19 Years of the Burns: JBFC Favorites Watchlist

by JBFC Marketing Associate Paige Grand Pré

In celebration of the JBFC’s 19th birthday on Sunday, June 21, we’ve put together a few curated watchlists that encapsulate the quintessential JBFC experience so you can party virtually with us from home. It’s hard to pick favorites, but we’ve highlighted a few of our institutional favorites from the past 19 years, including films that screened as new releases, as part of a special event, or as part of an annual JBFC tradition. If you’re a Letterboxd user, you can also check out the list on the JBFC’s Letterboxd account to save for later.

1. Big Night (Scott/Tucci, 1996) – The first film *ever* screened at the Burns, Big Night graced screens in our opening week back in 2001 before returning as part of Film to Table in 2019.
2. Spirited Away (Miyazaki, 2002) – A beloved classic, Spirited Away has screened multiple times at the Burns, first as part of Movies for Kids (and their Families)—later known as JBFC Kids—and most recently as part of The Meditative Life in 2019.
3. Roman Holiday (Wyler, 1953) – A recurring Valentine’s Day favorite!
4. Black Orpheus (Camus, 1959) – Screened as part of Jazz Sessions across multiple years, and most recently on 35mm as part of Caramoor at the Burns: Movies Musicians Love in 2019.
5. It’s a Wonderful Life (Capra, 1946) – Screens annually as part of our holiday programming.
6. Metropolis (Lang, 1927) – Screened in 2005 as part of The Golden Age of German Cinema, accompanied by a live score.
7. Le Cercle Rouge (Melville, 1970) – Le Cercle Rouge has screened in multiple series, popping up every few years at the JBFC since our opening. Most recently, it screened on 35mm as part of Melville at 100 in 2018.
8. The Searchers (Ford, 1956) – Screened as part of Steven Spielberg and Some of His Favorites in 2011, and again during Saddle Up Saturdays with Jonathan Demme in 2016-2017.
9. Paris, Texas (Wenders, 1984) – Screened as part of Around the World in 18 Films in 2014, and again during Wim Wenders: Portraits Along the Road in 2016.
10. Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (Masters, 2007) – Screened as part of Focus on Nature in 2019, followed by a live performance of some of Seeger’s beloved songs.

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