Mission and History:
The mission of the Cinema Arts Centre is to bring the best in cinematic artistry to Long Island, and use the power of film to expand the awareness and consciousness of our community.
When the Cinema Arts Centre was founded in 1973, it was called the New Community Cinema. Co-Founders Vic Skolnick and Charlotte Sky, with their son Dylan, were passionate organizers who brought people together to form a movement around film culture that would help shape and define the very character of our area, now renowned as a cultural destination and an arts-rich community. Long-time residents love to reminisce about how they were there, back when Vic and Char would hang a sheet on the wall of a friend’s dance studio and project films with a borrowed projector. Attendees would bring their own chairs, and have tea and chat about the film while the reels were being changed. They call it the “sheet-on-the-wall” days. Membership began as a request for a contribution from each film-goer to help pay for the following week’s film. From this beginning, we have grown to become a state-of-the-art cinema, with digital and 35mm projection capability, three main auditoriums, and a big screen in our multi-purpose space, the Sky Room Café. We have nearly 10,000 members and attract about 150,000 visitors to our area each year.
We have a long history of using the power of film to do social good. Programs unite, inspire, educate, mobilize, and create empathy in a world where empathy is greatly needed. Like the power of film itself, which is greater than the sum of its parts, the power of the CAC is boundary-breaking. Programs lift the voices of under-represented groups, of vital community organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations, impacting a variety of causes and issues, and allowing us to share resources, create mutual benefits and work toward a better Long Island.
Cinema Arts Center is a strong believer in Independent Films and Huntington. We believe you are too and hope you will join in crowd-funding the production of HIDDEN LIGHT by clicking HERE. (Your gift will support the film AND the Cinema Arts…
Read More »Mindscapes Exhibition of the the work of artist Denise Kramer Denise Kramer is an abstract painter whose works are explorations of organic shapes that are inspired by the interaction of the natural world and human connection. Her process of…
Read More »Expanding Horizons with the CAC Youth Advisory Board 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 Steven Keane…
Read More »Thanks to Everyone Who Made Our Garden Party so Wonderful! On Sunday July 28, over 100 local business and civic leaders, Cinema Arts Centre Board Members, CAC Circle of Friends Volunteers, CAC Youth Advisory Board Members, Board and…
Read More »The Long Island Youth Film Festival Submit your film through August 1st! The first-ever Long Island Youth Film Festival, presented by the Cinema Arts Centre’s Youth Advisory Board, will be a celebration of exciting young filmmakers living…
Read More »The CAC is Proud to Be the Fiscal Sponsor of DEALERS - a film being made in Huntington The Cinema Arts Centre is proud to introduce its members to a film being shot, here in Huntington, this November. DEALERS is directed by Huntingtonian Daniel…
Read More »Green Thumb CSA - Huntington is Coming to The Cinema Arts Centre's Sky Room Café starting Thursday, June 6th! ...$55 off ONLY for Cinema Arts Centre members till June 30th! What a great way to celebrate Earth Day every day, by eating…
Read More »The Cinema Arts Centre is Proud to Host the 15th Annual Huntington High School Film Festival Support Huntington’s aspiring young filmmakers at this lively evening featuring the best movies made this year at Huntington High School! Enjoy a…
Read More »Our Spring Membership Sale is going on now! Click here to buy or renew your membership at the best price of the year! Let's Talk About Something Delicious! Martin and Laurie Butera have been deep supporters of the Cinema Arts Centre for…
Read More »We Want to Know! CLICK HERE to share your thoughts and experiences in our audience survey! The more feedback we get from our members and patrons, the more meaningful this data will be in helping us make decisions about programming and operations…
Read More »Actress Isabella Rossellini to Appear at Cinema Arts Centre Fundraiser Screening of La Chimera On Wednesday, May 8th, Isabella Rossellini will appear in person at the Cinema Arts Centre with her latest film, LA CHIMERA. This event will be a…
Read More »Cinema Short Film Contest Local filmmaking teams will compete to create short films celebrating the theatrical moviegoing experience. Filmmaking teams have until Friday, March 15th to make a short film. All creativity -- writing, shooting,…
Read More »This week at the Cinema, we are opening the epic historical drama 'The Promised Land', starring Mads Mikkelsen. You can also still see the award winning films 'The Zone of Interest' & 'American Fiction' - both of which were just nominated for…
Read More »We Now Have Daily Open Caption Screenings! The first show of each first-run feature in each of our three theaters every day will have open captions. Open captions provide an inclusive viewing experience that does not require patrons to ask for any…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema, we are opening the winner of the Grand Prix and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival,…
