lovers often organize protests 鈥� and in some cases, they succeed. That was the case with Cine Belas Artes, located on one of the city鈥檚 most iconic corners, at the intersection of .

Maria Am茅lia Marcos, a 71-year-old teacher, was visiting LT3 for the first time on Thursday, though she often goes to other independent theaters around Sao Paulo. She believes these venues are essential to preserving the city鈥檚 cultural memory.

鈥淚ndependent theaters are very important because they have a completely different appeal,” she said. The film selection is fantastic. I imagine the curators are very thoughtful people who want audiences to see the kind of movies they themselves would love to watch.鈥�

A man’s life dream

Costa curates the lineup himself, focusing on art-house titles from Brazil and abroad. When The Associated Press visited the theater on Thursday, the schedule included a restored screening of 鈥淧aris, Texas,鈥� part of a citywide retrospective marking the 80th birthday of .

Ma铆da Alves, 63, a regular at LT3, had just left a screening of 鈥淧aris, Texas鈥� when she spoke with the AP. For her, the venue holds deep emotional value. Having witnessed collective spaces emptying out during the pandemic, she sees the theater as a rare and essential common ground.

“I think Costa does a really great job,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 see him selling tickets, making popcorn, cleaning, running the film, answering the phone. That fascinates me. It shows how you have to take initiative to pursue a dream, which I imagine is his life鈥檚 dream.”

Costa often hears people question his decisions, especially from a financial perspective. While he admits the work is challenging, he is happy doing what he loves. And he loves cinema, just like Toto, the protagonist of his favorite movie, 鈥淐inema Paradiso,鈥� whom he paid tribute to with a painting on the wall outside LT3.

The character bonds with a local cinema projectionist and, through that relationship, develops a lifelong devotion to movies. Costa said he sees his own life in Toto鈥檚 story and believes movies have the power to transform people.

鈥淣o one leaves a movie theater the same way they entered,鈥� he said. Watching people come and go from his theater every day for the past three years, he says he has learned more about human nature.

鈥淔or example, I screen a film, and some people leave crying while others don鈥檛 understand it at all. I can see the diversity of human beings,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat affects one person emotionally doesn鈥檛 have the same effect on another. I learn something new every day.鈥�

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Maycron Abade contributed in Sao Paulo.

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