Indianapolis Kan Kan celebrates cinema and community

Indy’s only nonprofit art house cinema gives residents a unique experience to watch movies.

The Kan Kan Cinema and Brasserie is in Windsor Park just northeast of downtown Indianapolis.

Daniel Jacobson, artistic director of the Kan Kan Cinema and Indianapolis Film Project, said the local space offers creative filmmaking and a sense of community.

“For us, it's just a place that celebrates film, whether that's local, independent, even like classic stuff,” Jacobson said “So, for us, you know, we want to create a space that you walked in, and it was a movie theater and kind of harken back to what used to feel like going to the movies, but also a place of community.”

Andrea Watts, director of advancement, said people want a shared experience following the pandemic.

“There's a joy in seeing the movie and sitting at the bar afterwards and unpacking a film with a stranger that you both just saw together,” Wats said “That's happened a few times for me. And I'm like, this place is kind of magical, because you're connecting with people over films over incredible food and drinks. And it's really a special experience.”

The Kan Kan name comes from the Kurt Vonnegut book “Cat's Cradle.”

“I think it's like page two or five. It's super early in ‘Cat's Cradle.’ The Kan Kan is the instrument in which you find your crass, which is your cosmically linked people,” Jacobson said. “And we thought that name was fun. But also, we want the Kan Kan to be an instrument in which you find your people. And so we thought that was a perfect name.”

Kan Kan opened in August of 2021. It offers a membership program for discounted tickets.

Visit the Kan Kan Cinema website for upcoming events and shows.

Contact WFYI Morning Edition newscaster and reporter Taylor Bennett at tbennett@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @TaylorB2213.