Blog
La La Land: The Perfect Blend of Cinematic Escapism and Authenticity
By Pleasantville High School Student Michael Bloom On December 4, I had the privilege of attending an advanced screening of Damien Chazelle’s La La Land at the Jacob Burns Film Center. The film caught my attention earlier this year when I read that the writer and director of Whiplash was working on a new film starring [...]
A Reel Piece of History
By JBFC Marketing Volunteer Dotty Battel Have you had a chance to go to the Jane Peck Gallery on the third floor of the theater recently? If you have any interest in cinema history (or even if you just love film) we have a treat waiting for you! Two exquisite classic 35mm projectors, lovingly restored [...]
{Cinemania Student Critics} Fantastic Mr. Fox
By Cinemania Student Critic Emily Loza Fantastic Mr. Fox is a funny, family friendly, fundamentally FANTASTIC stop-motion film directed by, Wes Anderson. Mr. Fox, his wife, Mrs.Fox, his son Ash, and Kristofferson, Mr.Fox’s nephew who came to visit, all live a normal life in their home under a tree. But, after 2 years, Mr. Fox’s [...]
Fargo and Its Place in Retro Revival
By Andrew Jupin, Senior Programmer A few weeks back, a colleague asked me why I’d select a film like Fargo to be part of Retro Revival. The track record for the series so far had been, as they saw it, “old” movies—It Happened One Night (1934), I Knew Her Well (1965), Band of Outsiders (1964), [...]
JBFC Kids Age Recommendations
If you’re bringing your family to JBFC Kids you may be wondering how we decide on an age recommendation, or whether you can bring your child to a JBFC Kids film if they are younger than the suggested age. You know your child better than we do. We’re happy to welcome children under the recommended age [...]
JBFC Founder Stephen Apkon is Disturbing the Peace
JBFC Founder Stephen Apkon’s new film, Disturbing the Peace, opens Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Burns as a Westchester Exclusive and we’re incredibly excited to have him back in Pleasantville. JBFC Programming Director Brian Ackerman recently sat down with Steve to discuss his new documentary and what returning to the Burns community means to him. Read their [...]
Bring the Family to Fantastic Mr. Fox
By Guest Writer Betsy Bishop This November we’re excited to be screening Wes Anderson’s stop-motion comedy Fantastic Mr. Fox. As the film is based on Roald Dahl‘s classic book, we were happy to have Betsy Bishop, a librarian with our JBFC Kids Community Partner Westchester Library System, write this guest post for us. Need something to [...]
Why Moonlight is the Must-See Film of the Year
By Gina Duncan, JBFC director of industry engagement and special programs I don’t know what I can say about Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight that every major publication and respected film critic hasn’t said already. To quote several sources, Moonlight is a “lyrical” “astonishing” “beautifully humane” “masterpiece” and “the reason we go to the movies[.]” (I know critics [...]
Cast Commentary
Get to know the “cast” here at the Jacob Burns Film Center: the employees, volunteers, and interns who make it possible to bring over 400 films a year to the community. Featuring Gen Oliver, Development Associate What about your job do you find most satisfying? I love going to films at the theater and seeing people react [...]
Let the Dancing Begin
By JBFC Marketing Volunteer Dotty Battel October has arrived, and at the JBFC that means it’s time for Dance on Film (Oct. 18–26), our annual celebration of what Jacques D’Ambroise calls “the expression in time and movement, in happiness, joy, sadness and envy.” This year’s program runs the gamut from traditional tango to modern dance to a [...]
