Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 2012 Annual Report
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“Thank you so much for the wonderful movie opportunity! It was fantastic to be able to experience movies from different cultures and I always adore movies at Film Streams. Film is such a great thing. It translates so well through time. Film is an exquisite art form. All of the staff are fantastic!” — Central High School Student Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 2012 Annual Report Beasts of the Southern Wild 2012 Institutionally, Film Streams achieved a major milestone in 2012 by purchasing our build- Dear ing from our landlords. Led by our amaz- ing board of directors, with support from the Film Streams Peter Kiewit Foundation and generous in-kind support from Kutak Rock, LLP, we secured our Supporters, home in North Downtown, lessened our fixed operating costs, and are beginning to build An extraordinary year with something for equity, creating a more sustainable future for everyone, 2012 marked our fifth anniver- our organization. sary celebration, our third biennial Cinemateca series with the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies at UNO, “For the third year in a row, and our third annual Local Filmmakers we broke attendance records…” Showcase, curated by The Faint. It brought an extensive Film Noir series, more live musical accompaniment to We began 2013 by electing a new classic silents, and a wonderful visit from Executive Committee led by Board Chair an undeniable icon when Jane Fonda Dr. Katie Weitz White. Katie has served returned to Omaha for Feature IV. on our board since 2007 and has been instrumental in shaping Feature, our educa- For the third year in a row, we broke at- tion programs, and led our recent building tendance records, welcoming more than campaign. We are infinitely grateful for the 57,000 visitors to our organization’s wonderful leadership of our outgoing founding programs. Membership continued to grow, board chair, my father, David Jacobson. a reflection of more than 2,500 community He will continue his involvement with the members’ enthusiasm for our organization. organization, offering invaluable guidance Our Community Development program and support. has become a model for genuine collabora- tions that enhance our mission as well as We are looking forward to bringing those of our partnering organizations. many memorable experiences to Omaha in the year to come. Thanks to tremendous support from our community, we continue to present Can’t wait to see you at the theater! extraordinary programs, celebrating the art of film while offering opportunities for civic participation and providing tangible information through the films All my best, we show and the discussions we host. Rachel Jacobson Film Streams Executive Director First-Run Films new films premiered in 2012 Most Popular 46 Premieres Overall 14 foreign features from Belgium, France, Iran, Israel, Japan, Norway, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and the UK. Moonrise Kingdom (USA) 15 documentaries, including extraordinary portraits of The Artist (FRANCE) Marina Abramovic, Bob Marley, Jiro Ono, Sixto Rodríguez, Ai Weiwei, and “Queen of Versailles” Jackie Siegel. Beasts of the Southern Wild (U4") The latest films from Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Anna Karenina (UK) Leos Carax, the Dardenne brothers, Aki Kaurismäki, Oscar Shorts! The Academy Award- Lynne Ramsay, Lynn Shelton, and Frederick Wiseman. “For the third year in a row, Nominated Short Films (various countries) Of the 50 highest grossing movies in 2012, just one was directed by a woman. Comparatively, 22% of our The Master (USA) we broke attendance records…” 2012 first-run films were by women filmmakers. The Queen of Versailles (USA) The Sessions (USA) Most Popular Documentaries Sleepwalk With Me (USA) The Queen of Versailles (USA) A Separation (IRAN) Samsara (USA) Marley (USA) Jiro Dreams of Sushi (USA) Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey (USA) Moonrise Kingdom 2012 Most Popular Repertory Films Classics of 2012 It’s a Wonderful Life 1946 (USA) classics and revivals The Big Lebowski 1998 (USA) Members Select Winner shown in 2012 81 Union Pacific 1939 (USA) Charlotte’s Web 1973 (USA) World Cinema Forever Young Family Dr. No 1962 (UK) Revivals: A Celebration & Children’s Series of Film Preservation Ongoing The Maltese Falcon 1941 (USA) February 10 – April 5, 2012 From THE MUPPET MOVIE in January The Phantom of the Opera* 1925 (USA) Nearly 60 years of cinema from around to IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE in the world, including everything from December, our Forever Young series Klute 1971 (USA) canonical masterpieces to rediscovered offered two-dozen family-friendly films gems, all demonstrating the critical in 2012. Made possible with the support Sherlock Jr.