“Art house cinemas are community spaces and we need to make sure they remain a cultural staple where people get to experience art and chop it up together, organize and move things forward. Isolation created by streaming is a part of what allows fascism to grow and the reason why shared spaces are good for humanity,” said Riley. “Art House Theater Day is a party you don’t wanna miss. It’s a cinema party!” - Boots Riley
ICYMI, this week, we announced that the one and only filmmaker/activist/screenwriter/ producer/poet/rapper/speaker Boots Riley will be our Art House Theater Day Ambassador. AHTD is a day to celebrate all the things that art house theaters - and independent film - contribute to our cultural landscape: ambitious and innovative art that provokes, challenges, entertains, and inspires.
His quote above perfectly centers AHC’s values: community, collaboration, connection and curation, and why we believe art houses are so essential to the sustainability of the entire indie film ecosystem. (And Pro Tip to filmmakers, from our SXSW panel ‘Activate Your Art House’: 90% of the cinemas in our network are non-profit organizations. Running a non-profit theater, especially in the age of streaming, is a lot like, well, making an indie film. So for maximum results, it must be approached as a true partnership, especially in regards to marketing and audience building. And for more on the accurate state of non-profit cinema, check out TheBacklight’s latest post.)
Speaking of SX, Boots’ new movie I LOVE BOOSTERS premiered to 100% Fresh reviews (and his feature debut SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (2018) will be included on this year’s Art House Theater Day slate.) He’s also taking ILB on a college tour to connect with students - an ingenious way to build buzz (word of mouth still remains the most important metric for driving people to watch films) and connect directly with audiences ahead of its May 22nd theatrical release. This is the kind of progressive strategy that also really moves the needle forward for the entire ecosystem. An ecosystem, which we all know is in jeopardy.
Over the last couple of months, we’ve been preparing statements and talking points for folks on The Hill and states' attorneys general, who don’t understand anything about the independent film sector and how media consolidation affects the non-profit exhibition -- starting with:
what is an art house?
what is a theatrical window and why do they matter?
what is repertory cinema and why is having access to a studio’s catalog so vital
what does history show us (the Disney/Fox merger) about why this is a bad idea
(Again, see Boots’ quote above…and don’t forget to blockthemerger.com. And if you’re interested in the answers to these questions, check out How Media Consolidation Affects Independent Cinemas.
But all of this uncertainty is why programs like Art House Theater Day, which celebrate all the incredible elements of our ecosystem, are so important right now. It’s a day to give props to the storytellers (new and old), the distributors (large and small), the exhibitors (of all kinds), and the audiences (around the globe), who make our world go round, no matter how much of a grind it feels like every day. It’s a time to celebrate our ethos of collaboration over competition, culture-building over capitalism. And the work that we’re all doing in our own little corners of the globe to the tell and share these films. It’s work that matters, especially in this moment. “It’s a cinema party!”
So save the date - Thursday, July 30th - and stay tuned for: a list of all participating theaters (AHTD is open to any exhibitor who wants to participate) and the full slate of films, which is being curated by our fabulous AHTD fellows (a program for budding curators) Bradley Smith and Alissa Simone, and mentors Rebecca Fons (Barbican Centre) and Stephanye Watts (Be Reel Black Cinema Club) who you can read about here.
And in the spirit of coming together, we’re thrilled to share Art House New York’s upcoming Cinema Week, March 20-26, at over 30 indie cinemas across NYC and offering 5,000 free movie tickets! Check out the website for a list of unique programming, special offers and more.
Now, enjoy 2025’s AHTD Ambassadors Sean Baker & Samantha Quan tell us why they love art houses, too.
Things We’re Reading:
A lot of folks seem to be writing about who’s saving movie theaters…here’s what you can do: buy a ticket!
Can Gen Z Save Movie Theaters? (The Hollywood Reporter)
Opinion: I Love the Movies. Here’s How To Save Them (Tom Rothman, NYT)
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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