Nevada City, CA – Saturday, June 15th, Nevada County Arts and the Magic Lantern Film Society present their second installment of the “Pages to Reel” series with a special screening of the Academy Award-winning film “A River Runs Through It” at The Magic Theatre in
Nevada City.

Pages to Reel is a unique experience that combines the appeal of a book club with the opportunity to be a film critic.  In April the two organizations kicked off the series with a sold-out screening of “On the Road” directed by Walter Salles and based on Jack Kerouac’s seminal 1957 novel of the same name.

“A River Runs Through It” is an exceptional story of family dynamics, coupled with a visually stunning movie, and makes for the perfect combination for the Pages to Reel book club and the reason this was the selection for June,” explains JoAnn Marie, of the Board of Directors for Nevada County Arts.

“A River Runs Through It and Other Stories” is a semi-autobiographical collection of three stories by author Norman Maclean (1902–1990) published in May 1976.  It is set in and around the city of Missoula in western Montana, and follows a Presbyterian family during early 20th century Montana whose opinions of life are filtered through their passion for fly fishing.  In a review for the Chicago Tribune, critic Alfred Kazin stated: “There are passages here of physical rapture in the presence of unsullied primitive America that are as beautiful as anything in Thoreau and Hemingway”.

In 1992, Robert Redford directed and produced the film based on the novella, which starred Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, and Emily Lloyd.  The film won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 1993 and was nominated for two other Oscars, for Best Music, Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay.

After the film, attendees are encouraged to stay and take part in discussion.  In particular there will be an emphasis on the role and importance of cinematography in creating the visual style of a film. Cinematography is the photographic heart of a screenplay, and uses a variety of source material and realizes the desired look using lighting, framing, and camera movement.

Copies of the book A River Runs Through It can be purchased at Harmony Books and The Book Seller.

KNOW & GO
What:  Nevada County Arts and The Magic Lantern Film Society present Pages to Reel: A River Runs Through It
When: Saturday, June 15, 2013
Where: Magic Theatre, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City, 95959
Doors 11:30am, Film Noon, Discussion 2pm
Tickets: $9/GA, $7/Student and Senior, Discount to NCArts and Magic Lantern Film Society Members
Seating limited to 60
More info: www.nevadacountyarts.org or www.magiclanternfilmsociety.org

Food & Film Presents

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

w/ Fable Coffee & French Pastries
Saturday, May 11th, 2013, 11am
Magic Theatre, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City
Tickets: $7/Members, Seniors, Students, $9/GA ticket includes coffee and selection of pastries
Seating limited to 60, Call to RSVP your seat (530) 362-8601

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a special Food & Film screening of the 1961 classic romantic comedy “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” starring the effortlessly charming Audrey Hepburn and the handsome George Peppard. Directed by Blake Edwards, the man behind “The Pink Panther” series, “The Party”, “Operation Petticoat”, “Victor/Victoria”, etc., Edwards crafted a truly timeless film based on the novella by Truman Capote. Henry Mancini’s impeccable soundtrack for the film including the classic tune “Moon River” earned the film its two Academy awards for Best Score for Henry Mancini and Best Song for Johnny Mercer. The film also features Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam, and Mickey Rooney.

In an idealized New York City during the early ’60s, Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) is a charming socialite with a youthful zest for life who lives alone in a nearly bare apartment. She has such a flippant lifestyle that she won’t even give her cat a name, because that would be too much of a commitment to a relationship. Maintaining a childlike innocence yet wearing the most perfect of designer clothes and accessories from Givenchy, she spends her time on expensive dates and at high-class parties. She escorts various wealthy men, yet fails to return their affections after they have given her gifts and money. Holly’s carefree independence is changed when she meets her neighbor, aspiring writer Paul (George Peppard), who is suffering from writer’s block while being kept by a wealthy woman (Patricia Neal). Just when Holly and Paul are developing their sweet romance, Doc (Buddy Ebsen) appears on the scene and complicates matters, revealing the truth about Holly’s past.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” remains not just one of the most memorable romantic films of all time but a film that exemplifies the beauty of Audrey Hepburn, the chic style of the times and more.  Truman Capote may have written, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” but it was Audrey Hepburn who brought the naïve, eccentric café society girl, Holly Golightly, come alive.  From her oversized cigarette holder, now considered one of the most iconic images of 20th century American cinema, and her equally oversized black sunglasses to the most famous little black dress of all time and cat, poor cat, poor slob without a name, Holly Golightly and Audrey Hepburn are forever part of our lives.