Read More »Click here to View the Information About "Cinema Arts Centre Community Newsletter - January 12, 2024"
Read More »Thanks to All Who Made Our 50th Anniversary So Special December first was our actual 50th Anniversary - to the day - and we celebrated with a full-facility event presented by Rivkin Radler, LLP. Our CAC Through the Decades 50th Anniversary…
Read More »This week at the Cinema, we are opening the latest film from Palme d'Or winning director Hirokazu Kore-eda, 'Monster'. You can also still catch the fantastic new biopic of Leonard Bernstein, 'Maestro' and the final film from legendary director…
Read More »Each year, we ask our community to support us in two ways, first by being a member - which comes with great benefits! - and then by making a fully tax-deductible gift to the Vic Skolnick Life of Our Cinema Campaign. Our 2023 Vic Skolnick Life of…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema, we are opening the final film from legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, the critically acclaimed 'The Boy…
Read More »Click here to support the Cinema with a CAC Gift Card, which can be used for Tickets, Membership, and Cafe items. Click here for branded CAC and Cult Cafe merchandise. CLICK HERE to support the 2023 Vic Skolnick Life of Our Cinema Campaign. 50th…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema we are bringing back the new Rolling Stones documentary, 'The Stones & Brian Jones' for additional…
Read More »Long Island Arts Alliance Releases Arts & Economic Prosperity Study The Long Island Arts Alliance has found that arts and cultural organizations across Long Island, like the Cinema Arts Centre, generated $330 million dollars in economic impact…
Read More »On Friday December 1st 2023 is THE 50th anniversary of the founding of the Cinema Arts Centre. We've been celebrating all year with a variety of 50th anniversary events, including our CAC Through the Decades series featuring a special screening and…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema we are opening the new comedy/drama from award-winning director Alexander Payne, 'The Holdovers',…
Read More »Time is running out to be included in our 50th Anniversary Keepsake Journal! Friday December 1st 2023 is THE 50th anniversary of the founding of the Cinema Arts Centre. We've been celebrating all year with a variety of 50th anniversary events,…
Read More »Click here to support the Cinema with a CAC Gift Card, which can be used for Tickets, Membership, and Cafe items. Click here for branded CAC and Cult Cafe merchandise. Click Here to support the 2023 Vic Skolnick Life of Our Cinema Campaign. Are…
Read More »Youth Advisory Board Creates Events for Young Cinema Lovers This month, the current incarnation of the Cinema Arts Centre’s Youth Advisory Board marks one year of activities. The Youth Advisory Board is a group of 14- through 25-…
Read More »FALL FOLIO, 50th Anniversary Edition - PREVIEW With much appreciation and gratitude to CAC Director of Marketing and Communication Nate Close, and our generous friends at Maiarelli Studio, we are excited to share this PREVIEW of the 50th…
Read More »CAC Through the Decades 50th Anniversary Fundraising Events are On Sale! In celebration of the Cinema Arts Centre’s 50th Anniversary, the CAC Through the Decades series will present some favorite films from each decade that we have been open…
Read More »Board Member Profile: Professor Martin Haas Professor Martin Haas currently serves as Co-Secretary for our Board of Directors. A professor of History at Adelphi University, he has been part of the Cinema since its founding, providing a wide range…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening the thrilling new biopic of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, 'Golda', starring Helen Mirren - as well as the heartwarming comedy/drama 'The Miracle Club', starring Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith…
Read More »As his many fans know, Charles Busch is an award-winning actor, prolific Tony-nominated playwright, and groundbreaking theatrical drag legend, with a unique and hilariously satiric affinity to the stars and plots of Hollywood’s Golden Age. He…
Read More »Don't Miss Out on the 48 Hour Film Contest! - Fun for Folks of All Levels of Experience! See your own creation on the big screen! A great activity for friends or family! REGISTER NOW! Teams meet at CAC on Friday, August 18th at 6:45 PM, Contest…
Read More »Now Hiring: Technical Director/Head Projectionist Our wonderful Technical Director, Kachine, is moving on, so we are looking to hire a new Technical Director here at the Cinema by the end of the month The Technical Director of the Cinema Arts…
Read More »Hal Hartley grew up in Lindenhurst, and became a key figure in the American independent film movement of the 1980s and 1990s. Between 1989 and 1992, he made The Unbelievable Truth, Trust, and Simple Men, three films set on Long Island that…
