Actress Isabella Rossellini to Appear at Cinema Arts Centre Fundraiser Screening of La Chimera

On Wednesday, May 8^th, Isabella Rossellini will appear in person at the Cinema Arts Centre with her latest film, LA CHIMERA. This event will be a fundraiser for the necessary purchase of the a new digital projector for the Cinema, which will be installed in June. Help make all of our future CAC screenings possible by attending this special screening, with a Q&A with Isabella Rossellini after the film!

LA CHIMERA is a bewitching mix of earthiness and magical realism by filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher. Josh O’Connor (The Crown) stars as Arthur, a ne’er-do well Englishman, handsomely rumpled and recently out of prison, who returns to a rural town in central Italy where he hesitantly reconnects with a ragtag group of tombaroli (tomb raiders), for whom he uses his uncanny powers of divination to locate graves that date back to the Etruscan period and teem with antiquities of immense value to collectors and museums. Yet the melancholy Arthur has other ghosts on his mind, including his long-lost love Beniamina, who haunts his memory like her own ghostly civilization. Featuring gorgeous rough-hewn textures from the great cinematographer Hélène Louvart and outstanding performances from Isabella Rossellini, Carol Duarte, and Alba Rohrwacher, LA CHIMERA is a dreamlike descent into a majestically tattered world right beneath our own.

Tickets for this event are currently only available to CAC members, and may sell out before they are available to the general public. Members-only ticket buying periods are one of the many great benefits of being a member of the CAC. Right now, Membership is on sale – CLICK HERE to purchase or renew your membership now at the best price of the year!

The CAC Youth Advisory Board Inspires Young Cinema Lovers

The Cinema Arts Centre's Youth Advisory Board is a group of volunteers age 14 - 25 who meet monthly to plan and promote special events for young people at the CAC. YAB member Vincent Biello shares his thoughts on his history and involvement with the Cinema:

Like many things in my childhood, my earliest memories of the Cinema Arts Centre stem from something my grandma heard about from Barbara Walters. In 2008 I was just beginning to develop my lifelong love of cinema and my taste was eclectic and refined; I adored seminal Hollywood masterpieces like Shark Tale and underseen indie gems like Toy Story 2. Ok, fine, I was six years old and I had six-year-old taste. Sue me. But while I was busy analyzing every frame of Spy-Kids 3-D: Game Over, Geraldine Biello was busy breakin’ it down to “Jai Ho!” She had just seen Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and she needed to let the world know.

I think my grandmother’s estate is owed some sort of compensation from Fox Searchlight for the work she did in promoting this movie. She brought it up in phone calls, during dinners, and probably shouted its praises out her car window when she drove past sidewalks. She made it her business to make sure it was seen by anyone and everyone that crossed her path - including her six year old grandson. While my actual memories of seeing Slumdog Millionaire are pretty much non-existent, what began as a simple trip to the movies turned out to be so much more; it was my first of what turned out to be a lifetime's worth of movie memories at the Cinema Arts Centre.

Growing up just 20 minutes away from the Cinema Arts Centre helped a childhood love of silly little cartoons blossom into a lifelong dream of being a filmmaker. I had access to first run indies, cult classics, old Hollywood favorites and everything in between. It was a golden opportunity to develop into a cinematic omnivore undeterred by genre, release date or language barrier.

If there is a feeling to be felt I have felt that feeling at the CAC. I’ve cried good tears at Punch-Drunk Love and bad tears at Manchester By The Sea. The Muppets Christmas Carol made me feel right at home while Perfect Blue left me questioning my own sanity. Crash (1996) made me physically ill and Moonstruck made me believe in love. I was so emotional after getting to see Blue Velvet on the big screen that I ruined what should’ve just been a peaceful car ride home with an extended rant about the beauty of innocence and the banality of evil. I even got to feel like a hero when I was applauded for telling a guy who kept saying “MY BOAT’S IN THIS MOVIE” to shut up at a sold out screening of The Irishman. At a time when most cinephiles are forced to choose between a limited library of compressed files on overpriced streaming services, having a place where I can see great movies the way great movies are meant to be seen is such a privilege.

Now as I look to turn my lifelong dream of making movies into a reality, the Cinema Arts Centre has once again provided me with an incredible opportunity: The Youth Advisory Board, a group of passionate young film fans dedicated to sharing our love of cinema. Despite the fact that I have only been a member since January, the YAB has already helped me meet people my age who share the same passion and desire to make movies and preserve the theatrical experience. It brings me so much joy to say that we are currently working on organizing the first ever Long Island Youth Film Festival for September 2024. The LIYFF aims to give young local filmmakers an opportunity to see their work exhibited on a big screen and it is undeniably the coolest thing I have ever worked on. Click Here for more information on the LIYFF.