The 50th anniversary edition of the film also features the following extras:

It’s So Audrey: A Style Icon – An eight minute featurette with interviews with designers, Hepburn’s son and companion, and how she became a fashion and style icon.

Audrey’s Letter to Tiffany – A two minute featurette about the letter Audrey wrote for the preface of the 150th Anniversary book for Tiffany’s.

Original Theatrical Trailer – The original two minute trailer with its dust, scratches and all.

Each ticket includes coffee from Fable Coffee and a selection of delicious made from scratch pastries.

“Girl Rising”

Tuesday, April 23rd
The Nevada Theatre, 401 Broad Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
Doors 530pm, Film 6-7:45pm, Guest Panel Discussion 7:45
Tickets General Admission $10/ADV, $15/Door, 21 and Under $5
To Purchase Tickets go online to

http://gathr.us/screening/2525

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, the Nevada City Film Festival and The Friendship Club will bring a global movement to educate girls and change the world home to Nevada County with a screening of the anticipated film Girl Rising at the Nevada Theatre.  Following the film there will be a panel discussion with students, educators, and members of the media.  This one-night only event is a must-see for families, educators, students, civic leaders, community organizers and more.

Directed by Academy Award-nominee Richard E. Robbins and narrated by Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Chloë Moretz, Liam Neeson, Freida Pinto, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington, the movie is the centerpiece of 10×10 – a global campaign to educate and empower girls.

Girl Rising spotlights the stories of nine girls from different parts of the world that have faced arranged marriages, child slavery, and other heartbreaking injustices. Despite these obstacles, the brave girls offer hope and inspiration. By getting an education, they’re able to break barriers and create change.

In the film, we meet unforgettable girls like Sokha, an orphan who rises from the dumps of Cambodia to become a star student and an accomplished dancer; Suma, who composes music to help her endure forced servitude in Nepal and today crusades to free others; Ruksana, an Indian “pavement-dweller” whose father sacrifices his own basic needs for his daughter’s dreams; and little Wadley, just seven when the earthquake in Haiti razes her home and school.  Each girl is paired with a renowned writer from her native country. Edwidge Danticat, Sooni Taraporevala, Aminatta Forna and others tell the girls’ stories, each in their own style, and all with profound resonance. These girls are each unique, but the obstacles they faced are ubiquitous.

“Educating girls is multifaceted and I believe the work The Friendship Club has done over the last 18 years to educate girls about the opportunities that are available to them is just as critical to their development as educating girls around the world,” said Jennifer Singer, Executive Director of The Friendship Club.  “In our Country our children may seem to have a world of opportunities available to them but they face different barriers that keep them achieving their true potential. Any awareness we can bring to the challenges girls face in our community, our country and our world is a step toward improving the lives of all girls and in turn, all children.”

“Girl Rising is about the world-changing power of educating girls,” said Holly Gordon, Executive Director of 10×10. “I am incredibly moved by the hundreds of individuals, businesses and organizations who have stepped up to bring this important film to movie theaters and communities around the country. Girl Rising is the centerpiece of our global campaign, and these organizers are the foundation. Together, they are driving transformative change one community at a time.”

Girl Rising premiered on the eve of International Women’s Day, March 7, 2013.  The film is being shown in hundreds of theaters around the country – including here in Nevada City – as a result of passionate organizers stepping up to captain screenings on demand in their local cinemas.

Like the 66 million girls around the world who dream of going to school, what Sokha, Suma, Ruksana and the rest want most is to be students: to learn. And now, by sharing their personal journeys, they have become teachers. Watch Girl Rising, and you will see: One girl with courage is a revolution.

A portion of Girl Rising ticket sales go to support girls’ programs around the world through the 10×10 Fund for Girls’ Education. The Fund goes to 10×10’s high-impact network of non-profit partners and leaders in girls’ education: A New Day Cambodia, CARE, Girl Up/United Nations Foundation, Partners in Health, Plan International USA, Room to Read, UNICEF, and World Vision.

