Celebrating Independent Visionaries at the 25th Anniversary Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival

CLASSIC FILM SERIES AT CAT

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:43:11 GMT

CLASSIC FILM SERIES AT CAT

Thanks to everyone who attended a screening of our first classic film, 1955’s The Night of the Hunter . Our next classic feature is Billy Wilder’s The Apartment , Oscar’s best picture of 1960. The film stars Jack Lemmon as a mid-level functionary in a large insurance company hoping to get ahead by letting his bosses borrow his apartment for their various extramarital affairs. A luminous Shirley MacLaine co-stars as an elevator operator in his office building who captures his romantic interest, and Fred MacMurray plays a manipulative executive far removed from his portrayal of lovable patriarch Steven Douglas on TV’s My Three Sons .

The late Roger Ebert notes that “by the time he made The Apartment , Wilder had become a master at a kind of sardonic, satiric comedy that had sadness at its center.” Cowriting with I.A.L. Diamond, Wilder not only delivers one of the screen’s all-time great romantic comedy-dramas, he also gives us flawed, believable, funny and sad characters—and a remarkably frank (at east for its time) look at what we would now call toxic masculinity.

Starting May 2, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society is proud to offer The Apartment for a special two-week run as part of its CLASSIC FILM SERIES. Don’t miss the chance to see this film on the big screen, just in time for its 65 ^th anniversary in glorious black and white and widescreen—and watch this space for upcoming classic film screenings and series!

Meet Artist Michael Molanphy

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:54:12 GMT

Meet Artist Michael Molanphy

The world of cinema inspires many artists of all disciplines, including those who work in graphic arts.

Films and the diverse audiences who watch them are celebrated in this year's 26th Anniversary Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (RBIFF) Artwork by contest winner Michael Molanphy!

His winning artwork, "Bubble Feature," will be showcased at this year's 26th Anniversary Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival from November 6 to 10 at the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes, DE.

Michael's winning entry features whimsical and eye-catching artwork showing what a movie theater might look like underwater.

"My thinking behind "Bubble Feature" was "Why not have an underwater movie theater? Why can't all the inhabitants of Rehoboth Beach enjoy a movie, regardless of whether they have legs or fins?" I tried to make the audience of the aquatic venue as diverse as possible because, like Rehoboth Beach, all are welcome. So we have mermaids, seahorses on a date, a scuba diver, a couple of sea monsters, a deep sea diver, Neptune and his snorkeling boyfriend, and a shark telling people to be quiet during the film," Michael said when asked about the inspiration for his entry.

Michael is the president of Varadero Communications, Inc., a graphic design firm that he founded in 1999. Varadero does design and branding work for a wide variety of clients in diverse industries including Excelencia in Education, Trust for Americas Health, Dartmouth College, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson Vision, United Rentals, Chanel, Kiehl's, and Clinique. He now proudly adds The Rehoboth Beach Film Society to this list.

Every year, local artists in Sussex County compete for the opportunity to design the artwork and theme of the iconic and award-winning film festival that is one of the longest-running in the United States. "Bubble Feature" is Michael's first entry into the annual contest.

Michael lives in Rehoboth Beach with his wife Annie. "Although Annie and I love going to the movies, we have vastly divergent tastes in film, but we always find a movie that we can both agree to see at the Cinema Art Theater," he said.

"My favorite kind of movies are the ones that stay with me long after I have left the theater, whether it's because something has been left unresolved, or because I've been challenged

to change my way of thinking about an issue, or the film has created its own mythology, like "Pan's Labyrinth," that I want to know more about," he added.

Michael is very excited about this year's festival and encourages everyone in the area to attend.

"I'm excited to see films from new voices with different perspectives that are a departure from the usual Hollywood fare," Michael said about what he is looking forward to this year. "People should attend the festival because they will get to see unique films that might not be commercially distributed. Plus, it's a lot of fun to compare notes with other festival-goers after each screening."

The "Bubble Feature" artwork will be presented as the official Festival Program cover and featured in all upcoming event marketing and merchandise. In addition, the original artwork will be framed and put up for auction at the Cinema Art Theater during the festival.

This year, audiences can see 30 film titles (documentaries, features, and shorts) over five days at the Society's Cinema Art Theater and two additional venues in the area: Possum Point Players Theatre in Georgetown, DE, and Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware (West Lewes). VIP passes will go on sale in late September, and general admission tickets will be available by mid-October. Be sure to sign up to receive regular updates at RehobothFilm.com.

PRIDE Film Festival: Must-See Premieres, a 25th Anniversary Retrospective, and Retro 90’s Party!

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:21:11 GMT

PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL

by Erik Gudris

MUST SEE PREMIERES

The 2024 Rehoboth Beach PRIDE Film Festival will screen a wide array of features and documentaries that reflects the diverse LGBTQ+ community. Both long-time residents of the area and first-time attendees to the festival will get to see the best and latest in LGBTQ+ cinema from June 13-16 at the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes.

PRIDE is honored to have as our Opening Night film “Close to You” , starring acclaimed actor Elliot Page in his first film since his recent transition!

The Mid-Atlantic Premiere of this much anticipated new drama stars Page as Sam, a trans man who returns to visit his family in a small Canadian town, a trip he has been putting off for years. “Close to You” screens on

Thursday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m.

