Jason Garnett, the founder of The Shadowbox Cinema at 22 Kirk Avenue in downtown Roanoke, announced on Facebook that he will be stepping down, leaving the future of the quirky microcinema uncertain.

Dear Shadowbox friends and family,

After our screening of the Phantom Carriage on November 24th, I will be stepping down as Creative Director of The Shadowbox. I and a small group of beloved volunteers have run Roanoke’s only microcinema for almost 3 years. I feel we have accomplished everything we set out to do and now it is time to move on to other projects. I want to personally thank everyone that has supported this offbeat and innovative idea from the start. You have made this a true community microcinema, you are The Shadowbox.

Sincerely,
Jason Garnett

I asked Garnett via Facebook if Shadowbox would be closing for good and if finances were a factor in his decision. His response:

I feel I’ve accomplished everything that I started out to do. I don’t have any other answers for you. I do know that Ed Walker wants to continue cinema in the same space but I don’t know what the status of that is.

It was a difficult decision, but in the end it’s the right one for me. I want to thank you for all of your support. I can’t divulge my next step yet but I’ll keep you posted.