The Magic Lantern Film Society and The Magic Theatre celebrate Earth Day with the critically acclaimed documentary “Ghost Bird” about an extinct giant woodpecker, a small town In Arkansas hoping to reverse it misfortunes, and the tireless odyssey of the bird-watchers and scientists searching for the Holy Grail of birds, the elusive Ivory-billed woodpecker.

Set in a murky swamp overrun with birders, scientists, and reporters, “Ghost Bird” is an eco-noir exploring the limits of certainty, the seductive power of hope, and how one phantom woodpecker changed a sleepy Southern town forever.

The New York Times calls “Ghost Bird” “a witty, wistful documentary (that turns) a bird-watching tale into a multi-layered story that will fascinate practically everybody.”  NPR says, “Beautifully
crafted…heartbreaking, ironic and infuriating. It’s a stunner.”  And The Wall Street Journal raved, “By turns witty and metaphysical, Ghost Bird evokes the offbeat Americana of Errol Morris’s “Vernon, Florida,” while examining the nature of belief and the blurry margins of fact.”

In 2005 scientists announced that the Ivory-billed woodpecker, thought to be extinct for 60 years, was spotted in the swamps of Eastern Arkansas. Suddenly the swamps were flooded with ornithologists, birders and millions of government dollars, and the struggling nearby town of Brinkley discovered a promotional edge.

However, credible evidence of the woodpecker’s actual existence has been elusive, and the film balances the testimony (pro and con) of prominent scientists and bird experts with an examination of the seductive power of hope and investigation into the politics of our uneasy relationship with nature.

Soundtrack from Grammy award-winning blues-rock band, The Black Keys.

KNOW & GO
What: Ghost Bird
When: Saturday, April 20, 2013, Doors 12:30, Film 1pm
Where: The Magic Theatre, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City, CA 95959
Tickets: $5/door, All-Ages
Info: www.themagictheatre.com or www.magiclanternfilmsociety.org

Nevada County Arts and the Magic Lantern Film Society present “Pages to Reel” a unique experience that combines the appeal of a book club with the opportunity to be a film critic.

Many of the greatest films of all time were adapted from great works of literature, for example, Casablanca, A Room With a View, The Great Gatsby, No Country for Old Men, Brokeback Mountain, and The English Patient, to name just a few.

Every other month a novel will be selected, and the film based upon the novel will be shown followed by a lively discussion.

“Nevada County Arts is pleased to collaborate with the Magic Lantern Film Society to fulfill our mission of promoting literature and film and enhancing the experience of each,” said JoAnn Marie, of the Board of Directors for Nevada County Arts.

On Friday, April 5th, Pages to Reel kicks off with “On the Road” starring Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart (Twilight series), and Amy Adams, directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, at the Magic Theatre, an intimate 60-seat Art House Theatre in the 7-Hills Business District in Nevada City.

The film is an adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s seminal 1957 novel of the same name.  The story is based on the years Kerouac spent traveling the United States in the late 1940s with his friend Neal Cassady and several other figures who would go on to fame in their own right, including William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg.  ”On the Road” is considered a defining work of the postwar Beat Generation and portrays the story of a fierce personal quest for meaning and belonging. On the Road was released at an interesting point in American history when conformity was praised and outsiders were suspect.

After the film, attendees are encouraged to stay and take part in discussion on the many themes Kerouac touched on in the novel including religion and spirituality, masculinity and patriarchy, travel and self-discovery, among others, lead by renowned local poet Chris Olander.  He will speak about the social and political backdrop of the novel and the novel’s influence on American culture.

“Pages to Reel is a fantastic opportunity for people to learn something new about film, literature, and screenwriting; meet like-minded people; and of course, have fun,” said Jesse Locks, Festival Director of the Nevada City Film Festival who also oversees the festival’s Magic Lantern Film Society.

Copies of the book On the Road can be purchased at Harmony Books and The Book Seller.

About Nevada County Arts
Nevada County Arts facilitates collaborative efforts that promote and sustain the visual, literary and performing arts of Nevada County in order to advance the cultural, social and economic life of our community.

