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Hello and
welcome to the 2023-2024 season of great film and conversation,
featuring new programs and locations.
The films, the events, and the community of learning make La Cinémathèque unique in its
efforts to revive classical cinema and support contemporary
international and indie cinema. The availability of great cinema has changed over the past 30
years. While most of the population wanted commercial films with
directors like Spielberg, theaters also made space for the films of
Wertmuller, Pasolini, Fellini and Hitchcock. In 1976, for example,
there were three Wertmuller films playing simultaneously in New
York City!
Back then, there were three different kinds of films: (1) commercial
blockbusters like E.T. and James Bond, (2) intellectual films of
the French New Wave and other genres, (3) documentary and
experimental films. People had options because there were important
film critics who told them about the diversity of screenings in the
theaters.
Currently, the Big Studios control everything, prioritizing
superhero franchises and mega productions released worldwide and on
platforms like Hulu and Netflix. It is hard to find a quality
independent film because it goes on a platform and is
buried under a thousand mediocre films. Cinema today shows
very little experimentation and creativity. The good films are
screened at festivals but you have to wait, sometimes years, before
a few are made briefly available before disappearing forever.
But wait, many say, at least we have good TV! The problem with this
view is that television as a medium is essentially a commercial
form of entertainment. La Cinémathèque was created to buck this
trend and give quality films the space they deserve.
Over the last eleven years we have shown dozens of classical films
on the big screen in our unique seminar-style format. Thanks to
your support, we have grown to expand our programming to Montclair
Film and the Williams Art Center in Bergen County. We are also
planning to screen contemporary films recognized at festivals but
ignored by most movie theaters today.
Films teach us about the human condition that we all share and help
us build community. We need your help, now more than ever, as we
continue to grow. Please inquire about any of the following:
- taking attendance during screenings;
- researching new films and contacting distributors;
- organizing schedules;
- assisting with administrative duties;
- maintaining our social media presence.
Together we can do our part to reverse the current trends in
cinema. By coming to our screenings, and volunteering, you are
supporting a cinematic renewal.
Remember, every effort is appreciated and tax deductible because we
are a 501c nonprofit organization.
Any questions please email at linguavision@gmail.com
Thank you.
Gerard Amsellem
President, New Wave Productions
New Wave Productions is a 501c-3 nonprofit organization dedicated
to film and art education
Belgian Cinema
Homage to Jean Luc Godard
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