Read More »CAC Co-Director Dylan Skolnick to Facilitate Screening and Discussion of THE STRANGER at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County On Sunday, August 13, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema we are opening the powerful coming-of-age family drama from A24 and Olympian turned filmmaker Savanah Leaf…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening the new neo-noir thriller, 'The Lesson', starring Academy Award Nominees Julie Delpy and Richard E. Grant. We will also be continuing our runs of the wonderful new film from master filmmaker Wes Anderson,…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This Summer, we are excited to announce the inauguration of a brand-new series at the Cinema: This Just In! The love-hate…
Read More »Click here to support the Cinema with a CAC Gift Card, which can be used for Tickets, Membership, and Cafe items. Click here for branded CAC and Cult Cafe merchandise. Today is the Last Day... Today is the last day of our fiscal year. Since July…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening the highly anticipated new film from master filmmaker Wes Anderson, 'Asteroid City', as well as a new film starring legendary actress Jacqueline Bisset (who will be joining us in-person for screenings this…
Read More »Update on Patron and Director's Circle Membership Levels Beginning July 1, Patron Membership will increase from $525 to $700 and Director’s Circle Membership will increase from $1,000 to $1,300. Through midnight June 30th, these levels…
Read More »Cinema Arts Centre Community Newsletter - June 2, 2023 Click here to support the Cinema with a CAC Gift Card, which can be used for Tickets, Membership, and Cafe items. Click here for branded CAC and Cult Cafe merchandise. Jacqueline Bisset…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema we are opening two fantastic new films! The latest film from director Paul Schrader, 'Master Gardener',…
Read More »If you are already a member, THANK YOU! Please consider sharing this email with friends. It is vital to the future of the Cinema Arts Centre to grow our Membership, and our Spring Membership Sale is the perfect time to join. Thank you for being a…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening two fantastic new films! From A24 comes the smart and hilarious comedy starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus & Tobias Menzies, 'You Hurt My Feelings'. The timely and moving 'L’immensita' was a hit at our…
Read More »Green Thumb CSA - Huntington is Coming to The Cinema Arts Centre's Sky Room Café starting Thursday, June 8th! ...$55 off ONLY for Cinema Arts Centre members till June 30th! Earth Day may be over, but what a great way to celebrate Earth Day…
Read More »Huntington High School Film Festival The Cinema Arts Centre is proud to once again host the Huntington High School Film Festival. Support Huntington’s aspiring young filmmakers at this lively evening featuring the best movies made this…
Read More »Green Thumb CSA - Huntington is Coming to The Cinema Arts Centre's Sky Room Café starting Thursday, June 8th! ...$55 off ONLY for Cinema Arts Centre members till June 30th! Earth Day may be over, but what a great way to celebrate Earth…
Read More »Join the Conversation One of the most important things we do at the Cinema Arts Centre is create opportunities for members of our community to connect with and talk to us, to our guests, and to one another. Many of our films include Q&A time…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening the new documentary film 'Wild Life', from the Oscar Winning directors of 'Free Solo'. We will also continue our runs of the new Judy Blume adaptation, 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret', as well as 'Polite…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema we are opening an outstanding new adaptation of the beloved Judy Blume novel, 'Are You There God? It's Me,…
Read More »Green Thumb CSA - Huntington is Coming to The Cinema Arts Centre's Sky Room Café starting Thursday, June 8th! $55 off ONLY for Cinema Arts Centre members till June 30th! What a great way to celebrate Earth Day every day, by eating some…
Read More »Cinema Arts Centre Community Newsletter - April 7,2023 Click here to support the Cinema with a CAC Gift Card, which can be used for Tickets, Membership, and Cafe items. Click here for branded CAC and Cult Cafe merchandise. Board Member…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema we are opening the highly anticipated new film from Ben Affleck about Nike's signing of Michael Jordan,…
Read More »This is it - our first Spring Membership Sale since our grand reopening last year! We’re not only still here, but we’re better than ever – and Membership makes it all possible. If you have enjoyed the robust selection of movies…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening the winner of this year's Sundance Film Festival, A.V. Rockwell's 'A Thousand and One', starring Teyana Taylor in a critically acclaimed role. On Wednesday of next week, we will also be opening the highly…
Read More »A Cinema Arts Centre favorite, the Preview Club returns this Spring with six nights of special advanced screenings of the year's best films! Curated by our new host: film producer, distributor, programmer, & publicist, Isil Bagdadi-Sergio; the…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening one of the most anticipated and unique comedies of the year, 'The Lost King', starring Sally Hawkins & Steve Coogan! We are also continuing our run of another of this year's funniest films, the hilarious…