25TH RETROPSPECTIVE

On Saturday, June 15, our headlining film showcases a classic gay romantic comedy from 1999 that remains a fan favorite of all ages. “Trick”, starring Christian Campbell, John Paul Pitoc, Miss Coco Peru, and Tori Spelling follows the misadventures of two young men searching for love in Manhattan.

Our 25th Retrospective on Saturday kicks-off with a fun Retro 90’s Party where attendees can get their groove on, included with the “Trick” ticket, at 7:00 p.m.!

“Trick” then screens at 8:15 p.m., preceded by the short film, “ Safe Word”. Afterwards, “Trick” director Jim Fall (credits also include “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”) participates in a post film discussion with “Safe Word” executive producer and star Mauricio Pita on what’s about working in film today.

The festival concludes with our Closing Night film, “A House is Not a Disco” on Sunday, June 16, at 5:00 p.m.

This critically acclaimed documentary presents a vibrant narrative documenting a year-in-the-life in the world’s most iconic “homo-normative” community: Fire Island Pines.

PRIDE also includes several exceptional narratives and documentaries that have been audience favorites at other film festivals this year. These films are making their debuts in the area before they hit the big screen across the country later this fall.

OTHER PRIDE TITLES

COPA 71: Reveals the true and almost forgotten story of the women’s World Cup in 1971.

(Thursday, June 13 at 2:00 p.m.)

Cora Bora: Hysterical comedy follows a millennial desperate to win back her girlfriend.

(Thursday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m.)

Chuck Chuck Baby: Acclaimed musical comedy romance set in Wales where two women factory workers rediscover their love for each other. (Friday, June 14 at 4:00 p.m.)

National Anthem: Evocative drama of a young man who joins a community of queer ranchers and rodeo performers in New Mexico. (Friday, June 14 at 8:15 p.m.)

Summer Qamp: Hit documentary that explores a Camp in rural Alberta where queer, non-binary, and trans teens get to be kids in a supportive space. (Saturday, June 15 at 2:00 p.m.)

Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes (mid-Atlantic premiere): Intimate look at pioneering artist George Platt Lynes, who took radically explicit photographs of the male nude. The documentary reveals Lynes’ gifted eye for the male form, his long-term friendships with Gertrude Stein and Alfred Kinsey, and his lasting influence as one of the first openly gay American artists. (Sunday, June 16 at 2:00 p.m.)

For complete information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.rehobothfilm.com/pride-film-festival .

Independent Film Fest (25th) Takes a Final Bow

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 14:56:58 GMT

Independent Film Festival (#25)

Takes a Final Bow

WOW, THANK YOU!

The Film Society thanks each and every Film Festival patron that attended this year’s 25 ^th Silver Screen Anniversary of the Society’s award-winning Independent Film Festival!

THE BALLOTS ARE IN!

Best Documentary, Call Me Dancer

Best Feature, The Road Dance

Best Foreign, La Syndicaliste

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA!

Hats off to our volunteer photographers Anne Rhoads and Sam Markman from Coastal Camera Club and Elaine Orbino. Click here to view their photos.

FEW FESTIVAL PARTICULARS

We welcomed more than 460 film patrons who purchased 2,201 tickets over the five-day event. We programmed 23 film titles (ten documentaries, seven features, five foreign and one short film). We booked 27 screenings which resulted in 15 sold-out films. The five-day festival attracted film goers from our local community and as far away as California. Kudos to one couple, the Bennett’s from PA who were able to attend all 23 films programmed at CAT!

There were appearances from fourteen filmmakers and talent that talked about their films. In addition to our local filmmakers from Delaware, Producer Lisa Black and Writer/Director Nick Wilkinson, talent also traveled from Chicago, Philly, New York City, Baltimore and Bethesda, MD, District of Columbia, and Tennessee to attend.

In addition to the Film Society team, it took 36 volunteers to program, promote and produce the Independent Film Festival which includes Q&A discussions, post-film parties, photography, and travel itineraries. We thank all the staff, volunteers, members, local businesses, consultants, community partners and the Board of Directors for their support.

FILM FESTIVAL POSTER RAFFLE WINNER

Thank you all for participating in the festival artwork raffle. All proceeds raised are used to offset the costs associated with hosting this year’s Independent Film Festival. Congratulations to the winner, film patron and volunteer, Veronica Radalin of Bethany Beach!

QUOTABLES

“It was a wonderful experience and I loved being there. A very notable audience and well informed, I enjoyed talking with the patrons.” – Leslie Shampaine, Co-Film Director, Call Me Dancer

“We only got to see a few films, frankly because we had tempered our expectations and only came into town for an abbreviated visit--but we regretted this decision--the film selection and festival was excellent, and we were lucky enough to choose films with opportunities to meet the directors and even the stars of the films we saw--such a treat.” – Christopher and Robert

“The enthusiasm from our Film Buffs was so rewarding …. Bravo again to you all, Helen, Amy, Cheryl, Alix, Jon, Kim and Wes!” -- Antonia

“I’m so glad that we sold out your theater. The goal here is to keep film festivals alive and well, if filmmakers and film festivals can do that in partnership, all the better.” --Beth Levison, Hazel Pictures, Storm Lake

“I want to take a moment to compliment you, your staff and your volunteers for putting on a wonderful 25th Anniversary film festival. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the eight films we were able to see in three days in the comfort of your beautiful Cinema Art Theatre. As a former executive director of a film society and an international film festival, I appreciate the tremendous amount of work and the countless hours of effort it takes to plan and execute such a high quality festival and make it seem effortless to your audience.“ – Steve & Lisa

______________________

26th Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival

NOVEMBER 6-10, 2024

Cinema Art Theater in Lewes

See you soon,

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society Team

Celebrating Independent Visionaries at the 25th Anniversary Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 17:02:36 GMT

Three Indie Icons Will Have Films Screened at This Year’s RBIFF

This year’s 25th Silver Screen Anniversary of the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (RBIFF) will once again celebrate the best in independent cinema from around the world.

