When Cindependent Film was named the new steward of the historic Mariemont Theatre, the transition needed a campaign that could do more than inform — it needed to generate excitement and rally a community around something new.

The strategic insight that shaped everything was the partnership itself. Cindependent had already built a loyal following through the Cindependent Film Festival, and the Mariemont Theatre carried decades of local history as one of Cincinnati's oldest cinemas.

The opportunity wasn't just to announce a new operator — it was to frame two beloved institutions as something greater together. That idea crystallized into a single line: A new iconic duo. From there, the concept expanded into a poster series pairing iconic movie duos with iconic Cincinnati duos — a layered nod to film culture and local identity that gave the campaign both wit and warmth.

Working within the existing brand systems of both Cindependent and Mariemont Theatre, the full campaign was designed and installed on the theatre facade within two weeks of briefing.

The work landed. The campaign drove meaningful awareness around a ~$500K fundraising effort and helped restore a sense of energy and pride around one of Cincinnati's most cherished neighborhood institutions.

Executive Director & Founder | Allyson West

Design Manager | Jennifer Mayhall

Copywriting | Zach Janszen

Sr. Designer/Creative Director | Zach Janszen