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It's the home stretch of the semester with only three more weeks of screenings left!
We start this week off with the final entry in our Sub-Saharan Cinema and Francophone Film Festival series, Night of the Kings, on Wednesday night! This highly acclaimed magical-realist film was shortlisted for Best International Feature Oscar in 2020.
We’re thrilled to say that following the film, we will show a unique, pre-recorded discussion between a number of special guests, arranged by the Institute of African Development: filmmaker Philippe Lacôte; Maboula Soumahoro, Assoc Professor in the English Dept at the University of Tours; and Dr. Eric Edi, a native of Ivory Coast, who serves as the founding member and the Chief Operating Officer/Policy and Research Director of the Coalition of African Communities in Philadelphia.
In honor of the recent discovery of the Endurance, we’re screening a new digital restoration of South: Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance Expedition (1919) (pictured) on Saturday night (please note: this screening replaces the previously announced show of The Big Sleep). It’s an exquisitely photographed silent documentary (considered the world’s first documentary feature!) that detailed Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 to 1916 Endurance expedition to Antarctica.
The National Film Archive in London did an immaculate restoration job of the 35mm film with the original tints and a brief 2-tone sequence restored to their full glory, now offered digitally with a new orchestral score by Neil Brand (a friend & colleague of Philip Carli). Join us!
We’re also screening three Oscar-nominated films this week:
Animated documentary Flee (Thur & Fri) was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, and International Feature Film. This powerful refugee story of a gay Muslim man moving from Afghanistan to Denmark won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of West Side Story (Thur & Sun) has fashioned something new that takes the best of the musical (especially its stage version with book by Cornell alum Arthur Laurents ’37) and finally gives authenticity to the Puerto Rican roles. And Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita! Also nominated for Best Picture, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Production Design, and Sound (phew!). Come see it on the big screen, as it was meant to be seen!
Finally, Spider-Man: No Way Home (Fri & Sat) was nominated for Best Visual Effects, and though it didn’t win that Oscar, it certainly won at the box office. We’re expecting some big crowds for these screenings, so be sure to pick up your ticket now to ensure a seat!
(And hey, did we mention we have Temple of Zeus snacks at the concession stand now?)