For this year’s RBIFF, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society is pleased to spotlight three exceptional filmmakers and recognize them as “Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival Independent Visionaries” for their lifelong commitment to independent film. Each of them will have a new film screened at this year’s RBIFF from Nov. 8-12 at the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes, DE.

“We are truly excited and honored that we are able to share the films of these extraordinary Independent Visionaries with our audience for this year’s special 25th Silver Screen Anniversary Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival," said Helen M. Chamberlin, Rehoboth Beach Film Society Executive Director “Although Diane Ladd is unable to travel to screen her latest film, “Isle of Hope”, we hope everyone gets a chance to see their films and be inspired by them to support independent film and the talented artists that create them.”

Diane Ladd

Diane Ladd, actress/writer/director/author, is a winner of over 57 international awards including The British Academy Award, Golden Globe Award®, Independent Spirit Film Award and the Cannes’ Palme d’or Award. She has been nominated for three Emmy Awards® and three Academy Awards® for the films Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose. In Rambling Rose, she and her daughter, Laura Dern, in tandem, made show business history as the first mother/daughter duo to earn nominations for the same film.

Ms. Ladd’s latest film “Isle of Hope” will screen on Wednesday, November 8 as the Opening Night film for this year’s Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. The Film's Director Damián Romay will attend for a post-Q&A discussion.

Luis Guzmán

Luis Guzmán is an American actor/writer/producer whose 40-year career includes having appeared in over 100 films and television shows. Born in Puerto Rico, Guzmán was raised in New York City’s Greenwich Village and the surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood. He began his career as a social worker moonlighting as an actor, eventually becoming heavily involved in street theater and independent films. He is a favorite of director Steven Soderbergh, who cast him in Out of Sight, The Limey, and Traffic, as well as director Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him in Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch-Drunk Love.

Mr. Guzmán’s new film “Story Ave” which he stars in and executive produced, will screen on Friday, November 10.

Ken Loach

Ken Loach is a British film and television director and is considered the UK's foremost political filmmaker.

Loach made his feature film debut with “Poor Cow” in 1967. Two years later he directed “Kes,” which is now considered one of the most significant and important films ever made in Great Britain. His distinctive films, often focused on socially marginalized communities and labor rights, have earned him worldwide acclaim. Two of his recent films “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” (2006) and “I, Daniel Blake” (2016) both won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making him one of only nine filmmakers to win the award twice.

Mr. Loach’s latest film, the critically acclaimed “The Old Oak,” will screen on Wednesday, November 8 during the festival.

At this year's Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, audiences can see 22 film titles (documentaries, features, and international films) over five days at the Society's Cinema Art Theater. Member tickets are on sale now, and General Admission tickets will be available by mid-October. Be sure to sign up to receive regular updates at RehobothFilm.com .

Go Inside This Year’s 25th Anniversary Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival Lineup

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:21:24 GMT

Meet Programmer Michael Tuckman

Many movie lovers who frequent film festivals often wonder how the films are selected before appearing on the big screen. While every film festival is different in its process, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society (RBFS) is fortunate to have an experienced programmer working with them.

Michael Tuckman, based in New York, is a well-respected film programmer and consultant who works with many film festivals in Key West, Scottsdale, and nationwide.

For this year's special 25th Silver Screen Anniversary, Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (RBIFF), Michael and the RBIFF team needed to balance many things as they curated this year's schedule. That included being aware of new films produced in the United States and worldwide and discovering films that our communities' diverse audiences will enjoy and connect with during the event.

Recently, Michael took time to answer a few questions about his process for selecting films for RBIFF and what our audiences can look forward to this November.

RBFS: How long does it typically take to program films for a festival?

Michael: "It's a year-round affair. There are just so many wonderful films that premiere at many different festivals throughout the year. A few of the international titles screening at RBIFF were first introduced to the world at the Toronto Film Festival in September of 2022, and they can take months to become available for US festivals. So the work begins over a year before the actual RBIFF event."

RBFS: You program films for various festivals, including RBIFF. What is your initial process for determining what movies to choose?

Michael: "I always try to be in tune with the local audience but also know how far I can reach on certain titles. I always look for uplifting films, but that doesn't mean a film's entire plot will be free of challenges. Often the most uplifting films are ones where the characters have to overcome great adversity to reach their goal, and I think we have many of these compelling stories in the program each year."

RBFS: For this year's RBIFF, and especially for its 25th Anniversary, how did you go about programming the event to coincide with this special milestone?

Michael: "Celebrating the anniversary is celebrating the film culture of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society. It is one that is diverse, international, intelligent, and boundary-pushing, so I was always on the lookout for films that would pay tribute to the culture that has been built for the last quarter century."

