“What’s great is that [Film Streams’] mission has not just been about film, because we all love movies, but rather film as an alive, breathing instrument of outreach and community and education. I feel so very lucky to be a part of this organization.” — Academy Award-winning writer-director Alexander Payne Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 2014 Annual Report BOYHOOD Katie Weitz, PhD & Rachel Jacobson. Photo by Dana Damewood. Dear Film Streams Supporters: As Bob Fischbach pointed out recently in the Omaha World-Herald, 46% of this year’s 121 Oscar nominees first appeared on-screen in Omaha at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater. Four of the eight Best Picture nominees premiered with us exclusively – BOYHOOD, I have the honor of serving as the THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, BIRDMAN, Chair of Film Streams’ Board of Directors. and THE THEORY Since joining the board the And thanks to the incredible It’s amazing to discover what an year Film Streams opened the I have been intimately involved with Film Streams’ OF EVERYTHING. support we receive from incredible, community-building tool education program, and the feedback we receive community members like you, the shared experience of watching Ruth Sokolof Theater, I have from teachers and students continues to be inspiring. These excellent, we’ve also discovered and presented a film can be. We love presenting After her students viewed FRUITVALE STATION, smaller films from the US and from hidden gems and both watching and been so proud to be a part of the powerful film depicting the last day in the life artist-driven around the world. These titles don’t facilitating the reactions that can of police-shooting victim Oscar Grant, at a Daytime have big-studio marketing budgets, arise from all of these encounters. We this important cultural touchstone Education Screening with a post-show discussion pictures were also but do address tough issues and have seen terrific growth, thanks to moderated by the Empowerment Network’s Willie frequently engage filmgoers in the vision of our brilliant board dedicated to the presentation and Barney, an Accelere Academy teacher reported: our most popular conversation and thought for months and the marvelous dedication discussion of film as an art form. “One student talked with us for 20 minutes about following viewing. We’re pleased to of our incredibly hard-working seeing himself in Oscar. The film woke him up. films of the year, be able to continue the conversation staff. Film Streams is so fortunate It may have changed him. That is good news.” here at the theater through screenings to be part of a wonderfully engaged Through all of our work, we have focused on our strategic goals contributing greatly featuring dialogues with amazing and intertwined community, and we of exposing new individuals to Film Streams through expanded Film Streams is making an impact, and to our fifth year community partners and with the are proud of the role we can continue outreach efforts, creating transformational experiences we are thriving. It’s a community hub that filmmakers themselves. Because we to play: inspiring ideas, creating for audiences through enriched programs, and engag- gives and provides so much. Building on our in a row of are so well supported, we are fortunate unique connections, all while ing more students with the art of film to create life-long previous success by expanding our reach without to proudly bring little-seen but celebrating the wonderful art of film. film lovers. In 2014, we surpassed all attendance records, welcom- compromising excellence or our mission is our record-breaking important aspects of cinema history to ing 61,852 visitors to Film Streams’ programs. We offered dozens goal, and I am grateful to everyone who has audiences through singular film events, All my best wishes of special events this past year – unique experiences for audienc- made this possible and continues to help us grow. attendance such as our series of Alfred Hitchock’s and happy viewing in 2015, es, like visits with directors, silent films with live accompaniment, Congratulations on another great year, Film Streams! earliest work featuring live scores and panel discussions offering tangible information on national numbers. Rachel Jacobson composed by local musicians and and global issues from local experts in diverse fields. In 2014, Best, “Films from Warhol’s Factory,” 10 films Film Streams Founder we hosted a record-breaking 3,816 local students for Daytime projected from the back of the theater & Executive Director Screenings and our monthly Student Night, which is free to all Katie Weitz, PhD on 16mm prints, their original format. full-time students, surpassing the previous year’s record by 20%. Film Streams Board Chair 2014 Income & Expenditures Contributed support (58%) Individuals $242,000 6 Corporations $17,000 Foundations $248,500 7 Government grants $85,500 First-Run Special events $337,500 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT