Tower Theater: Miami Dade College Reclaims Keys

A five-year lease. That is the new term under which Miami Dade College will manage the Tower Theater on Calle Ocho. The city will hand over the keys on Nov. 1, ending a period of friction that began in 2022.

The college had operated the century-old venue for two decades prior to the split. During that time, the theater offered daily screenings, including Spanish-language and international titles. It also served as a host site for annual film festivals. When the city declined to renew the management agreement, the arrangement collapsed. Local filmmakers and movie enthusiasts protested the change.

City Commissioner Joe Carollo, who represented Little Havana at the time, initially proposed converting the space into a museum dedicated to the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. Veterans from Brigade 2506 rejected the idea. Carollo then announced plans for the theater to function as a welcome center for the neighborhood with international arts programming.

Since that shift, the venue remained open for events only part of the year. Movie programming dropped to minimal levels compared to previous years. The stalemate ended late last year with the election of Mayor Eileen Higgins and new City Commissioner Rolando Escalona. The two officials sponsored legislation in January to return control to the college.

Higgins stated that the college brings years of operating experience and a longstanding commitment to arts and historic preservation. She expressed a desire to work together to preserve the landmark and support its next chapter.

The theater will close for renovations until the new year. The college will install new screens and equipment during this period. A block party will take place on Dec. 10 to mark the venue's 100th anniversary. The college aims to reopen in mid-January with a regular screening schedule.

James Woolley, executive director of the Miami Film Festival from Miami Dade College, said the group is getting the keys after a long wait. He noted that the Tower will open with two screens and daily programming. Woolley also pointed to other local developments, such as Coral Gables Art Cinema expanding and O Cinema opening three screens in Little River, as evidence of growing momentum for independent film in the area.