Throughout the course of my life the Cinema Arts Centre has been nothing but a constant source of joy; outside of my house I don’t think there is a place on earth I have spent more time. I grew up both physically and artistically, I have seen so many different movies with so many different people at different points in my life and have made countless memories. So thank you Grandma and by extension Barbara Walters, Danny Boyle, Dev Patel, the wonderful people at Fox Searchlight, oh of course all my reps who have been there with me since day one, and, to my kids if you’re watching this, go to bed.

The Youth Advisory Board has many great events planned:

Friday, April 12th at 7:00 pm - FRANCES HA, starring Greta Gerwig

Sunday, April 28th at 6:00 pm - Open Mic Night Fundraiser

Friday, May 17th at 6:00 pm - THE HUNGER GAMES, with Pre-Party at 6pm and film at 7pm

We also just completed our Short Filmmaking Contest - see all the films here, and check out the winning film, by filmmaking team The Family Skeleton, on the big screen before all of our regular films for one month beginning next Friday.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the YAB, please contact Ted Cavooris at [email protected]

Please Take (and Share!) Our Audience Survey - And Earn a Chance to Win Our Coveted "Programmer for a Day" Prize!

CLICK HERE to share your feedback and be entered in a drawing to win "Programmer for a Day!"

Your answers will help us to serve all our members and patrons better as we continue to deliver our mission to bring the best in Cinematic Artistry to Long Island. Everyone who completes the survey and shares their contact info will be entered into a drawing to win our coveted "Programmer for a Day" prize where you pick and present a movie on the big screen! This prize includes free tickets, popcorn and soda for up to 10 guests. Imagine hosting one of your favorite films at the Cinema Arts Centre!

Please TAKE OUR SURVEY today, and share this email with a friend! Survey closes 4/28/24.

THANK YOU!

AFGHAN DREAMERS - with Director David Greenwald In-Person - Proceeds to Benefit Afghan Rescue Fund

On Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 PM, we will screen AFGHAN DREAMERS, a documentary that follows members of the all-girl robotics team from Afghanistan as they struggle to succeed in international competitions while combating their male-dominated culture and the threat of Taliban rule, with Director David Greenwald in person.

Proceeds from the screening will benefit Afghan Rescue Fund, and will be used to assist and relocate Afghan families and individuals imperiled by the chaos in Afghanistan and the oppression of the Taliban regime.

For tickets and more information, CLICK HERE.

Our Next Crossing Party Lines Discussion:

TUE, APR 16 · 7:00 PM EDT

Gun Control

RSVP HERE: https://www.meetup.com/crossing-party-lines-ny-long-island/events/300018512/

The gun debate in the United States has been a contentious issue for decades, marked by intense discussions and legislative battles. Over the years, the debate has evolved, reflecting changing societal attitudes, political climates, and tragic events that have shaped public opinion. The narrative surrounding the "good guy with a gun" has played a prominent role in the gun debate. Proponents argue that armed citizens can serve as a deterrent to crime and potentially stop mass shootings, citing instances where individuals with firearms intervened in dangerous situations. However, critics say that this perspective oversimplifies the complexities of gun violence and bans are essential for reducing mass shootings while pointing to evidence from other countries with stricter gun laws.

At this meeting we will be discussing this issue, including:

• Which side of this debate do you find yourself on?
• What do folks on the “other side” not understand about your views on gun regulation?
• Have you seen this debate shifted over the years? If so, how?
• How effective do you think are the current gun control measures?
• How should we balance the need for personal protection with measures to prevent gun-related accidents, suicides, and homicides?
• Do you see a way to find consensus/ collaboration between gun rights advocates, gun control proponents, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive and effective solutions to gun violence?

And for those who are interested and involved in our Skill Building Mixed Media Club, you can also think of this topic in terms of Moral Foundations and share with the group:

• What moral foundations(s) hold weight for you in this debate?
• What moral foundations(s) do you think hold weight for your opponents in this debate?
• How do we balance the opposing values and concerns?

Links:

• Our Unenforced Gun Laws (National Review)
• 'Should I own a gun?' (The Economist - Audio Podcast 47 min)
• ‘How Much Blood Is Your Fun Worth?’ (The Atlantic)
• On gun violence, the United States is an outlier (HealthData.org)

Join the Crossing Party Lines discussion and have a voice in our nation’s conversation! People of all views are welcomed, appreciated, and heard. Follow the conversation on our social media:

Facebook.com/crossingpartylinesli

Instagram.com/crossingpartylinesli

Twitter.com/cpl_longisland

Advertise With Us!

Advertise on our screens or in this newsletter! We are currently accepting new and returning advertisers. Now is a great time to advertise with us, as our crowds are coming back to experience our programs in our revitalized space. CLICK HERE for details or contact [email protected].

CLICK HERE to review current sponsorship opportunities.