Meet Christopher Escobar | Owner, Plaza & Tara Theatres and Executive Director, Atlanta Film Society

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christopher Escobar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
While I’ve started a business before (a small production company), my businesses today (the Plaza, the Tara and as a social enterprise, the nonprofit, the Atlanta Film Society)–none of these were ones I sought out to run/have. Instead, these were reactionary as a means of preserving or restoring them. These are arts & cultural institutions that had a future threatened, and I was at the place/time/position to do something about protecting their future.

What should our readers know about your business?
So I have three businesses/organizations that make up a lot of the use of my time:

THE ATLANTA FILM SOCIETY is a 48-year old nonprofit organization that produces one of the oldest film festivals in the country, the Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) and while it’s one of the 10 most competitive film festivals in the world, is at a far more grassroots and community-based level than all others in that group. It’s an Academy Award qualifying festival and most specifically out of the 4,000+ festivals world-wide is one of only a dozen or so that qualifies films for all three categories for the oscars. It’s legacy includes being one of the first to play the work of various diverse voices of women, people of color, and artists from the South and other overlooked parts of the world. It has the credit of being the reason why Spike Lee decided to continue pursuing filmmaking as a career having played his first film (a short film in 1979) giving him the vital validation that he possessed talent. It’s been a challenge to keep the organization going, especially in a state with the lowest levels of public arts funding in the entire country, and amidst its bigger corporate supports all being bought by out of state entities. That being said, we’ve been able to overcome the challenges through a combination of the dedication of the staff and board to roll up sleeves and operate as a social enterprise. We received a very small percentage of our resources from individual donors or foundations and a uniquely larger amount both from earned income and corporate support. Collaboration has been at the center of our success particularly both with other brands and neighboring nonprofits. The ATLFF has such an incredibly rich program each year because we’re lucky to be able to choose selections of films and screenplays from upwards of 10,000 submissions. It’s an incredible way to discover new stories, new voices and network with people from across our film community.

THE PLAZA THEATRE is the oldest cinema in Atlanta and of the 100+ cinemas that were in operation when it opened in 1939, it is the last one still in operation (as a cinema). I’ve been involved with it since 2012 and was able to purchase it from the previous owner in 2017. There have been a number of times that the Plaza’s future was uncertain with the most recent being COVID. Thankfully we were able to navigate and pivot both through doing our part (with online offerings and a drive-in both on our site and another with our friends at Dad’s Garage) and with the community joining us and supporting us. We’ve had a number of times that the Plaza has appeared in national news. Thankfully now that is has three screens, it’s doing better than it has in decades which is important because real-estate in our area can be over 5x more expensive than it was less than a decade prior.

THE TARA THEATRE is Atlanta’s second oldest cinema and Atlanta’s last movie palace to open in 1968. For the first time in over 30 years, the Tara is once again owned locally. The Tara has a restored sense of occasion and incredible popcorn. It also has a fascinating history as having hosted for screenings Prince, Michael Jackson and President Jimmy Carter. After it was abruptly closed by its previous operator in 2022, we were fortunate enough to be able to reopen it in 2023. Both with the Tara and the Plaza we’re trying to restore the best parts of the movie-going experience while integrating various modern updates.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Hotel Clermont: the restaurant they have, Tiny Lou’s, the bar, the rooftop, the rooms, the lobby–everything about it. While I don’t frequent the Clermont Lounge, I love that its there and I think it’s such a uniquely Atlanta institution.

The Carter Center Presidential Library and Museum is such a fascinating and underrated gem. I think we’re all so used to it being there that we take it for granted. Not only does it house such incredible history, but as the site also hosts the Carter Center (the nonprofit that the former President and First Lady started to do mental health, protecting democracy and public health work) it’s humbling to know that they are continuing to serve our country and mankind.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel like credit goes to all the people around me that encouraged me, mentored me, took chances on me and joined me in the process. This includes investors, staff, advisers, donors, customers, patrons and biggest for last, my wife and family.

Website: www.atlfilm.org www.plazaatlanta.com www.thetaraatlanta.com

Instagram: @atlantafilmsociety @plazaatlanta @thetaraatlanta

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-escobar-1386b36

Twitter: @atlantafilmsociety @plazaatlanta @thetaraatlanta

Facebook: @atlantafilmsociety @plazaatlanta @thetaraatlanta

Image Credits
Plaza & Tara Theatres