RBFS: What can festival-goers look forward to this year? Are there any unique gems that they should check out?

Michael: "Well, all my children are equal, right? (smile)

I am very excited about some films with a particular local flare.

"Bottle Conditioned" celebrates the rich history of Lambic beer brewing, and we are so fortunate to have the involvement of the Founders of Dogfish Head Brewing Co. for that special screening on November 9.

Also, we are excited to be teaming up with the Cape Gazette on the recent documentary "Storm Lake," which is a clarion call to save local newspapers. That will be the festival's Closing Film on November 12.

RBFS: Are there any films not connected to the area that film lovers should mark their calendars for?

Michael: Absolutely!

"While she's not local, the opportunity to spotlight legendary actress Diane Ladd and her new film "Isle of Hope" is something truly special for the Opening Night on November 8.

And finally, speaking of hope, one has to be inspired by the incredible stories of the Black astronauts who crashed the NASA party and paved the way for the future in the new National Geographic documentary "Space Race" that will screen on November 9."

RBFS: What makes attending a film festival so memorable or different from just seeing a film as one usually does in a movie theater?

Michael: "Movie-going has always been communal. In an age where we are so tied to social media and our smartphones, going to a movie is almost an act of rebellion! And when you add in a festival setting, you're adding people who, like you, have decided to see a particular film that may only play once or twice at the festival, and you are sharing THAT moment with others.

That is something very special that everyone can cherish at this year's 25th Anniversary -RBIFF!"

At this year's Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, audiences can see 22 film titles (documentaries, features, international films and one local short) over five days at the Society's Cinema Art Theater in Lewes, DE. Tickets are on sale now and be sure to sign up to receive regular updates at RehobothFilm.com.

Note: Due to health concerns, Diane Ladd will not be able to attend the Film Festival. Director Damian Romay will host the post Q&A on Nov 8.

National Theatre Live

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 19:51:04 GMT

Best of British Theatre at the CAT

Essentially all of literary canon can, I feel like, be split into two camps: “issues in general”

and “issues stemming from your bizarre and/or unpleasant upbringing.” In this vein of thought,

we can sort our National Theatre Live performances: Good , featuring David Tennant, Best of

Enemies , featuring Zachary Quinto, and Fleabag , featuring Phoebe Waller-Bridge on our

“issues in general” side, and King Lear , featuring Ian McKellen, Hamlet , featuring Benedict

Cumberbach, and Frankenstein , featuring Johnny Lee Miller, on our “parental problems” side,

so to speak. Each of these will screen first on a Wednesday for a 1 pm matinee and then on the

following Saturday at 4 pm. World class theater from the Royal National Theater in London can

be yours for 25 dollars or less, tickets available as always on our website, rehobothfilm.com, or

at our box office.

Good is about one man’s personal failings making him susceptible to Nazism; though we

showed this in July, David Tennant’s performance brought to life the chilling reality that one

cannot separate the irrevocable immorality of the human condition from our own lives. It’s hard

to consider that anyone can be slid towards the “dark side” of themselves, but without facing

that truth you run the continual risk of making it more and more likely to happen. To accept that

all actors of genocide, of monstrosities, are also as human as you or I, is to be on guard against

such internal shifts within yourself. We are all immune to propaganda, as they say.

King Lear, which we showed in early September, is about King Lear getting old and

losing his mind. His older two children, who are unable to put him in a nursing home because it’s

the middle ages, get tired of hosting him and decide to remove him from the throne, while his

youngest, who the older two despise and the only one who wouldn’t mind having him at her

house, spends a majority of the play in a foreign country after a dispute with Lear over his will.

It’s a classic Shakespearean familial squabble: it immediately descends into murder. I saw a

very good production of this in Washington DC once, making it one of the few Shakespearean

productions I’ve seen theatrically instead of on film.

Ian McKellen, who plays Lear, wasn’t allowed to do the “Lear goes crazy and gets

naked” scene due to PBS’s moral standards or something. Like nudity would even rank in the

top ten worst things that happen in the play.

I also enjoyed Ian McKellen in the 1995 Richard III movie, where he’s also crazy but in

less of a dementia way and more of a sociopath way. One of the best performances of his

career in my opinion. McKellen’s breakout performance, though, was in Richard II in 1969,

giving him a solid career off of royal inheritance issues all the way from the start.

Hamlet, our other Shakespeare showing, will be on December 13th and 16th. This tale of

royal trouble is more from the youthful perspective than King Lear, though both of them deal

with the strains of madness in their protagonists. Hamlet also features Benedict Cumberbatch,

who is also in Frankenstein .

Now, this might be a bit of a controversial opinion to take, but I’ve never much cared for

Hamlet . Perhaps it’s that I’ve never been shown an adaptation that worked for me. I think a

great deal of appreciation of Shakespeare relies on the strength of the production, and outside

of that the plain words of the page elicit not much sympathy from me. Which is not because I

find madness disinteresting, nor being bedeviled by ghosts unrelatable; I’ve always liked

Macbeth and that’s chockablock full of both, so it’s a real mystery.

