Ithaca College

In response to the statewide “stay at home” order, Ithaca’s member-supported independent movie theater is going virtual, in partnership the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival (FLEFF), now in its 23rd year.

Four international art film titles originally slated for FLEFF 2020 will screen over the course of the next several weeks:

4/10: Bacurau (Brazil)

4/17 The Whistlers (Romania)

4/24 A White, White Day (Iceland)

TBA: And Then We Danced (Georgia)

On Friday, April 10, Cinemapolis will begin offering a weekly slate of new films for patrons to view at home.

The cinema is collaborating with independent film distributors like Film Movement, Kino Lorber, Magnolia Films, and Oscilloscope Laboratories to sell patrons “virtual tickets” for online rentals of current first-run releases. Prices will vary slightly depending on the studio, but in all cases, a portion of the proceeds come back to support operations at Cinemapolis while the theater is closed. 

The first week of new, virtual releases features four films: Bacurau, Corpus Christi, Once Were Brothers, and Saint Frances. Just like regularly scheduled film screenings, titles will only be available for a limited duration, and new titles will be added each Friday to the cinema’s website at Cinemapolis.org.

The shift to in-home cinema marks a temporary change in operations for the theater, but, according to Executive Director Brett Bossard, “what HAS NOT changed is our mission—encouraging central New York residents to explore the power of film to entertain, educate, and to celebrate the human experience. We may have to self-isolate, but we needn't be isolated from great cinema!” 

All virtual cinema titles available to rent can be screened online using a laptop or mobile device. Detailed instructions are available at the time of purchase.

The virtual screening rooms also breathe new life into a cinematic staple of Spring in Ithaca: the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival (FLEFF). Bacurau is one of more than 50 films originally scheduled to be part of the annual fest this March.

"Our partnership with Cinemapolis has insured FLEFF and Ithaca College can bring groundbreaking international art cinema to Ithaca, our region, and the world. And this vital partnership has meant continually adapting and innovating to community needs, whether embodied or now virtual, to insure space for cinemas that change how we see and think about the globe," observed Patricia Zimmermann, codirector with Tom Shevory of FLEFF.

 In the coming weeks, additional virtual FLEFF titles will join the offerings at Cinemapolis, including The Whistlers, And Then We Danced, and A White, White Day.

Cinemapolis values its role as one of Ithaca’s certified living wage employers. 

During this temporary closure, all Cinemapolis employees, including hourly staff whose schedules have been affected, are continuing to receive full pay.

The purchase of virtual screening tickets, gift cards, and theater memberships all help support Cinemapolis to compensate the staff throughout this unprecedented time.

Contact: Brett Bossard, Executive Director, 607.277.6115; brett@cinemapolis.org or Patricia Zimmermann, codirectorof FLEFF, patty @ithaca.edu

FLEFF: A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT