The Cornell Cinema team is welcoming students and the public back to the historic Willard Straight Theatre for another semester of film magic this fall. They have curated an eclectic and engaging lineup of films and series that promise to captivate and inspire. The cinema’s location on campus in Willard Straight Hall means you don’t have to leave the comfort of campus to see timeless contemporary and classic films.
“I’m feeling energized by the range of interdisciplinary partnerships we’ve forged this semester, said Molly Ryan, director of Cornell Cinema. “Every semester at Cornell Cinema is different because we try to keep pace with what’s happening in our world, in the film industry and in classrooms across campus.”
In the spirit of the upcoming presidential election, “Cornell Cinema Goes to Washington,” offers a thought-provoking series of American political dramas. Films in the series include “All the President’s Men,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “12 Angry Men” and the satirical “Dr. Strangelove.” The series invites viewers to reflect on the challenges and triumphs of the political process. “The series is co-sponsored by the government department, the American Studies program, and the new Center on Global Democracy at the Brooks School, and we’re excited to have faculty members introducing several of those films,” Ryan said.
Cornell Cinema is also partnering with the Cornell Fashion + Textile Collection to celebrate the work of Hollywood costume designer Edith Head. "Two undergraduate researchers will draw inspiration from the designs on screen and select ensembles from the collection to pair with each film," Ryan said. "Their research will be shared at each screening and culminate in an exhibition at the end of the semester."
Cornell Cinema is also collaborating with the Latin American Studies Program, the Institute for Comparative Modernities, the American Indian Indigenous Studies Program, the Carl Sagan Institute, and many more centers and programs on campus to host films related to their research and interests.
And if you’re looking for a family movie to bring back the nostalgia of the 1980s, the Cinema offers the film series, “Away We Go,” which features family-friendly adventure films from that period. “It will feel good to bring our community together to rediscover some familiar favorites,” Ryan said.
While students are often assigned to attend films at the Cinema, Ryan hopes "students are drawn to Cornell Cinema by curiosity," she said. "Films have a really unique power to connect us with experiences, ideas, and worlds beyond our own. We want Cornell Cinema to be a place where students can encounter a really dynamic variety of filmmaking approaches and develop a lifelong love of movies."
Cornell Cinema’s All-Access Pass allows individuals to watch as many films as they would like. Passes cost $40/public, $36/faculty and staff, $30/undergrads and K-12 students and $25/grad and professional students. Individual tickets are also available at the door or online.
Elizabeth Lara-Rivera' 26 is a communications assistant for the College of Arts & Sciences.
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