Fleabag will be shown on September 7th; keen attendees of our National Theatre Live

performances will note that this is a repeat offender on the roster, which is why it’s only being

shown once. Phoebe Waller-Bridge made this into a series on BBC in 2016 following the great

success of her one-woman, award-winning play in 2013. Coincidentally, I would say that 2013

was also the year that Olivia Coleman came to a higher level of prominence as an actress on

Broadchurch with David Tennant; Coleman plays Fleabag’s stepmother in the BBC version, and

Waller-Bridge acted in Broadchurch’s second season.

There’s a great interview with Waller-Bridge in Vanity Fair , their July/August 2023 issue,

where she discusses her beginnings as an actor and the future of her career. Apparently

Harrison Ford liked Fleabag so much that he’s the one who wanted Waller-Bridge to work on the

Indiana Jones movie.

Frankenstein is a difficult adaptation, given the complex source material, that I think does

fairly well. This will be screening on October 18th and 21st. Frankenstein was arguably the first

novel ever written, penned during 1816, the “year without a summer” due to the 1815 eruption of

Indonesia’s Mount Tambora, the largest volcanic event in history.

Mary Shelley was the daughter of famous feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, author of the

Vindication of the Rights of Women , and William Godwin , political philosopher and novelist; she

was wife to Percy Bysshe Shelley, Romantic poet, and though they eloped when she was

sixteen their relationship was extramarital until Shelley’s actual wife, Harriet, died. The pair of

them, along with Shelley’s step-sister Claire Fremont, traveled Europe, only to be disappointed

by their lack of funds and the devastation of the Napoleonic Wars. They returned to England to

the great shame of William Godwin, who for some reason was less than thrilled to hear that his

daughter was pregnant by a twenty-one-year-old who lived off of his father’s allowance, that is,

when Sir Shelley deigned to actually give it to Percy at all.

Lord Byron, similarly, famous Romantic and Shelley’s good friend, had recently

impregnated Fremont, who was also Percy Shelley’s lover, and invited the entire entangled web

to his rented lake house in Geneva. Unexpectedly, despite the poor weather, this vacation went

so well it changed the course of literature and invented the modern novel as well as the science

fiction and fantasy genres.

Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley, Fremont, Lord Byron, and Lord Byron’s doctor Polidori, kept

inside due to the rain and entertained themselves with ghost stories and penned some

themselves after Lord Byron’s urging. The pages written by Mary would become the genesis of

the novel Frankenstein, and Dr Polidori’s tale would later become his 1819 story “the Vampyre,”

which was the first modern published vampire novel.

Best of Enemies will be our November selection, available on the 15th and the 18th, a

dramatization of the beginnings of television debate and the fights between William F Buckley Jr

and Gore Vidal. Gore Vidal probably ends up the winner in the cultural sense, regardless of the

state of his argumentative structure, because I know who he is and I definitely don’t know who

Buckley Jr is. On the other hand, though, I am hardly a valuable representative of any kind of

cross-section of the human populace. Maybe everybody knows who Buckley Jr. is and I’m some

kind of cave-dwelling hobgoblin completely removed from widespread society at large. Who’s to

say.

Regardless, I think we can all agree that Vidal’s bread and butter was disagreement with

every living human being and, when not doing that, he was being off-putting about any possibly

relatable aspects of himself. I have to honestly wonder why he sought political office. He was

brilliant, obviously, and a fantastic writer, but I think the former is mostly a disqualifier when it

comes to what the populace wants out of an elected official and the latter irrelevant, as

everyone knows politicians have a dedicated investment to preventing adult literacy in all

senses of the word.

We hope that you all come out to join us at the Cinema Arts Theater to see this selection

of skilled acting and excellent theater artistry. Available at our concessions stand, as the special

occasion of broadening the knowledge of the arts in Delaware merits it, will be alcohol, as well

as our usual offerings of popcorn, candy, and soda. We have a popcorn machine now, which I

feel like I say to almost everybody who comes in these days, so it’s warm and fresh. All the

bases are covered, and the National Theater Live showings are here for a good time,

Top Secret Rosies: The Female Computers of WWll

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 19:46:59 GMT

Ada Lovelace was born in 1815 as the only legitimate child of infamous poet Lord Byron

and was educated in mathematics from a young age for the sole purpose of being as little like

her father as possible. She was tutored by Mary Somerville, one of the first two women

introduced into the Royal Astronomical Society, who would later put her into contact with

Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first mechanical computer, or “difference engine.” The

notes Lovelace wrote for it, as well as for Babbage’s unbuilt but conceptualized “analytical

engine,” are credited to be the first computer program. Due to the technological limitations of the

era, there was no computer and thus no program, so who’s to say if her notes would have rung

true; what cannot be disputed, however, is the prodigious intelligence required to even think of

such a thing. She had such a grasp on the future of technology that she even argued against

the concept of artificial intelligence.

Lovelace was published in a scientific journal in 1843 where she expounded upon the

aforementioned points; she did this under the initials AAL.

I’ve introduced you to Lovelace not simply because of my excess of fondness for the

Byrons- a claim that would hold up in court, I will confess- but to show that women always have

been and will continue to be enmeshed in the history of science and mathematics. Men like to

make all those jokes about how women can’t count or drive because they wouldn’t give the time

of day to a woman who could do either- or they don’t want women to try just in case women

would end up doing better than them. The long-standing underpinning of sexism to the capitalist

society of the Western world does nothing but grind the proletariat to dust, and one half of that is

women. Lovelace, though, was bourgeois landed gentry, which is what allowed her to have the

time to perform complex mathematics and publish and translate papers in journals. We can only

imagine how many women could have been capable of the same thing if given the proper

support and resources.

