Screenings

Thursday, May 8, 7pm
Maysles Documentary Center
(Special Guest: Valarie Walker, actor)

Cheryl Dunye, 1996, 85 mins, USA
featuring Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner
and Valarie Walker

Cheryl Dunye’s wry, groundbreaking debut gave cinema something wholly new: a vibrant portrayal of Black lesbian identity by a Black lesbian filmmaker. Mixing humor with sharp critique, the film follows Cheryl (played by Dunye), a young cinephile making a documentary about a forgotten Black actress from the 1930s popularly known as “The Watermelon Woman.” As she uncovers Fae Richards’s story, Cheryl’s own life—especially her relationships with her lover Diana (Guinevere Turner) and her best friend Tamara (Valarie Walker)—is thrown into turmoil. A landmark of New Queer Cinema, The Watermelon Woman reclaims erased histories with wit, warmth, and radical clarity.
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Saturday, May 10, 4pm
JCC Harlem (Family-friendly activities
and snacks follow the screening.)
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Saturday, June 21, 11am
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space
(Special Guest: Frank Oz, the voice of Miss Piggy and others)
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James Frawley, 1979, 95 mins, USA
featuring Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and Jerry Nelson

Irresistible and irrepressible, the Muppets shine in what was their first full-length feature. Kermit embarks on a journey to Hollywood, joined by beloved characters like Miss Piggy (Frank Oz) and Fozzie Bear.  Packed with humor, music, and star-studded cameos, this family classic is a joyous celebration of friendship and ambition. A timeless comedy that charms audiences of all ages.

Thursday, June 5, 7pm
Maysles Documentary Center
(Special Guest: Bette Gordon, Director)

Bette Gordon, 1983, 100 mins, USA
featuring Sandy McLeod, Will Patton,
and Richard M. Davidson

A young woman, Christine (Sandy McLeod), becomes fascinated by the world of a downtown porno theater where she works as a cashier. Reversing the classic Hitchcockian dynamic, the film casts its cool, blonde heroine as the pursuer, turning the thriller into a study of female desire, voyeurism, and obsession. Featuring New York vanguard artists like Nan Goldin, Luis Guzmán and Cookie, Variety is a gritty, provocative indie classic with a sultry score by John Lurie and a playful nod to the Metro Theater’s own history as a porn theater in the 1970s.

TICKET INFO TO COME

Tuesday, June 17, 7pm
Carole Zabar Center for Film at JCC Manhattan
(Special Guest: Mira Nair)

Pan Nalin, 2021, 110 minutes, India
featuring Bhavin Rabari, Richa Meena,
Paresh Mehta

Gujarati (with English subtitles)

A poignant and visually captivating coming-of-age story, Last Film Show transports us to a small Indian village in the 1970s, where a nine-year-old boy spends an entire summer mesmerized by films in a rundown movie theater projection booth. Last Film Show is a celebration of childhood dreams, community, and the timeless allure of the silver screen. A perfect family-friendly film that will inspire all generations!

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Tuesday, July 15, 7pm
Carole Zabar Center for Film at JCC Manhattan
(Special Guest: Frank Oz, Director)

Frank Oz, 1999, 106 mins, USA
featuring Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin

Hollywood satire at its finest! Zany, sharp, and full of heart, Bowfinger is a wildly clever comedy about the absurd lengths people will go to make movie magic. Directed by Frank Oz and starring Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy in dual roles, it’s an affectionate but hilarious send-up of Hollywood hustle that reminds us how far passion and a little delusion can take you—even without a budget or your star’s consent.

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Tuesday, July 22, 7pm
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space
(Special Guest TBA)

Steven Spielberg, 2022, 151 minutes, USA featuring Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams,
Paul Dano, Seth Rogen

A universal coming-of-age story, The Fabelmans is Steven Spielberg’s personal love letter to the healing power of cinema. Through the lens of young Sammy Fabelman, the film explores the moment when children come to realize that their parents are people—flawed and vulnerable. In Sammy’s case, his family’s struggles lead him to a vocation that will become his obsession as he discovers the power of art to shape lives, spark dreams, and navigate life’s complexities.  Through this film, Steven Spielberg—a key supporter of the UWS Cinema Center—reflects on the roots that shaped his legendary career.

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Tuesday, August 12, 6:30pm
Carole Zabar Center for Film at JCC Manhattan
(Special Guest TBA)

Martin Scorsese, 2011, 126 mins, USA
featuring Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, and Sacha Baron Cohen

A love letter to the early days of cinema, Hugo follows a resourceful orphan living in the walls of a bustling Paris train station who stumbles into a magical mystery involving Georges Méliès—the real-life pioneer of cinema—and discovers the wonder, magic, and resilience of filmmaking itself. Visually rich and emotionally tender, Hugo—directed by UWS Cinema Center adviser Martin Scorsese—is a family-friendly celebration of the dreams sparked by cinema and the people who keep those dreams alive.

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Tuesday, August 19, 7pm
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space
(Special Guest TBA)

Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988, 124 minutes, Italy featuring Philippe Noiret, Salvatore Cascio,
Marco Leonardi

Italian (with English subtitles)

Nostalgic and heartwarming, the award-winning Cinema Paradiso follows Salvatore, a successful filmmaker, as he reflects on his childhood in a small Sicilian village. There, he forges a lifelong bond with the local movie theater’s projectionist, Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), who introduces him to the world of film. With stunning cinematography and an unforgettable score by Ennio Morricone, Cinema Paradiso is a timeless celebration of the power of movies to shape lives and stir emotions, making it a beloved classic for all ages.

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FREE OUTDOOR SCREENING
Saturday, August 23, 8:30pm
West 110th Street and Amsterdam Ave.
Co-hosted by Columbus/Amsterdam BID,
(Rain Date: Saturday, September 6 at 8:30pm)
Shown in the original English with Spanish subtitles

Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen, 1952, 103 minutes, USA
featuring: Gene Kelly,
Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor

Set during Hollywood’s transition from silent films to talkies, Singin’ in the Rain is a joyous, colorful musical with pure cinematic magic. Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly), a silent film star, navigates the challenges of the new sound era, all while trying to win the heart of leading lady Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). Filled with iconic dance numbers, unforgettable songs, and comedic charm, this beloved classic remains a high point in American cinema, delighting audiences of all ages with its energy, humor, and timeless appeal.

Wednesday, September 3, 6:30pm
Lycée Français de New York
(Special Guest TBA)

Michel Hazanavicius, 2011, 100 min, France/Belgium
featuring Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman

This Oscar-winning French gem is a delightful, romantic comedy in the style of the silent films of 1920s Hollywood. As silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) grapples with the rise of talkies, his career faces decline, while aspiring actress Peppy Miller (Bérénice Béjo) seizes the opportunity to become a rising star, leading to a rivalry and a poignant relationship that showcases the personal and professional challenges of Hollywood’s transformative era. With its stunning black-and-white visuals and stellar performances, the family-friendly film celebrates the timeless magic of cinema’s early days.

TICKET INFO TO COME