** 1924 (USA) importance of film preservation. of the Lincoln Financial Foundation. The Muppet Movie 1979 (UK/USA) Film Noir * Live score by the Alloy Orchestra. ** Live score by Dan McCarthy (piano) with James Maakestad (bass). April 6 – June 13, 2012 Special With this 20-film series, we revisited Engagements the era of film noir, featuring some of the screen’s greatest icons dishing The Big Lebowski blistering dialogue while twisting January 20 – 26, 2012 and turning through plots as devi- Fifth Annual Members Select Winner ous as they come. Series generously sponsored by Sam Walker. Union Pacific Jane Fonda July 12 – 19, 2012 June 29 – August 30, 2012 Presented in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of Omaha-based Union Pacific. A series celebrating our Feature IV special guest Jane Fonda, including two influential selections of her choosing: 12 Evil Dead 2 ANGRY MEN, starring her father Henry October 26 – November 1, 2012 Fonda, and SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS. Cinemateca 2012 September 1 – October 4, 2012 Our third biennial series presented with UNO’s Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) with a kick-off party at El Museo Latino, and complimentary cuisine throughout the series from Maria Bonita, Dixie Quicks, Nietos Bakery, and Taita. Two by Shirley Clarke December 7 – 13, 2012 On the 50th anniversary of pioneering filmmaker Shirley Clarke’s debut feature, we presented newly restored 35mm prints of THE CONNECTION (1962) and ORNETTE: MADE IN AMERICA (1985). Film Streams’ Repertory programming is generously supported by Omaha Steaks. The Big Sleep 1946 Education More than 3,000 students attended free programs at our cinema in 2012, including Daytime Screenings for Visiting Classes, which provides teachers opportunities to bring their students to the theater for film-based field trips, and our Student Night (presented the first Monday of every month), when full-time students can see whatever we’re showing free of charge. Student Events 2012 A Time for Burning Undefeated March 17, 2012 July 6, 2012 November 9, 2012 Close to 200 students joined us this past This year featured two daytime presen- summer for a special daytime screening tations of the 1966 Oscar-nominated and discussion of the Oscar-winning documentary about race relations in documentary UNDEFEATED as part of Omaha, the second of which brought the Upward Bound program supported 145 students from schools throughout by the Peter Kiewit Foundation. the community (Central, Mercy, Millard Close to 200 students from Jackson Elementary visited the theater for a special daytime screening North, Millard South, North, South, and A Better Life of CHARLOTTE’S WEB. a few home-education students) for November 13 & 15, 2012 a special screening and remarkable More than 450 Spanish and ESL discussion about race relations in students from seven area high schools Omaha today, led by director Bill Jersey. “It was interesting to see (Bellevue East, Bellevue West, Central, Cornerstone Christian, Kanesville the difference between Charlotte’s Web French films and American Alternative Learning, Ralston, and June 5, 2012 Westside) joined us this fall for a pair ones. SMALL CHANGE was The most adorable audience ever, 188 of daytime screenings and discussions certainly very funny, but the students from Jackson Elementary of the powerful immigration drama director’s sense of humor was attended this special daytime A BETTER LIFE, with post-show discus- definitely darker than the screening of the original animated sions led by Dr. Lourdes Gouveia and average American director’s. adaptation of the E.B. White book. Christian Espinosa from UNO’s Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS). It was also cool to have the discussion at the end of the Sita Sings the Blues April 27, 2012 Small Change movie so we could compare November 27, 2012 our thoughts and perceptions A daytime screening and discussion of Nina Paley’s brilliant, animated of the film to those of other The 400 Blows interpretation of the Ramayana at- November 29, 2012 students. I had gone to the tended by 41 students from Creighton movies at Film Streams before Prep’s World Religions class. This past fall brought two daytime and enjoyed those. This time, screenings of classics from legend- however, was particularly ary director Francois Truffaut, with 132 French students from good because we got to seven high schools (Bellevue East, interact with other students. Bellevue West, Bennington, Central, I would really enjoy going Creighton Prep, Millard South, to another movie there.” South) viewing the films and taking part in post-show discussions. — Emily, Central High School Student Film Streams’ Education program is supported by the Tom and Mary Jetton Charitable Fund through the Omaha Community Foundation and the Gifford Foundation. Community Development A panel discussion following a February screening & Special Programs of Gary Hustwit’s documentary URBANIZED. In 2012, we presented an average of almost one new special program each week, including 11 screenings with filmmakers and special guest artists in attendance, 20 different community partners, and 2 silent classics with live musical accompaniment. Partnerships with Community Organizations, Director and Artist Visits, and Panel Discussions Play Time January 12, 2012 Screening and discussion with NYC -based architects David Leven and Stella Betts, presented with design alliance OMAha and Omaha Creative Institute.