Ioka will woo the Seacoast indie-film crowd

“It is a great way to bring in a new demographic,” said Roger Detzler, owner of Exeter’s Ioka Theatre. He’s excited about a new arrangement between the Ioka and Emerging Pictures, an independent film distribution company.

Over the past couple of years, Detzler had noticed increasing public demand for a venue dedicated to independent films. He saw the trend as a steady source of revenue, but couldn’t conjure up an appropriate business solution.

When Emerging Pictures contacted him two years ago, he was at first reluctant to adopt such a “quirky business model.” The two sides conversed sporadically, but Detzler remained uninterested until he was certain that Emerging Pictures would steadily progress into “a more marketable product.”

The deal was finalized a few months ago, and the Ioka began renovating its smaller downstairs screening room to accomodate a new entertainment system by early May. In all, the upgrades will cost over $20,000, as the room’s old 35-millimeter projection system is converted into a digital, high-definition system.

When finished, the screening room will seat approximately 60 patrons and include a new digital screen, speakers, projector and air conditioning, all features absent from the Ioka’s main 400-seat theater. The plush room was designed to have the chic feel of an art deco bar. According to Detzler, the intimate and upscale milieu was created to suit the adult audience that independent films tend to draw.

“(This) is for the older movie goers who lost faith in cinema,” Detzler said.

A stipulation of the deal is that the theater must purchase a server, which is similar to On Demand. Each time the Ioka wants to screen a new film, Detzler can go to the Emerging Pictures Web site and download the video to its server, where the film is ready to play almost immediately and can be shown as many times as the Ioka wishes.

The system also allows the Ioka to take suggestions and tally votes regarding the Emerging Cinema’s debut film. Detzler expects to first screen either “Taxi to the Dark Side” or “Honeydrippers.” 

“Taxi to the Dark Side,” a documentary by director and producer Alex Gibney, researches the death of an Afghani taxi driver who worked at Bagram air base up until the time of his apparent murder in 2002. Gibney’s desire to uncover the truth leads him to candid interviews with eyewitnesses and forensic experts and includes thorough research of records pertaining to the man’s suspicious death. 

The fictional film “Honeydrippers,” produced by John Sayles, tells the story of a 1950s club owner who is mired in debt. The owner books a legendary guitar player as part of a last ditch effort to save the club, but the musician backs out at the last minute and the owner is forced to turn to an unknown drifter with a unique guitar and sound. The chance partnership yields unsuspected results.

Detzler will continue to listen to the audience’s suggestions regarding subsequent independent films. He urges fans of independent film to peruse Emerging Pictures Web site, www.emergingpictures.com. The site lists and describes all the films available to each Emerging Cinema. Suggestions can be sent to Detzler at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The films will begin at 7 p.m. each day, except for Fridays. Beginning in May, the theater will also add musical and comedic performances, and starting in June, the Ioka will offer an opera series, including broadcasts of performances at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala. The series will run from June to September, beginning at 2 p.m. each Wednesday and Sunday. 
Detzler said the Ioka’s new programs will not interfere with the film schedule in the main screening room. “We don’t intend to exclude our family demographic,” said Detzler. “The big blockbusters will continue (upstairs), and that is the way we intend to keep it.”

Ioka Theatre is located at 55 Water St. For more info, visit www.iokaentertainment.com or call 603-781-8922.