Cinestudio is an on-campus, student-run theatre that is open to the public. It began as an offshoot of the Trinity Film Society, which in 1969 began showing movies in the Krieble Auditorium, an unused laboratory space in the Clement Chemistry Building, but the first student organizers used their own money to transform the space into a functional theatre. The first public showing was in February 1970 and featured Yellow Submarine and Alice's Restaurant.

The Cinestudio space has served many functions for the college. Many professors utilize it to show movies pertaining to class material to their students and it has greatly contributed to Trinity's film program. The Trinity Film Festival is held there every year since 2012, as well as an array of other film festivals put on by both Trinity staff and the Hartford community. Cinestudio has also served as a way for patrons to see movies for a cheaper price than at a traditional theatre.

Though the inception of cable and streaming services limited the necessity of students to see movies at a theatre, new programs have been developed to encourage attendance. “Moonlight Movies,” for example, is an event sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership that puts on a movie one Friday month that is free for Trinity students.

Trinity Tripod, 04/24/1979.

The Trinity Reporter, Winter 2020.