About Magic Lantern Film Society
For 13 years, the Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) has brought top independent cinema to the beautiful gold rush era town of Nevada City, CA. In 2008, NCFF formed the Magic Lantern Corporation, a non-profit 501(C)3 organization, to better serve Nevada County and nearby regions by providing art, entertainment, education, and culture through the medium of film and video. In 2011, the Magic Lantern Film Society was established to encourage membership, local partnerships, and a year-long program of film.

KNOW & GO
What:  Nevada County Arts and The Magic Lantern Film Society present Pages to Reel: On the Road
When: Friday, April 5, 2013
Where: Magic Theatre, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City, 95959
Doors 630pm, Film 7pm, Discussion 9pm
Tickets: $9/GA, $7/Student and Senior, Discount to NCArts and Magic Lantern Film Society Members
Seating limited to 60
More info: www.nevadacountyarts.org or www.magiclanternfilmsociety.org

Submit Your Film Today!

Now accepting submissions for the 13th Annual Nevada City Film Festival, September 5-8, 2013.  Early bird deadline April 1.  Final deadline May 31.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi plus Q&A with Ru Suzuki of Sushi In The Raw

Monday, March 25, 2013

Magic Theatre, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City
Doors 630pm, Film 7pm, Q&A 8:30pm
Tickets $8 Members, $10 Non-Members

“Jiro Dreams of Sushi isn’t just a film for foodies, or Japanophiles. It’s a meditation on work, on finding one’s path in life, and then walking it with singular purpose.” - Philadelphia Inquirer

“By the time this graceful film is over you understand why Japan has declared the bald, bespectacled Jiro a national treasure. Even if you’ve never tasted sushi, the man’s singleness of purpose will inspire you.” - Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Nevada City Film Festival and Magic Lantern Film Society presents “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”, Monday, March 25 at The Magic Theatre, with a special Q&A with master sushi chef Kaoru “RU” Suzuki, owner of Sushi in the Raw.  The one-night only event is part of their monthly Food & Film Series that pairs a “food film” with an informative, interesting, and intimate Q&A with a celebrated chef.

“Jiro Dreams of Sushi” is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious 3 star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimages, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar.  At the heart of this story is Jiro’s relationship with his eldest son Yoshikazu, the worthy heir to Jiro’s legacy, who is unable to live up to his full potential in his father’s shadow.

Initially, Director David Gelb had planned to make what he had nicknamed “Planet Sushi”, inspired by the cinematography of the BBC documentary Planet Earth.

“Originally, I was going to make a film with a lot of different sushi chefs who all had different styles, but when I got to Jiro’s restaurant, I was not only amazed by how good the sushi was and how much greater it was than any other sushi restaurant I had ever been to, but I also found Jiro to be such a compelling character and such an interesting person. I was also fascinated by the story of his son, who is fifty-years-old, but still works for his father at the restaurant. So, I thought, “Here’s a story about a person living in his father’s shadow while his father is in a relentless pursuit of perfection.” It was the makings of a good feature film.”

“Jiro Dreams of Sushi” also features music from Phillip Glass, one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century.

Following the film, attendees will be treated to an intimate Q&A with master sushi chef Kaoru “RU” Suzuki, owner of Sushi in the Raw, on Spring Street in Nevada City.  Learn about the culture and history behind today’s popular Japanese cooking, the different kinds of fish used, what it takes to become a sushi chef, tips on how to make sushi at home, and maybe even what is in some of Sushi in the Raw’s secret sauces.

KNOW & GO
What: Food & Film Series presents “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” plus Q&A with
Kaoru “RU” Suzuki owner of Sushi in the Raw
When: Monday, March 25, 2013
Where: The Magic Theatre, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City, CA
Time: Film 7pm, Theatre/Box Office opens 30 minutes prior to the film
Tickets: $8/Members, $10/Non-members, Tickets are limited to 60.
Advance Tickets at The Magic Theatre, Mon-Sat 3:30-4pm and 6:30-7pm and Sun 12:30-1pm, 3:30-4pm and 6:30-7pm or call (530) 362-8601 to reserve your seat.
Information: www.magiclanternfilmsociety.org

Jiro Dreams Of Sushi – Trailer from curious on Vimeo.

Chocolat starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench, Tuesday, February 12, 7pm @ The Magic Theatre.  The perfect pre-date night for Valentine’s Day!