Which brings us to our exciting showing of Top Secret Rosies: The Female “Computers”

of WWII , a 2010 release directed by LeAnn Erickson about the military use of women’s

mathematical skills and the beginnings of programming and computers. The title a clear

reference to the famous propaganda effort Rosie the Riveter, these women went to work not in

the factories but for the government, not building the bombs but helping them be aimed as

accurately as possible.

Performing the actual calculations was considered clerical work, in the manner of a

secretary taking shorthand notes, while the men did “real” engineering, designing and building

hardware. This simple menial women’s work being, of course, longform nonlinear differential

equations by hand. I’m not even sure what linear calculus is; I didn’t even get to pre-calculus in

school, for the record. If it can’t be punched into the calculator on my phone I shouldn’t be doing

it. The government hired women out of universities from all around the country for this, though

only six were later selected by Adele and Herman Goldstine, the leaders of the human

computing operations, for the running of the ENIAC.

The ENIAC, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator, was the first

programmable, electronic, and digital computer. It weighed over 30 tons and covered fifteen

hundred square feet. Tasked with doing the nonlinear differential equations that the women were

working on, it was a huge wall of holes for wires and switches to flip, and resembled more

Babbage’s machine than anything we would call a computer today. They manipulated it

physically for each usage at first, having no code, while under the supervision of the Goldstines,

who then wrote an Operations Manual on the subject. Adele would later aid in the creation of

the code used in the future.

A fun fact I did learn over the course of writing this is that the term “computer bug”

comes from when an actual bug, a moth, got stuck in the machine and prevented it from

working. You can also still see the ENIAC on display at Fort Sill, if you have an interest in that

kind of thing.

The machine was never ready in time to perform for the war effort but was critical in our

later development of nuclear fusion calculations in the forties and fifties. It was also used to prop

up the excellence of the American government for having such a machine, though Cold War

propaganda did as much as possible to make it as separate and infallible from humankind as

possible to accentuate the intelligence of it all. Coincidentally this also seemed to work pretty

well with forgetting that women were involved in the first place.

The Soviets, on the other hand, were also making feminist history with the launching of

the only solo female spaceflight to go into orbit in 1963, maintaining their lead in the space race.

Women: just can’t get them out of that science.

Director LeeAnn Erickson interviews several women over the course of the documentary,

namely twins Doris and Shirley Blumberg, Marilyn Meltzer, and Jean Bartik, about their

contributions to the war effort and American history. For this they received no more gratitude

than a handshake and a certificate of commendation, which is about the same as what my high

school gives out for performing community service hours, and went on for the most part

thanklessly contributing to the future of technology and computer programming. A very human

effort behind the mechanical supremacy of the machine.

Erickson has indicated in interviews that she thinks it would make a good story if it were

fictionalized, in the manner of the A League of Their Own movie, and it’s not like Hidden Figures

didn’t prove that they could make math interesting. The continual popularity of the documentary

on the educational circuit seems to indicate a level of interest in that possibility; Americans also

love making movies about the World Wars, since that was about the last time we had any level

of justification in our armed involvement.

We continue to need women in STEM programs in the United States, seeing as how

most every tech industry is riddled with men who think Elon Musk is smart. A variety of

viewpoints also brings a greater understanding of the impacts and future possibilities for

technologies, if equality itself isn’t a big enough draw.

And part of the future is knowing the past, as they all say, so come and investigate at the

Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Cinema Art Theater

Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival Official Artwork Winner

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 19:50:00 GMT

Meet Artist Amy Salganik

Winning Artist Amy Salganik Encourages Everyone to “Flock to the Films” this November for the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival

Filmmaking incorporates many mediums and techniques, including that of visual artists.

What better way to celebrate the world of cinema than with this year's 25th Anniversary Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (RBIFF) Artwork contest winner Amy Salganik!

Her winning artwork, "Flock to the Films," will be showcased for this year's upcoming RBIFF festival November 8-12 at the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes, DE.

"I am a transplant to Lewes and grateful to the Rehoboth Beach Film Society for continuing to provide weekly films and the Independent Film Festival as part of the programs at the Cinema Art Theater," said Salganik.

Each year, local artists in Sussex County compete for the opportunity to design the artwork and theme of the iconic annual film festival that is one of the longest running on the East Coast. "Flock to the Films" is Salganik's first entry into the annual contest.

Amy's artwork features a beautiful illustration of a blue heron bird on the nest feeding her young set against a backdrop of turquoise tone sea.

"My inspiration for the art was trying to show the unique beauty of our environment combined with how lucky we are to have a first-rate film festival right here as well. I also thought about how many of us are just returning regularly to in-person movies post-pandemic, and think of the CAT as kind of a cozy nest to welcome us back each time we visit. It's a very special venue!" Salganik said when asked about her inspiration for her entry.

An illustrator by trade, Amy specializes in posters, editorial, and album covers. Today she works out of her home studio in Lewes, DE. Along with work in the local community, her previous illustrations have been published in national news outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.

The "Flock to the Films" illustration will be presented as the official Festival Program cover and featured in all upcoming event marketing and merchandise. In addition, the original illustration will be framed and put up for auction at the Cinema Art Theater during the festival.

