Imagine a movie theatre that combines the sophistication of a museum with the allure of a trendy restaurant. The newest Angelika Film Center and Café strives to do just that, all while maintaining a dynamic film line-up with the best possible presentation.

The state-of-the-art boutique cinema opened in late September at Mosaic, the D.C. area’s new and most innovative retail destination located in Fairfax, VA. The original Angelika, a cultural institution in New York City, is one of the most successful art houses in North America, while cinephiles in Texas have been frequenting the other two Angelikas in Dallas and Plano for over ten years. Like its sister theatres, the Angelika at Mosaic is dedicated to offering its guests provocative and engaging film programming and cultivating film festivals and special programs designed to appeal to a variety of filmgoers.

The Angelika at Mosaic houses eight auditoriums all designed with the black-box concept, so audiences can become completely immersed in the film experience. Each auditorium features plush velour stadium-designed seating for maximum comfort and expansive wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling screens. Presentation is accentuated with digital projectors by Barco, the leader in digital-cinema technology, and surround sound delivered via Dolby 7.1 and JBL surround speakers. Three 35mm projectors are also accessible, confirming that the Angelika at Mosaic is fully committed to film in all its formats. To outfit this cutting-edge cinema, the Angelika team enlisted the expertise of Moving Image Technologies (MiT) and relied on their professionalism and prowess to guarantee the most modern and advanced equipment and techniques.

Creating a completely unique film and food experience, the Angelika at Mosaic has partnered with chef Lee Anne Wong to provide the culinary vision for its Café, Concession Stand and Lounge. The first-floor lobby Café offers a gourmet menu by Wong that is healthy and creatively inspired by modern global cuisine. A graduate of the French Culinary Institute, currently a contributor on the Cooking Channel’s “Unique Eats,” and well-known for her passion for other cultures, Wong’s signature dishes include a Wasabi Chicken Breast Sandwich on Hawaiian Sweet Roll and an Asian Lemon Caesar Salad, each designed to be paired with a craft beer or select wine. Guests of the Café can also enjoy coffee from Intelligentsia Coffee, one of the most respected coffee roasters in the U.S.

The second-floor Concession Stand features both classic concessions, as well as Wong’s creative twist on those classics including assorted artisan popcorn, with flavors such as beer and cheddar or tandoori yogurt, and gourmet hot dogs including one topped with kimchi slaw, green onions and crispy shallots. “The Junk,” created with potato chips, pretzels, popcorn and Rice Krispie Treats covered in dark chocolate ganache and salted peanut-butter caramel, is already an audience favorite.

The mezzanine-level Lounge, overlooking the three-story theatre lobby and lush grounds of Mosaic, will also feature craft beer and wine selections. The menu has been designed so that guests can comfortably and easily enjoy all food in the auditoriums as they watch a movie; however, the Café is also open to the public without a ticket purchase.

Designed by theatre architect Fred Dagdagan, the sleek and modern Film Center and Café features soaring 40-foot ceilings with high glass windows rising from signature hardwood floors. The lobby is adorned with a bold and colorful hand-painted mural by artist Maxx Moses and two signature Angelika architectural elements, a striking three-tiered crystal chandelier accented in blue neon and a dramatic illuminated rendering of the winged faced of Angelika.

Not only do the well-appointed auditoriums provide luxury for filmgoers, they can also be utilized to make impactful presentations with customizable lighting and sound options and a range of digital presentation formats for corporate meetings and private events. In addition to the auditoriums, the Café, Lounge and private conference room are also available for smaller meetings and breakout sessions. Conferences, meetings, or special events can be arranged through the dedicated in-house events manager.

Committed to bringing the best in art, independent and specialty film to Northern Virginia, the Angelika’s mission is to become an important part of the local arts community. “The Angelika’s goal is to become the premier cinema in the greater D.C. area,” said Ellen Cotter, chief operating officer of the U.S, cinema division of Reading International, Inc. “We are committed to offering exceptional service and a superior and different moviegoing experience at Mosaic.”