This week, in a building that at varying times has been a post office extension, a car showroom and a tire company plant, local art house theater Cine will celebrate its second anniversary.

“We have a nice week of really diverse entertainment, which is really what Cine is all about, more than just being a standard movie theater,” said Kamala Lyons, Cine’s public relations director.

A brief history of Cine

The variety of films in the anniversary celebration is representative of the films Cine normally shows.

“Mainly we want to show independent films, foreign films, documentaries and films from various cultures that let you experience how other people do things,” said Brigitta Hangartner, Cine’s founder and executive director. “We also show classics and local productions and film festivals.”

Hangartner had a double purpose for opening the theater two years ago.

“Film has been my oldest passion,” she said. “I’ve always lived in places that had art house cinemas … And when we moved here, Athens didn’t have one.”

Cine operates much like European art house theaters, according to its Web site.

Originally, Hangartner wanted to bring her art house theater to life with the University’s help. In a 2006 interview with The Red & Black, Hangartner said she initially approached the University with the desire to create a sort of downtown version of the Tate Theater.

When the University-Hangartner venture didn’t pan out, however, she did not give up. Instead, she purchased the former Snow Tire Company building on Hancock Avenue and began building her brainchild – an intimate cinema-bar-cafe hybrid.

From the beginning, Cine’s goal was not just to function as a movie theater, but as a community gathering place, a goal it continues to pursue. The theater’s varied entertainment offerings give Cine its own personality and provide a place for film lovers to meet and exchange their views.

“I thought of Cine from the get-go as a collaborative work of art,” Hangartner said. “So we are adapting to what we think makes sense. We get a lot of input from the community.”

She also was interested in the process of developing the building, which she describes as a “historic preservation and contemporary design . I wanted to do a development project that would be meaningful development in Athens.”

Cine is not only a theater, but has broadened its offerings to include live music, art exhibitions, a full bar, community events, live comedy, charity benefit screenings and film festivals.

Future plans include bringing in better known films, local film nights when anyone can screen films they make and more live music, speakers and events.

Cine is located at 234 West Hancock Ave. For more information, visit http://athenscine.com/.

Film schedule

Tuesday: Cine will show “Silent Light,” with an introduction by University professor Diego del Pozo at the 7 p.m. screening.

“Silent Light” uses untrained Mennonite actors to portray the story of Johan, a farmer in a Mexican Mennonite community. Johan is caught between his love for his wife and for a woman who runs an ice cream stand nearby.

Wednesday: Cine will show “Our City Dreams.” The 7 p.m. screening will be introduced by University professor Judith McWillie. “Our City Dreams” is a documentary about five female artists who live in New York City.

Thursday: Thursday is the day of Cine’s anniversary, and it will celebrate with a reception at 6 p.m. The event will feature live music and food from The National.

Cine also will show “In the Mood for Love” on Thursday, and University professor Ari Levine will introduce the 7 p.m. screening. “In the Mood for Love” is a Hong Kong film about a man and woman who realize their spouses are having an affair. They are attracted to each other, but still feel guilty about their own affair.