When asked what she is most looking forward to for this year's festival, Salganik is eager to see new films that are unavailable anywhere else in the area and watch them with friends and family.

She encourages first-time attendees to make sure they attend what is always a memorable film going experience as well as take advantage of one of the best times of the year to visit the Rehoboth Beach area.

"People should travel to the festival, whether from the local area or even from another state, to see the festival's interesting, inspiring, and unusual films."

Regarding what movies or directors, she enjoys watching, Salganik has quite an extensive list of favorites.

"My favorite kinds of movies have great stories and characters but also inventive beautiful art direction. I always loved the Merchant Ivory movies, and in recent years, a Wes Anderson fan. I really appreciate seeing a long list of artists in the credits!"

This year, audiences can see 22 film titles (documentaries, features, international films, and shorts) over five days at the Society's Cinema Art Theater. VIP passes will go on sale in mid-September, and general admission tickets will be available by mid-October. Be sure to sign up to receive regular updates at RehobothFilm.com .

Lights! Camera! Action! 25th Silver Screen Anniversary of the Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 19:49:18 GMT

While we all enjoy yet another delightful summer by the sea, it’s also the perfect time to book your calendars now for one of our area’s most popular and significant cultural events coming up later this fall.

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society is pleased to present the 25th Silver Screen Anniversary of the Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival (RBIFF) on November 8-12 at the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes, Delaware.

Since 1998, the RBIFF continues to serve an important role in sharing the best in independent films with our community and many visitors.

As one of the longest-running film festivals in the Mid-Atlantic region and on the east coast, we are especially eager for this year’s event as it will allow everyone to share in the event’s rich 25-year heritage as well as celebrate our exciting future.

This year’s five-day event will program a slate of 22-24 first-run documentaries, features, international films and shorts along with special programming and the opportunity for patrons to mingle and connect with filmmakers.

In addition, this year’s festival will spotlight several of the festival’s original founders along with showcasing a film related to local philanthropists and other organizations that were instrumental in the formation of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society in 1998.

While we will start making announcements soon on this year’s film lineup and guests, there’s still plenty of ways for everyone to engage in the festival right now.

- Be sure to follow our social media channels on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest festival news. Also, subscribe to our email newsletter as well for updates and special announcements, including upcoming blog posts about the festival.

- On August 4, we will announce the 25th Silver Screen Festival Program Cover Artist. Check out past RBIFF-selected artwork and their artists here .

- Support RBIFF with one of our many sponsorship tiers or through purchasing a program ad. Both are excellent opportunities to connect your business or organization with our film-loving audiences and ensure that the festival will thrive for years to come.

Enjoy the rest of your summer! We can’t wait to see all of you in November for what promises to be a truly memorable and celebratory 25th Silver Screen Anniversary.

Intriguing films screening at the PRIDE Film Festival

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 17:56:29 GMT

By: Alix Robinson-Guy

Cinema Art Theater Associate

Here at the Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Cinema Arts Theater, we enjoy a wide

variety of programming to continue our vision of bringing an expanded view of arts and culture

to the population of Delaware. Part of that is, of course, our 2023 Rehoboth Beach Pride Film

Festival, which has several art house films of much repute, including Passages , which will be on

Friday, June 9th, at 9 PM, Horseplay , which will be on Saturday, June 10th, at 10 PM, and Going

to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project , which will be on Sunday, June 11th, at 4 PM.

Passages is a 2023 French film directed by Ira Sachs about a man who, after fifteen

years with another man, has an affair with a woman. The two men are played by Franz

Rogowski, who was previously in Victoria (2015), and Ben Whishaw, whose theatrical

performances as Hamlet garnered rave reviews, and the titular perfumer in 2006’s Perfume: The

Story of a Murderer . The woman is played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, an actress not unfamiliar

with LGBT cinema due to her previous role in Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013) as, funnily

enough, the lead character named Adèle.

Horseplay is a 2022 Argentinian film directed and written by Marco Berger, who I

personally find interesting as an active participant in the burgeoning cinematic movement, of a

sort, of the “queer gaze”- the homoerotic manner of filming the male body. In “The Politics of

Sensations: Body and Texture in Contemporary Cinema and Literature (Argentina - Cuba -

Ireland)” the 2016 dissertation of Guillermo Abel Severiche, he coins the phrase “Berger shot” to

refer to the manner in which Berger directs the camera towards the male crotch. This viewership

of the male body and the focus on the physicality of it is seen as stereotypically reserved for the

framing of heterosexual women in a crass kind of manner; Berger’s sensuality and tenderness

for men, though, transform it from a strictly sexual affair to something more emotionally honest.

Berger describes himself as the perfect spectator for his films, after all, in his interview with Mark

James in Film Internationa l. Mark James describes Berger’s camerawork similarly to Severiche:

“with the camera often lingering on the parts of gay imagination and sensuality that all gay

boys grow up trying to process- the sight of a man’s arms, hands, legs, hair… handsome

faces and the male body.” Berger allows the audience to process the fantasy of the male form

through an artistic and romantic lens for men, the aforementioned homoeroticization, and brings

a unique style and sensibility to queer cinema.

