Spring break is upon us, and what does this call for? A road trip of course! We’re talking about an Art House Cinema-inspired adventure. And a great place to start is with both AHC’s Art House America Map, and our Visiting Members Map (where you can get reciprocal member benefits at 93 cinemas in 33 states across the country.)
**Before we dive in, we want to provide a quick update to our community on our advocacy efforts around the WBD merger. Further media consolidation is detrimental, no matter who the suitor. We’re in frequent dialogue with organizations including Future Film Coalition, Cinema United, International Documentary Association, American Economic Liberties Project, International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas and the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors to specifically address concerns for independent cinemas. Here’s what you can do: visit Blockthemerger.com, where we are collecting short, first-hand accounts from across the industry to document how media consolidation is affecting the entire independent film ecosystem. Use your voice and share your story! **
And here’s what else you can do: support an indie theater - or several. Is there any better way to see America than by visiting its cinemas? Plus, it’s a great idea (a ‘research expedition’) for anyone who’s invested in today’s indie film ecosystem (filmmakers, distributors, curators, etc…) Through the lens of art houses, you’ll discover:
Curation: unique to each venue. (Actual human) programming is a main delineation between art houses and chain theaters, and programmers are booking films with their audiences in mind.
Audiences: who’s showing up for indie films? Take a minute to look around you - art house patrons are loyal moviegoers who find real value in their local movie theaters. These are your people.
Local Flavor: Art houses are more than movie theaters. From architecture to concessions, they represent the historical and modern flair of their communities.
Not to mention, you’ll wind up with an incredibly instagrammable camera roll of marquee shots, gorgeous interiors and exteriors and lots and lots of popcorn. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet the programmers and cinema workers who bring indie films to communities across the country, and take in other industry-critical details, like how marketing lands differently by city, and what local Letterboxd users are saying.
Let our Visiting Members Map be your ultimate guide. And save some money, while supporting independent exhibition, by becoming a member at one of these cinemas and reaping the rewards on your cross-country travels throughout the year.
Our Visiting Members Program is designed to highlight art houses as destinations and to foster collaboration within the cinema ecosystem. “AHC’s Visiting Members Program is a valued Amherst Cinema membership perk,” said Yasmin Chin Eisenhauer, Executive Director of the Amherst Cinema. “Located in the heart of a vibrant college community, we have 5,500+ members who come from 22 states (last count). The Visiting Members Program allows our members to stay connected to independent film—whether they’re on the road or back in their hometowns.”
For your planning pleasure, we asked some of our own AHC staff & board members to recommend their dream road trip routes:
The California Coast Line: Deirdre Haj (AHC Board President): “I would visit places I’ve never been: starting in the Bay Area with The Roxie, making stops at The Lark Theater in Larkspur, drive down the coast to Palm Theatre in SLO, and hit The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, and Digital Gym Cinema in San Diego. A fun way for me to go back to my old California stomping grounds, too!”
Esquire Theatre in Cincinatti, OH. Midwest Movie Houses: Kate Markham (AHC Managing Director): “I’d start in Milwaukee Film — Downer & Oriental Theatres, hit up Facets Film Forum, Davis Theater, Music Box Theatre and Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago, head out to Indy and visit the Kan-Kan Cinema, and wind down in Cincinnati at the Kenwood Theatre & Esquire Theatre. The Midwest is with rich with art house culture.”
Pickford Film Center, Bellingham, WA. PNW Day Dream: Colton Campbell (AHC Program Manager): “My personal dream would be to start at Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, WA and drive South, hitting up the SIFF — Film Center, Downtown, and Uptown and Roxy Theatre in Seattle, drive east to the North Bend Theatre and then down to The Grand Cinema in Tacoma, the Olympia Film Society — Capitol Theater and wind up at the Kiggins Theatre and Hollywood Theatre in the Portland/Vancouver area. This is the most beautiful part of the country and is dotted with cinematic gems.”
The Ambler Theater in Ambler, PA. The Big Ten Tour: Tom Hall (AHC Board Member, Artistic Director, Montclair Film — The Clairidge & The Bellevue): “As a born and raised Midwesterner, I would choose a Big Ten-ish Tour, starting at Film Streams in Omaha, pop up to FilmScene in Iowa City, a quick stop in Chicago at Facets Film Forum (Northwestern-ish), and head to Ann Arbor to the Michigan Theater (I got married there! Go Blue). From there I’d drive to the Fort Wayne Cinema Center in Indiana, head up to Little Art Theatre (the school that will not be named), go east to Ambler Theater (Penn State) and finish up at the Princeton Garden Theatre (Rutgers) in New Jersey. And just to be clear, Go Blue!”
The Nickelodeon in Columbia, S.C. Carolina Weekender: Lani Simeona (AHC Board Member, Operations & Programming, The Cary Theater): “I’ll just keep it in the Carolinas and hit up the venues I haven’t been to yet, including The Independent Picture House in Charlotte and The Nickelodeon Theater in Columbia, SC. Plus, there’s the Chelsea Theater in Chapel Hill.”
Martha’s Vineyard Film Society, MA. Mass @ the Movies: Lela Meadow-Conner @mamafilm (AHC Interim Executive Director): “I grew up on MA but moved away right after high school. There’s a (wicked, IFKYK) wealth of indie cinemas across the state so I’d start in
the northwest corner of the state at Images Cinema, head east to Amherst Cinema, then north of Boston to Cinema Salem, down to The Brattle Theatre, Coolidge Corner Theatre and then out to the Cape Cinema and ferry out to Martha’s Vineyard Film Society. A perfect summertime adventure - I can taste the lobstah roll already.”
What’s your ideal art house road trip ? Let us know!
The New York Times has a hilarious story about the film titles Film at Lincoln Center patrons get wrong, including AMALA, we mean ANORA, from our friend Sean Baker.
Congratulations to AHC member Milwaukee Film on the purchase of the Downer Theater!
And if you’re at SXSW next week, in addition to checking out AHC member Austin Film Society, find us at the Activate Your Art House panel!
Art House Convergence (AHC) is a 501(c)3 arts service organization that connects, amplifies and advocates for mission-driven, community-focused independent cinemas and exhibitors within the film industry, and arts and cultural sector. We provide professional development, and capacity and network building for the independent exhibition workforce; and advocate for independent cinemas in the greater, and ever-changing, exhibition and film landscape.
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