Celebrated, revered, and constantly photographed, food is the new rock n’ roll and chefs are the new rock stars!  The Food & Film Series, a popular monthly event presented by the Nevada City Film Festival and Magic Lantern Film Society, returns for a second year, but with a twist.  This year the series pairs a popular foodie film followed by an intimate Q&A and tasting with a local or regional chef, mixologist, brew master, chocolatier, or forager.  The series kicks off on Tuesday, February 12, just in time for Valentine’s Day, with the sinfully delicious film “Chocolat” starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, followed by a Q&A with Dorado Chocolates owner and chocolatier Ken Kossoudji, at the Magic Theatre in Nevada City.

The Food & Film Series launched last year, and screened such films as “The Big Night”, “Amelie”, and “Mamma Mia” alongside an Italian feast, French crepes and Greek cuisine, prepared by local restaurateurs and caterers. Films were screened in the historic Osborn and Woods hall at the Miners Foundry Cultural Center where state of the art projection and concert sound was brought in for the audience’s viewing pleasure. This year, the series will be held at The Magic Theatre, a charming 62-seat art house movie theatre located in the 7-Hills Business District and at the Miners Foundry for the larger, more dinner theatre specific screenings.  The Magic Theatre boasts new Dolby surround sound, a new screen, new state of the art DCI projection, new red velvet plush seats and organic concessions.

“We are excited to bring the series to The Magic Theatre as it has been the home of the Nevada City Film Festival for thirteen years,” explained Jesse Locks, Festival Director of the Nevada City Film Festival.  ”Utilizing the two venues, The Magic Theatre and the Miners Foundry, we’ll be able to create a unique film going experience for our film society members and attendees. We also look forward to collaborating with local and regional celebrity chefs and uncovering up and coming folks who are doing new and exciting things with food and drink.”

The series first film of the year is “Chocolat”.  It is the endearing story of a young mother, played by Juliette Binoche, who arrives at the fictional, repressed French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes with her six-year-old daughter and opens La Chocolaterie Maya, a small chocolaterie. Her chocolate quickly begins to change the lives of the townspeople.  The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It was also nominated for eight BAFTAs, and four Golden Globes. It won a Screen Actors Guild Award.  The film also stars Judi Dench, Leni Olin, and Alfred Molina.  Following the film Ken Kossoudji from Dorado Chocolates in Grass Valley will be on hand  to talk about the process of making chocolate, how one becomes a chocolatier, and share some of his delectable chocolate.  According to Lonely Planet, “Ken Kossoudji creates incredible handmade chocolates at this temple of indulgence. There’s amazing coffee drinks and, yes, hot chocolate.”  Dorado’s hot chocolate is so famous Oprah’s team picked it as a top 5 in the USA.  Beer and wine will also be available for purchase.

KNOW & GO
What: Food & Film Series presents “Chocolat” plus Q&A with Ken Kossudji of Dorado Chocolates
When: Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Where: The Magic Theatre, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City, CA
Time: Film 7pm, Theatre/Box Office opens 30 minutes prior to the film
Tickets: $8/Members, $10/Non-members, Tickets are limited to 60.
Advance Tickets at The Magic Theatre during business hours or call
(530) 362-8601
Information: www.magiclanternfilmsociety.org

Welcome Address by Russ Collins, Director, Art House Convergence

January 15, 2013 – for the Art House Convergence conference, Zermatt Resort, Midway, Utah

Welcome to the Art House Convergence. Welcome as we celebrate the Brave New American Art House. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to gather here in Utah with colleagues and friends and, with strangers who will soon be friends, to execute the mission of the Art House Convergence.

The mission of the Art House Convergence is to increase the quantity and quality of Art House cinemas in North America.  We hope you will help us pursue that mission by constantly improving your Art House, as well as helping colleagues make their Art Houses better place for audiences to experience cinema art and be highly effective community centers.

This conference would not be possible without the hard work by a dedicated group of volunteers. Thanks to Art House Convergence Conference Committee – if you participated in one or more of those Friday calls that happen throughout the year as we plan the Art House Convergence, stand and be recognized.

It is so great to see so many of you here! How many are here for the first-time?  Wonderful, welcome to Utah to the Art House Convergence.  How many of you are staying, for at least a day or two to go to Park City and check out the Sundance Film Festival?

