Saturday Films to Show in Greenport
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story included MFI’s original schedule of films at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. That schedule has since been changed to 6:30 and 7 p.m. and this story has been updated to reflect that change.
The Greenport Theater has long been closed in the wintertime, as the sleepy seaside village enters the doldrums of the cold season.
But this winter will be different, thanks to the Manhattan Film Institute, which has offered summer filmmaking workshops on the East End for the past several years.
MFI, in partnership with the movie theater’s owner, Josh Sapan, have embarked this winter on a series of free screenings of classic films, after MFI co-founder Tony Spiridakis offered to repair the theater’s heating system so it could be open in winter.
They began the series by showing classic Christmas movies the week between Christmas and New Years, and are planning three seperate film series on Saturdays this winter and spring, including a series of Best Picture Oscar winners from Jan. 19 through Feb. 23, a series titled “Women in Film” from March 2 through April 6 and a series titled “Great Directors” from April 20 through May 18.
Donations will be accepted at the door, by mail at MFI Film Group, PO Box 98, Orient, NY 11957 or on their website at manhattanfilminstitute.com.
The Best Picture series begins at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 with a screening of 1982’s “E.T.,” followed by a 7 p.m. screening of the 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” “Babe” from 1995 will be the 6:30 p.m. show on Jan. 26, followed by 1973’s “The Sting” at 7 p.m.
The 3 p.m. screening on Feb. 2 will be “War of the Buttons,” followed by the 1960 classic “The Apartment” at 7 p.m. Feb. 9’s screenings will be “Incredibles 2” at 6:30 p.m. and the 1988 film “Shakespeare in Love” at 7 p.m.
“Spy Kids will be the 6:30 p.m. showing on Feb. 16, followed by 1992’s “Unforgiven” at 7 p.m. On Feb. 23, “The Iron Giant” will play at 6:30 p.m. followed by the 1951 film “An American in Paris” at 7 p.m.
A full schedule of screenings is online at www.manhattanfilminstitute.com/winterfilmseries
