The Cornell Cinema team is delighted to welcome you back to the historic Willard Straight Theatre for another exciting semester of cinema experiences. Our fall season features an eclectic mix of contemporary and classic films and dynamic film series that are designed to connect diverse communities, inspire innovative thinking, and advance teaching across disciplines.
We will get things started with “Party Like It’s 1999,” celebrating the 25th anniversary of a venerable year for independent cinema. Made on the verge of the new millennium, films from 1999 frequently reflected anxieties about a rapidly changing world. Our series includes perennial fan favorites like 10 Things I Hate About You and The Mummy as well as boundary-pushing titles like The Matrix, Stanley Kubrick’s final film Eyes Wide Shut, and the low-budget, internet sensation The Blair Witch Project.
Next, in honor of the upcoming presidential election, “Cornell Cinema Goes to Washington” will spotlight iconic American political dramas throughout the fall semester. The series aims to provide space for thoughtful reflection about the challenges facing our democracy today and features films that address various aspects of the political process, including freedom of the press (All the President’s Men), Congress (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), the judicial system (12 Angry Men), national defense and the armed forces (Dr. Strangelove), and political activism (Selma).
On Sunday afternoons, we are going on an adventure to the 1980s! “Away We Go” is a family-friendly film series that centers on young people embarking on otherworldly adventures. Replete with 1980s nostalgia and lightly inspired by Joseph Campbell’s theory of the hero’s journey, the series will bring together six beloved tales of self-discovery, including Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, E.T. The Extraterrestrial, and more.
We are also thrilled to partner with the Cornell Fashion + Textile Collection to recognize the work of Edith Head, one of the most celebrated and prolific costume designers in Hollywood history. “Costumes by Edith Head” will highlight a selection of the Academy Award-winning designer’s many memorable collaborations with the leading actors and directors of the day. Introductions before each film will examine on-screen costume design decisions and highlight related ensembles from the CF+TC.
In October, we will turn attention to the actress Clara Bow in honor of Silent Movie Month in Ithaca. The original "It Girl” soared back into our collective consciousness after superstar musician Taylor Swift named a song after the actress on her 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department. The series, which is cosponsored by the Wharton Studio Museum, will include three films starring Clara Bow: the first-ever Best Picture winner Wings (1927), It (1927), and the recently rediscovered The Pill Pounder (1923). The latter two films will be presented with live musical score by celebrated accompanist Philip Carli.
Our core programming strands — including “Doc Spots,” “Restorations & Rediscoveries,” and “Worth a Watch” — are filled with memorable films and compelling stories from around the world. As part of “Doc Spots,” we are honored to virtually welcome filmmaker Agnieszka Holland for a conversation about her acclaimed documentary Green Border (2024) with Professor Ewa Bachminska on Sunday, September 15 at noon.
Our monthly “Restorations & Rediscoveries” screenings will include 4K restorations of Foxy Brown (1974), Andrei Tarkovsky’s Nostalghia (1983), and a special Godzilla double feature. “Worth a Watch” highlights numerous festival favorites from the past year, including Ken Loach’s The Old Oak, the subversive, Irish-language docu-drama Kneecap, and A24’s Sing Sing, which will be introduced by Professor Bruce Levitt.
Finally, our annual Cine Con Cultura Film Festival, which is presented in collaboration with Ithaca College and Cinemapolis, will feature compelling new and classic films from across
Latin America. The festival is co-sponsored by the Department of Romance Studies and kicks off on with Wim Wenders’ Buena Vista Social Club, which is also part of “Party Like It's 1999.”
Our first event of the semester—on Thursday, August 29 at 7pm—will be a special free screening sponsored by the Institute for African Development. Apolline Traoré’s Borders (2017) follows three women as they travel from Dakar, Senegal, to Lagos, Nigeria, navigating the risks that come with traveling alone while female.
More information about this event and our fall season is now available on our website: cinema.cornell.edu.
The best way to take advantage of all that Cornell Cinema has to offer is to purchase an All-Access Pass. This annual membership program offers admission to all regular Cornell Cinema screenings plus a discount on special event for one low price. Prices are $40 for General Admission, $30 for Students (including K-12 students), and $25 for Cornell Graduate & Professional Students. Starting this year, we are excited to offer a new pass for Cornell Staff for $36. All-Access Passes are also a great resource for faculty aiming to incorporate Cornell Cinema screenings into their teaching.
Additional collaborations and special events will be announced throughout the fall semester, so please sign up for our email list and follow Cornell Cinema on social media to receive the latest updates.
For more information, please contact:
Molly Ryan (she/her)
Director of Cornell Cinema
cinema@cornell.edu