I see a lot of friends; friend that have grown from the 25 brave souls who came to this first Art House Convergence to this year, with nearly 350 registered delegates at this, the sixth annual gathering of community-based, mission-driven cinema operators.

The strong theme of this year’s conference is The Brave New American Art House. So, what’s the Brave New American Art House?

The Brave New American Art House is a set of ideals that looks something like this:

·         It is located in Canada, Mexico or the USA.

·         It is focused on frequent and regular screenings of Art House movies – classic, foreign, documentary, independent and experimental cinema (and sometimes other cultural programs the community demands).

·         It actively seeks community support – it believes philanthropy and volunteers are important and viable sources of revenue and support.

·         It is a cultural institution – it teaches its community about the art, craft, grammar and historical importance of cinema.

·         As possible it is dedicated to quality celluloid AND digital exhibition methods – providing state-of-the-art image and sound across all eras and formats (including live music for silent-era films).

·         It believes excellent customer service is paramount – it trains it employees and manages its marketing, facilities, event presentations and staff to put the customer’s experience first.

·         It makes cinema come alive – with intelligently curated programs and ever expanding relationships with living filmmakers.

·         It is community-based – it is not part of a national chain.

·         It is mission-driven – it has a triple bottom line: A triple bottom line calculated in: 1) community benefit; 2) artistic quality; and 3) financial success.

·         Its business management is strategic – it plans effectively and does not expect Deus ex Machina* to magically provide for its financial success.

·         The Brave New American Art House annually sends staff and board members to the Art House Convergence to have fun learning and being inspired by dedicated and resourceful colleagues.

The “Brave New” of the Brave New American Art House is an intentional literary reference to both Aldous Huxley and Shakespeare – because, you know, Art House people are just a little smarter and better-read than your average movie exhibitor (some might say “snooty,” rather than smarter and better read, but I think “smarter and better read” works better with this audience). Huxley’s novel expressed the notion that the fast-paced world of the future would force dehumanizing changes, causing anxiety, the loss of intimacy and individuality. Plus, Huxley also predicted that movies in year 2540 would be called “feelies,” a cinema-style entertainment that creates the illusion of an entertainment reaching out and literally touching the audience. Which given the ironic nature of the novel supports the poetic notion that 3-D is the movie technology of the future – and it always will be!

Of course Huxley and the Convergence both stole the phase “brave new” from Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST. The play’s most famous lines are said by the Prospero’s daughter Miranda, who looked on in wonder as drunken sailors stagger in a disorderly manner from their wrecked ship, and said:

“O wonder!

How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

That has such people in’t.”

And although Shakespeare’s words spoken by is character Miranda were ironic, I believe, stated without irony, that this “brave new” notion is correct, because today and for the next several days the Zermatt and Homestead resorts will be full of goodly people; goodly community-based, mission-driven Art House people. How beauteous it is; O brave new world, to have such people, such Art House people in’t!

The ethos of the Art House Convergence is a commitment to quality, openness and community. It is the antithesis of the “whatever the market will bear,” cutthroat and mass market dynamics of commercial exhibition. Please know I’m not saying one is better than the other – both of these commercial dynamics are viable, even needed, but the ethos of each are juxtaposed. The Art House Convergence ethos embraces the notion that philanthropic subsidy from a community will create a stable, culturally significant center for cinema to be experience, taught, supported and loved for cinemas intrinsic artistic and cultural worth and for civic enrichment of communities.

The community-based, mission-driven exhibitor is a powerful but subtle aspect of the movie business; too subtle to be deeply appreciated in a blockbuster obsessed media or in a greed driven entertainment industry.  And, let’s be honest the Art House movement will not create millionaires and it will not be the hot new thing that transform media culture.

At this point cinema is an old art form, like painting and writing, sculpture and dance, theater and music. Although artists always do new things with their forms of art, the art of cinema itself is now an old form. It can no longer be a shiny new thing and that’s OK; because cinema presented on a big screen in a darken room full of strangers is a great thing; a profound thing that can deeply move the human psyche and transform lives.

Although the financial scale of the Art House, compared to half-a-billion dollar superhero blockbuster, is rather small, it is significant and the long-term impact is critically important; because the Art House plays an essential role in preserving and promoting the best and the brightest of cinema for diverse audiences.  Your Art House is a sacred shrine and home to the most profound form of creative expression created in recent human time.