films Total contributed $930,500 shown Earned revenues (42%) Box office $391,000 in 2014 Concessions $185,000 Merchandise $1,000 JEAN ANN Sales tax on taxable revenues –$47,500 BALLINGER 21 foreign features from Australia, Membership dues $125,500 Chile, China, Denmark, France, Interest-sav/shortterm inv $1,000 & WARD PETERS Most Popular Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Rental revenue $7,000 Poland, Sweden, and the UK. Premieres Overall Program Services fees $4,500 How many films did you see at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof 14 documentaries on subjects as Total earned revenues $667,500 The Grand Budapest Hotel (USA) diverse as whistleblower Edward Theater in 2014? Boyhood (USA) Snowden, gonzo director Alejandro To/from unrestricted net assets –$389,000 We average about two films a month. Jodorowsky, outsider artist Vivian The Theory of Everything (UK) Maier, Broadway legend Elaine Total income $1,209,000 What were your favorites? Most Popular Stritch, art-rock godfather Nick Cave, Birdman Or (The Unexpected THE GREAT BEAUTY, BOYHOOD, BIRDMAN, and beloved critic Roger Ebert. Virtue of Ignorance) (USA) Documentaries THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, and STOP The latest films from Wes Anderson, MAKING SENSE were my top five for 2014. Oscar Shorts! The Academy Finding Vivian Maier (USA) Award-Nominated Short Films Catherine Breillat, Ethan & Joel Coen, Expense Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Steve James, What do you get out of Film Streams? (various countries) Citizenfour (USA) Jim Jarmusch, Richard Linklater, General programming $433,500 When we attend a screening at Film Streams Life Itself (USA) Inside Llewyn Davis (USA) Jafar Panahi, Kelly Reichardt, First-Run films $374,500 we are always aware of how fortunate our Isao Takahata, and Jia Zhang-ke. community is to have such a venue. In A Most Wanted Man (UK/USA/Germany) Tim’s Vermeer (USA) Repertory films $69,500 addition to quality First-Run films we are Education programs $33,500 Belle (UK) Rich Hill (USA/Germany) Films that garnered 60 Academy given the opportunity to see films shown at Award Nominations, 28 Independent Community Dev. & special programs $46,500 Film Streams that are not shown anywhere Calvary (Ireland/UK) Spirit Award Nominations, 13 L.A. Total programming expense (79%) $957,500 else in town. It is evident that the folks Dear White People (USA) Film Critics Awards, 10 Boston behind the scenes at Film Streams genuinely Society of Film Critics Awards, Management & general (11%) $136,500 enjoy and care about the cultural service they 7 New York Critics Circle Awards, provide to our community. We have observed 6 Village Voice Poll Awards, 5 Gotham Fundraising & special events (10%) $115,000 that they are constantly interested in raising Independent Film Awards, and the bar year after year. They make it look 4 National Board of Review Awards. Total expense $1,209,000 easy … they make it look like fun … we are the beneficiaries of their commitment. THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL *Figures have not yet been audited at time of publication. A HARD DAY’S NIGHT Most Popular Classics of 2014 A Hard Day’s Night 1964 (UK) Eleanor’s Secret 2009 (USA) Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1975 (UK) Members Select Winner 7 Stop Making Sense 1984 (West Germany) It’s a Wonderful Life 1946 (USA) 2 Trouble in Paradise 1932 (USA) Repertory Godzilla: The Japanese Original 1954 (Japan) The Lodger 1926 (UK) classics The Parent Trap 1961 (USA) and revivals The Farmer’s Wife 1929 (UK) shown in 2014 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT The Hitchcock 9 Great Directors: Films from February 13 – April 3, 2014 Jacques Demy Warhol’s Factory KERRI DIETZ-PILLEN We kicked off the year with one May 16 – June 12, 2014 November 30 – December of our most ambitious series ever. Spring was an appropriate time to 17, 2014 How many films did you see at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Combining the best of world cinema celebrate the vibrant works of French Presented with the Joslyn Art Theater in 2014? and local talent, we presented the New Wave director Jacques Demy, Museum, this sampling of Warhol’s surviving silent films of Alfred best known for exuberant musicals far-out, experimental films was both So many great films, so little time! I am Hitchcock scored by beloved Omaha like UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG weird and beautiful. All ten films guessing I attended about 30 films. musicians – plus world-renowned (1964) and THE YOUNG GIRLS OF were on loan from the Museum silent film accompanist Donald ROCHEFORT (1967). The series of Modern Art and presented on What were your favorites? Sosin. The Hitchcock 9 was gener- featured seven titles by the auteur, all rare 16mm prints, a new format Favorite things in 2015: posing for Godzilla ously supported by Sam Walker. meticulously restored by Janus Films, for the Ruth Sokolof Theater.