by Peter Biskind A behind-the-scenes look at what has made The Crandell’s FilmColumbia Festival, approaching its 25th anniversary this fall, the toast of the town. Speaking for the Crandell board, I’m happy to assure Chatham’s movie lovers that the renovation slash restoration of the theater is proceeding on schedule, and will be finished in plenty of time for the theater’s 100th anniversary next year. Running a single-screen theater at a time when even the multiplexes are struggling to stay alive is no small thing, but with the help of our loyal audience, we’ve managed to scrape by, furnishing Chathamites with a regular diet of studio and indie hits, despite the fact that the big studios often demand that we run their films for two or three weeks, which is fatal to our box office. We’re particularly proud of our annual…
Live from The Berlinale: Films in Consideration for FilmColumbia25
by Larry Kardish The Berlin International Film Festival, known as the Berlinale, ended on Sunday, February 23, the day Germans went to the polls. I suppose this was appropriate, as the first Berlin Film Festival, which took place in 1951 on the initiative of an American serviceman in Berlin, a city then in ruins and divided into four districts each administered by an Allied occupying force, was established to “showcase” the culture of the “free world.” In short, the Festival began as a political gesture aimed at the civilian population of Berlin, and for the next seventy-four years, through the creation of West Germany and East Germany, and the building and the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, it has remained, more than less, an artistic event inflected by politics. This year, the 75th edition of the Berlinale, now under the…
VIDEO: Oscar-Winning Director Sean Baker’s Love Letter to Independent Cinemas
Bravo to Oscar-winning director Sean Baker for using his platform last night to remind us all why cinema in a movie theater matters, and for inspiring his peers and future filmmakers to continue making stories for the big screen. We couldn’t agree more!
John T. Lillis Elected President of Crandell Theatre, Inc.
(Chatham, NY — February 20, 2025) — The Crandell Theatre is pleased to announce the election of John T. Lillis (above) as President of Crandell Theatre, Inc. The board has also elected Ghent resident Amy Barr as a Director of the Crandell Theatre. “It is my honor to be given the opportunity to participate in leading the Crandell Theatre forward at this exciting moment in its history,” said Lillis. “The renovation project for the theater, which is nearing its 100th birthday, is proceeding on schedule for a Fall 2025 reopening. Plans are in process to expand the film and non-film programming to provide the community with important entertainment and educational experiences.” Reflecting on the past work of former president Lydia Kukoff, Lillis added, “I am grateful for the many years of strong Crandell leadership by my predecessor, Lydia Kukoff. Her…
FilmColumbia24 Films Receive 21 Oscar Nominations
Congratulations, FilmColumbia fans! Your Audience Choice Award-winning film, Emilia Pérez, received 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress. You know how to pick them! A total of seven films shown at this year’s festival also received nominations, including Flow, Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat, No Other Land, Memoir of a Snail, A Real Pain and the Brazilian film I’m Still Here. The performance of that film’s Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated star, Fernanda Torres (top left, above), helped secure the film’s additional nominations for Best International Feature AND for Best Picture. Said Laurance Kardish, FilmColumbia Co-Executive and Co-Artistic Director, “As soon as the Oscar nominations were announced, the Cannes Film Festival sent out an email crowing that eight of the films it premiered in May got thirty-five nominations. FilmColumbia featured seven films at the Crandell in October…