Rochester, N.Y., September 25, 2019—After taking a brief intermission that began in July to accommodate construction at the museum, the Dryden Theatre will raise its curtain again on Friday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. with a screening of The Killing Floor (Bill Duke, 1985). The theater will resume its daytime screenings on October 15, with a recent work by multimedia artist Lena Herzog, Last Whispers—Oratorio for Vanishing Voices, Collapsing Universes and a Falling Tree.
“As the museum nears completion of the Colonnade restoration project, the Dryden Theatre staff is grateful to welcome back our regular attendees and extends a hearty welcome to those who have yet to discover the treasures exhibited within,” said Jared Case, Curator of Film Exhibitions, George Eastman Museum. “The final three months of the year contain a wealth of programming for everyone and exciting opportunities to see new and classic films on the big screen.”
In addition to the Dryden’s regular series programming, including the annual Labor Film Series, Silent Tuesdays, and Holiday films, the theater will present several special events through the end of the year, including:
Celebrate Gandhi at 150
Sunday, October 13, 2 p.m.
Gandhi (Richard Attenborough, UK/India 1982, 191 min., 35mm)
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi’s birth, the Dryden presents this Academy Award-winning epic with a special introduction by Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas Gandhi and founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, which is based in Rochester. Presented in cooperation with the Gandhi Institute.
Stephen King’s Dollar Babies
Program I: Thursday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
Program II: Thursday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
Arguably the biggest name in horror, on both page and screen, Stephen King has written more than fifty novels and two hundred short stories. For more than 35 years, he has allowed student filmmakers to license his short stories for a dollar each to adapt into their own projects. In two programs, the Dryden will present thirteen of these films by current and recent students, including adaptations of audience favorites “Willa” and “The Road Virus Heads North.” Each night, two of the filmmakers will appear in person for a Q&A.
Filmi Worlds: A Festival of Indian Cinema
November 21, 23, and 24
Home to the largest collection of contemporary Indian cinema outside of India, the George
Eastman Museum is the perfect place to host a weekend of film screenings, panels, and
presentations. Led by faculty from the University of Rochester and Hamilton College, and
attracting contributors from across the Northeast, the festival is anchored on four
35mm screenings from the Eastman Museum collection. Spanning more than five decades in Indian cinema, these films highlight the diversity in languages, customs, and culture that
constitute the country. For more information, visit eastman.org/dryden.
It’s a Wonderful Life with Zuzu and Tommy Bailey
Thursday, December 12, 7:30 p.m.
It’s a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, US 1946, 130 min., 35mm)
In one of the most inspirational films of all time, James Stewart and Donna Reed find their
way through rough times in Bedford Falls (modeled after nearby Seneca Falls, New York)
by way of a loving, dedicated relationship and a little heavenly intervention. Special introduction by Karolyn Grimes and Jimmy Hawkins, who portrayed Zuzu and Tommy Bailey in the film. The actors will share behind-the-scenes stories of the making of this beloved classic. Presented in partnership with the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum in Seneca Falls, New York.
Tickets will go on sale October 15.
“Boxing” Day screening of Ali with special introduction and Q&A
Thursday, December 26, 7:30 p.m.
Ali (Michael Mann, US 2001, 157 min., 35mm)
The life and career of “The Greatest” is detailed in this biographical film from obsessive director Michael Mann. Special introduction by professional boxer and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Lawrence King Jr. with Q&A to follow the screening.
The Dryden daytime screenings will begin on Tuesday, October 15, with Lena Herzog’s Last Whispers—Oratorio for Vanishing Voices, Collapsing Universes and a Falling Tree, a sampling of extinct and endangered languages collected by Herzog. Both spoken and sung, the historical recordings (speech, songs, and ritual chants) are punctuated by the sound of digitally rendered gravitational waves of collapsing stars and supernovae. This immersive oratorio is accompanied by a sequence of black-and-white video drone footage taken in natural landscapes and animation. The work will screen in the Dryden Theatre during regular museum hours Tuesday–Saturday, except when noted.
Herzog, a multimedia artist, who, in addition to her recent projects in immersive art forms, has produced extensive bodies of photographic work while traveling the globe. She will be in Rochester to discuss her work and sign copies of her book on Thursday, November 7 at 6 p.m. as part of the museum’s Wish You Were Here lecture series. Following the talk and book signing, she will introduce a special screening of her film Last Whispers at 7:30 p.m. The entire event is free for museum members, $10 general admission, and $5 for students.
For more information on Dryden screenings, visit eastman.org/dryden.
About the George Eastman Museum
Founded in 1947, the George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum and one of the largest film archives in the United States, located on the historic Rochester estate of entrepreneur and philanthropist George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography. Its holdings comprise more than 400,000 photographs, 28,000 motion picture films, the world’s preeminent collection of photographic and cinematographic technology, one of the leading libraries of books related to photography and cinema, and extensive holdings of documents and other objects related to George Eastman. As a research and teaching institution, the Eastman Museum has an active publishing program and, through its two joint master’s degree programs with the University of Rochester, makes critical contributions to the fields of film preservation and of photographic preservation and collection management. For more information, visit eastman.org.
