Construction is in full swing at The Independent Picture House, with the goal of opening on Thanksgiving.

The nonprofit arthouse cinema, run by the Charlotte Film Society, will be at 4237 Raleigh Street, about a quarter-mile from the LYNX Blue Line’s Sugar Creek Station. The nonprofit announced its plans for the three-screen theater last year, as a place for independent, classic, and foreign films that will also serve as the home of film festivals and a resource for local filmmakers. It came after the closure of Charlotte’s beloved Manor Theatre, as well as Regal Ballantyne and other arthouse cinemas.

Work is now well underway at the cinema, with the two larger auditoriums framed in and their electrical roughed in, the plumbing roughed in, and projection equipment, screens, curtains, and seats on order. Brad Ritter, president of the Charlotte Film Society, said ticket and membership pricing will be announced soon, as will concession options. The group hopes to work with local businesses like bakeries and breweries as much as possible for that.

A GoFundMe campaign for the cinema wrapped up at the end of September, after raising more than $127,000 of its $150,000 goal through hundreds of donations. But your donations are still needed – visit charlottefilmsociety.org to contribute. The film society is a 501(c)(3) so all donations are tax-deductible.

In the meantime before the cinema opens, the film society’s Charlotte Film Festival runs Oct. 13-17 at Ayrsley Grand Cinema. Ritter said the festival schedule will be released in early October.