And just as important, Art Houses are exciting, sustainable and practical venues that effectively bolster the vitality of local neighborhoods and transform lives through the creative vision of the people who work there and the poignant cinema found in these remarkable little arts institutions.

Over the decades, the Art House community has had a hard time finding its voice, a hard time believing it is in fact a community and a hard time feeling like it is a citizen in the wider cinema world. But now, with the Art House Convergence we have found our collective voice, we are starting to believe in our potential and we are growing the number of communities throughout North America who are demanding community-based, mission-driven Art House cinemas in their towns.

Your Art House as a key community institution – feel it, own it. You provide a vital service and you are an important economic driver in your neighborhood. Being a community-based, mission-driven, not-for-profit Art House you can be much more than mere movie venue and employer, or recipient of charity and coordinator of volunteers. You are a flagship asset, an essential cog and an indispensable part of a healthy community.

Over the next few days, what will be most important for those of us gathered here in Utah is to feel the strength and joy of being among kindred souls, of benefiting from shared knowledge and experience and feeling anchored to this non-profit Art House movement.

Welcome to the 2013, Art House Convergence celebrating The Brave New American Art House. We hope all delegates, who this year come from around the world, will share with great enthusiasm all that is wonderful and brave and new about their Art House and their community. Thank you for coming to the Convergence. And as the Bard of Stratford on Avon almost said, “How beauteous it is; O brave new world, to have such people, such Art House people in’t!” Enjoy the 2013 Art House Convergence.

Saturday, December 15, the Miners Foundry Cultural Center and the Nevada City Film Festival present “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, the ultimate family holiday film, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and Randy Quaid.  Considered a modern classic, “Christmas Vacation”, with its laugh out loud moments and awkward family scenes, captures an undeniable and genuine Christmas spirit. The special screening is part of the Food & Film Series, pairing popular movies with a unique and fun dining experience.

The film will be screened in the historic Osborn and Woods hall at the Miners Foundry Cultural Center where state of the art projection and concert sound is brought in for the audience’s viewing pleasure and has been beautifully decorated for the holidays.

Chevy Chase returns as the head of the Griswold family in the fourth installment of the National Lampoons series.  He mugs, trips, falls, mashes his fingers and stubs his toes as he prepares to invite numerous dysfunctional relatives to his household to celebrate Christmas. Amidst the more outrageous sight gags (including the electrocution of a cat as the Christmas tree is lit) the film betrays a sentimental streak, with old wounds healing and long-estranged relatives reuniting in the Griswold living room.

Christmas Vacation also stars Johnny Galecki, Juliette Lewis, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and was written by John Hughes and directed by Jeremiah Chechik.

Get into the Yuletide spirit by wearing your ugliest holiday sweater or sweater dress and strike a pose with friends in our Holiday Photo Booth (yes, there will be prizes for best ugly sweater!), enjoy a full bar including eggnog and other traditional holiday drinks, and a delicious dinner.

California Organics puts an organic twist on the typical holiday feast with two sumptuous entrees including a Meatloaf Dinner with brown sugar glaze, garlic-rosemary potatoes and roasted veggies and one of their signature dishes a Sunshine Loaf Dinner with a sunflower seed loaf topped with cashew gravy, garlic-rosemary potatoes and roasted veggies. This option is vegan and gluten free.  And for dessert, pumpkin and apple pie that are 100% organic and made from scratch.  Located in the 7-Hils business district, California Organics is both a market and restaurant that features 100% certified organic meats, wild and sustainable caught seafood, produce and dairy products.  Dinner $12, Pie $5.

Yes, you could stay home and watch countless reruns of the edited version of “Christmas Vacation” on television, but what fun would that be?

WHAT: Food & Film Series presents “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
WHEN: Saturday, December 15, Doors 7pm, Film 7:30pm
WHERE: Miners Foundry, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City
TICKETS: Ticket includes film and one drink ticket, $12.00 Members / $15.00 Non-members.  Dinner for purchase and no-host bar.
Tickets are available online, by phone, or in person at the Nevada City Box Office, (530) 265-5462, www.nevadacityboxoffice.org or at Briar Patch Co-Op.