AUBURN – As Hollywood unveils its lineup of big-budget, high-decibel sequels, one local multiplex is making room for smaller, quieter films.

The 10-screen Flagship Cinemas in Auburn is setting aside one screen for one night each week to show the smaller films, independent movies that otherwise would not be shown in Lewiston-Auburn.

“People ask us, ‘Are you going to play ‘The Namesake?’ or some other film,” said Andrew Poore, operations director for the chain’s Maine and Florida theaters. “Now we can say yes.”

The challenge now is to find an audience, he said.

That may be especially tough during this summer’s slate of comic-book characters, boy wizards and pirates.

When “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” opens on Friday, the three-hour, $300 million movie will occupy two screens at the Auburn theater.

Two days earlier, the theater will host the subtitled spy film, “The Lives of Others.” The German movie won the Oscar for best foreign film in February. The Internet Movie Database estimated its budget at $2 million, 150 times less expensive than Johnny Depp’s theme-park-ride-turned-movie.

Poore believes there is room – in the marketplace and in his theater – for both kinds of films.

“Some people shy away from movies this time of year,” he said. “We’re hoping to bring those people back.”

Word of mouth has already brought some. Since Poore’s Flagship Select Series kicked off on April 11, he has seen some repeat customers.

“We’re not filling the house yet,” he said.

Poore has been printing schedules of upcoming films, so patrons can see what’s coming.

Planned movies include the interracial drama “The Namesake” on June 13 and the subtitled World War II drama “Black Book” on June 20. The latter film was directed by Paul Verhoeven, the Dutch auteur behind “Robocop,” “Total Recall” and “Basic Instinct.”

Tie-ins with other businesses are also in the works. Already, attendees to the films are given free Tim Hortons coffee.

If the movies do well, they may lead Poore to begin similar programs at other cinemas in the chain. Flagship also has theaters in Lewiston, Oxford, Thomaston and Waterville.

“We’re just getting this off the ground,” Poore said.