Read More »Click here to support the Cinema with a CAC Gift Card, which can be used for Tickets, Membership, and Cafe items. Click here for branded CAC and Cult Cafe merchandise. Board Member Profile: Martin Butera Born in Brooklyn, New York, Martin Butera…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening a hilarious new dark-comedy starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, 'Moving On'! You can also still catch the first Irish language film nominated for an Academy Award, the outstanding drama, 'The Quiet Girl', as…
Read More »Celebrating 50 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week at the Cinema we are opening the first Irish language film nominated for an Academy Award, the outstanding drama, 'The…
Read More »Check Out our Reel Deals Member Discount Program: Members enjoy discounts at the dozens of restaurants, local merchants and service providers. Make the most of your membership by visiting our Reel Deals page and checking out all the great offers…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening, a heart-warming new film starring Academy Award Nominated actors Judd Hirsch and Carol Kane, 'iMordecai'. We also continue our runs of the Oscar Nominated and Cannes Grand Prix winner 'Close', the brilliant…
Read More »This week at the Cinema we are opening one of the best films of the year, Winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival & Nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, 'Close', from A24, is an unforgettable story of…
Read More »Cinema Arts Centre Community Newsletter - February 10, 2023 Click here to support the Cinema with a CAC Gift Card, which can be used for Tickets, Membership, and Cafe items. Click here for branded CAC and Cult Cafe merchandise. French…
Read More »Can you be 1 of 50 CAC members/patrons today who will help us reach our goal? We are just $1,984 away from reaching our Vic Skolnick Life of Our Cinema Campaign goal of $160,000 to support our programs and operations during this critical period of…
Read More »Get Ready for Oscar Night! Oscar nominations were announced this week. You can catch up on some nominated films you may have missed at the CAC. See Brendan Fraser, nominated for Best Actor in THE WHALE. See Bill Nighy, nominated for Best Actor…
Read More »This week at the Cinema, we have a selection of some of the year's best films opening or continuing their runs. For a limited time we will be showing 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. This new adaptation has received 9 Academy Award nominations at…
Read More »Click here to support the Cinema with a CAC Gift Card, which can be used for Tickets, Membership, and Cafe items. Click here for branded CAC and Cult Cafe merchandise. Cinema Arts Center Partners with Crossing Party Lines In keeping with our…
Read More »We have some fantastic films opening at the Cinema this week! Listed as the best film of the year by NY Times film critic, Manohla Dargis, and winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival, 'EO' is a truly unique film that follows the visually…
Read More »Happy Birthday to CAC Co-Founder and Co-Director Charlotte Sky! Yesterday, CAC Co-Founder and Co-Director Charlotte Sky celebrated her 92nd birthday! We were fortunate enough to spend some time talking with Char this week and are pleased to…
Read More »Celebrating Over 45 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week, we open the latest film from Academy Award winner Damien Chazelle (La La Land), 'Babylon', starring Brad Pitt…
Read More »This Week at the Cinema: December 16 - December 22 Celebrating Over 45 years as Long Island’s Premier Not-for-Profit, Member-Supported, Independent Community Cinema This week, we open two films which will only play for week long…
Read More »Every Gift Counts! In December, your gift counts twice! The Alpern Family Foundation will match all gifts to our annual campaign dollar-for-dollar in the month of December up to a total of $20,000. 80% of our revenue goes to direct program…
Read More »This week, we open new films from three of the Hollywood's top directors: Academy Award winner Sam Mendes' (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Skyfall, 1917), 'Empire of Light', starring Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Steven Spielberg's…
Read More »Board Member Profile: Michael A. Troisi Michael A. Troisi, a partner at Rivkin Radler LLP, represents insurance companies across the country in coverage lawsuits. He handles a wide range of first-party and property insurance issues, particularly…
Read More »Since our re-opening in May, our independent community cinema has rehired furloughed staff, hired great new additions to our team, and has rebuilt our robust slate of independent film programs and cultural events. These are some of the things we…
Read More »Extremism Conference Encourages Thoughtful Community Conversation On November 4-5, the Cinema Arts Centre hosted the most extensive conference on the topic of extremism in our region, Extremism: Confronting Hate without Fear. This conference…
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