Berkshire Edge‘s “Women on the Verge” columnist Sarah Wright spoke with documentary filmmaker Marisa Fox about her new film, My Underground Mother. “As writer, director, and producer of My Underground Mother, she makes it her mission to unlock hidden Holocaust history. Specifically, Fox sets out to decode her mother’s many mysteries,” writes Wright. READ MORE HERE To buy tickets to My Underground Mother and the Q&A directly following with Fox and producer Deborah Shaffer, click here. The film screens on Sunday, October 19 at noon.
In the News: Crandell Theatre Reopens in Chatham After Historic Restoration
Albany Times Union reporter Katherine Kiessling talks with Executive Director Mirissa Neff and VP of Theater Operations on the Crandell Board of Directors Nick Van Alstine in a feature story released the day of the reopening. READ MORE HERE Left to right, first row, above: John Lillis, President, Crandell Theatre, Inc., Mirissa Neff, Executive Director, Chatham Mayor John Howe, Stephen Lang, Tina Lang, New York Assemblymember Didi Barrett, Walton Goggins, Nadia Conners. Second row (behind Goggins and Conners): Dan Wrenn, District Representative for Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Logan Gooley, District Representative for New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey. Photo by John Shea.
In the News: Stephen Lang: Avatar Superstar, Hollywood Journeyman, Local Guy, and FilmColumbia Honoree
When FilmColumbia rolls out the red carpet at the newly reopened Crandell Theatre in Chatham this week, the festival’s 2025 honoree will need no introduction. Around Columbia County Stephen Lang, the journeyman actor turned international household name, is just a recognizable neighbor and Crandell regular. In an exclusive interview with RI, Lang talks about his career and life in Columbia County. READ MORE HERE
In the News: WAMC’s “The Roundtable” Interview with Mirissa Neff and Calliope Nicholas
Executive director Mirissa Neff and FilmColumbia Director Calliope Nicholas, who are leading the Crandell’s future programming efforts, sat down with WAMC’s Joe Donahue, host of The Roundtable, earlier this week. Click the button below to hear all of the exciting things in store for FilmColumbia and the Crandell. LISTEN HERE
In the News: 10 Must-See Films at FilmColumbia 2025 in Chatham’s Reopened Crandell Theatre
Chronogram editor Brian Mahoney raves about FilmColumbia’s starry lineup this year and singles out ten films you won’t want to miss. Read the Full Article Here
In the News: Reopening and More
Check out Rural Intelligence editor Jamie Larson’s interview with executive director Mirissa Neff in his article about all the exciting changes at the Crandell. Read the full article here
Notes from TIFF 2025
by Larry Kardish The Toronto International Film Festival just celebrated its 50th anniversary. It began a half century ago with typical municipal bravado as “The Festival of Festivals,” and indeed, it quickly became one. A behemoth with over 210 feature films, all of major interest, shown over ten packed days, TIFF 2025 was expansive, inclusive, and a true treasure chest of recent cinema. Films that premiered at other major festivals like Berlin, Cannes and Venice, were shown along with a significant number of world premieres. Many of those films were from the U.S., as Hollywood jumpstarts its Oscar campaigns in Toronto. Torontonians love their festival and attend it in droves, filling theaters as early as 8:30 am every morning and enduring long waits in rush lines to take the seats of no-shows. TIFF is located in a hideous but contained…
Welcome Back!
Crandell Theatre Reopening Schedule October 15, 2025 11 am – 1 pm: Public Open House. Members of our community will be among the first to see the new Crandell, before screenings restart just 48 hours later for the opening of FilmColumbia25. October 17, 2025 FilmColumbia 2025 Opens. The Crandell will resume public film screenings on Friday, October 17, to coincide with the opening of the FilmColumbia festival. This year’s 25th anniversary festival will feature 40+ expertly curated films and talkbacks with filmmakers and stars. Actor Stephen Lang will be honored at the festival’s catered Kick-Off Party during opening weekend. His latest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is set to release this December. Advance discounted tickets for members only will go on sale online and outside the theater, during Chatham OctoberFeast, on October 4. Join today to receive this premium member…
FilmColumbia Returns October 17 – 26
25 Years of Exceptional Films Past FilmColumbia patrons know that for two weeks in October you’re in for a fall harvest like no other. This 25th anniversary year, we look forward to welcoming you back into a newly renovated, restored and refurbished Crandell Theatre. A few of the festival’s many exciting highlights include: Nuremberg, featuring powerhouse performances by Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon and Richard E. Grant during the trial of the century Nouvelle Vague, Richard Linklater’s delightful tribute to Jean-Luc Godard that recreates the making of the film that launched the auteur’s singular style A Private Life, a sophisticated and spritely whodunit starring a French-speaking Jodie Foster as a renowned American psychoanalyst in Paris Sentimental Value, writer/director Joachim Trier’s follow-up to his hit The Worst Person in the World, once again starring actress Renate Reinsve in an intense family drama with…
A Tribute to Brian Edward Leach, 1981 – 2025
It is with great sadness that we share the tragic news of former Executive Director Brian Edward Leach’s unexpected and untimely death. His sister, Diana Leach Stumpf, wrote movingly on Facebook about his passing on July 12. “He was at home with his rescue dog, Ace, by his side, who he loved more than anyone or anything in this life,” she wrote. Said Crandell President John Lillis, “I heard the news of Brian’s passing with disbelief. Brian was full of life, his love for theater and his love for the Crandell. In the short time he was with us in Columbia County, Brian established himself as a wonderful friend and neighbor. We are grateful for his contributions to the Crandell Theatre.” At the Crandell, Brian was the lively host of many first-time Crandell LIVE! events; he championed the Crandell’s “Have…