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project is a 2023 documentary directed by partners

Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson about the life and work of singular poet and activist Nikki

Giovanni, featuring some of Giovanni’s poems being read by Taraji P. Henson. Giovanni has a

body of work and series of awards so extensive that I could spend all day recounting them, but

the highlights include a Grammy, seven NAACP Image Awards for her children’s books and her

poetry, being one of Oprah’s 25 Living Legends, and having a species of South American bat

named after her, the Micronycteris giovanniae.

Somewhat embarrassingly but rather prototypically, I have, as an English major, spent a

great deal of time invested in the oeuvre of crusty white men from several hundred years ago;

Nikki Giovanni escaped me as not only due to being individual of our current century but as a

woman of color. A regrettable aspect of our educational system that I failed to patch up in

myself, but the purpose of life is to continue learning and moving forward, to keep the shark-like

eternal motion machine of the brain soft and supple.

Born in 1943, Giovanni’s career began as a civil rights activist poet in the late 1960’s,

and she moved forward to champion the rights of African American women especially as her

career grew. She was featured on the “Soul!” television show, clips of which appear in the film,

and that as well as speaking at protests and rallies bolstered her public career. The film speaks

to her work and to her personal life in her relationship to her son and her other family; while

never unclear or ashamed of her upbringing in Appalachia, being the subject of some of her

poetry itself, or her current lifestyle, she is nevertheless firm on her personal boundaries, skirting

around or refusing to discuss certain topics. It creates an interesting dynamic between

interviewer and documentary subject as they must collaborate, obviously, but Giovanni resists

having her layers pulled back completely.

The adventurous filmmaking sets the documentary apart and nods towards the

Afro-futurism themes of the title, which is a quote taken from Giovanni’s poem “Quilting the

Black-Eyed Pea (We’re Going to Mars)” that ties the scientific progressions of voyage and

discovery to the harsh realities of what that scientific progression cost Black and Indigenous

populations, and how the resonance of those pains remain with us to contextualize the future

scientific practices. “We’re going to Mars because whatever is wrong with us will not / get right

with us so we journey forth / carrying the same baggage [sic]” Giovanni writes, and then, further

on in the poem, “The trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans.” The future

can still be, though, a potential vision of hope and change regardless, and that forward motion,

as inevitable, can only be made better if we think about it in terms of making it better.

We hope that you can join us to celebrate the practices and intersectionality featured within the LGBT community at the 2023 Pride Film Festival on the weekend of June 9th-11th at our Cinema Arts Theater.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show kicks-off the PRIDE Film Festival

marketing@rehobothfilm.com (Kim RBFS) — Thu, 25 May 2023 21:05:00 GMT

Come enjoy this cult classic!

On June 8 at 9:30 PM at the Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Cinema Arts Theater, as part of

our Pride Film Festival during the Pride Month of 2023, we will be playing the celebrated cult film

Rocky Horror Picture Show, a staple of LGBT+ Cinema inspired by classic films and an inspiration to

future art house cinema. An almost Frankensteinian patchwork of 1930’s film references- you see

what I did there- and a celebration of gender and sexuality, Rocky Horror combines a 1970’s glam

rock pastiche of masculinity with the cross-dressing tendencies of musical theater.

Newly affianced Brad Majors and Janet Weiss seek shelter from the rain in the castle of Dr.

Frank-N-Furter, who, with his staff, siblings Riff Raff and Magenta, and groupie Columbia, creates

Rocky, an undead yet fantastically handsome young man. Brad, Janet, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and

Rocky all engage in bed swapping after Dr. Frank-N-Furter kills Eddie, a young man whose brain

was used to make Rocky’s; when Dr. Scott, who Brad and Janet were heading to meet, shows up

looking for Eddie, they discover that Dr. Frank-N-Furter is serving the rest of Eddie’s remains for

dinner. Riff Raff and Magenta, fed up with Dr. Frank-N-Furter, seek to return to Transylvania, and,

after killing him and ejecting the rest of the castle’s occupants, set off the castle into space.

That’s without even bringing in the musical numbers, which have little to nothing to do with

the plot and appear more out of nowhere as dedications to the zaniness of the characters and their

frequently oblique motivations.

I believe that the first time I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show I had to be about ten or eleven;

this is not an age where a great deal of the finer comedic details are caught by the mind. I think I was

also a little confused by the idea of a musical comedy in and of itself- my moms had shown me Yentl

the week beforehand, but I was also obsessed with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats, neither of

which are known for being particularly gut-busting. Regardless, it’s not as if it doesn’t make an

impression: I was familiar with Tim Curry, as all good children are, and he’s strutting around in

fishnets at his best in this.

Tim Curry retained his role from the original London stage production, as did Richard O’Brien,

who wrote Rocky Horror as well as playing Riff Raff, Patricia Quinn as Magenta, and Little Nell as

Columbia. The stage version debuted in 1973; very shortly filming began in 1974, and the movie was

released in 1975 to the middling reception of critics, including Roger Ebert, who gave it two and a

half stars.

To be fair, the film comes across as if John Waters was allowed to remake Hammer films’

“Horror of Dracula” and “The Curse of Frankenstein” at the same time, but that’s part of the charm.

The Library of Congress agrees, as it was preserved in the United States National Film Registry in

2005 as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

It was a Halloween viewing in 1976 that changed Rocky Horror into an interactive cult film

and what we joyously know today. People throw rice, toast, and all manner of vocal participation in

response to the characters is possible.

As described in the book Remaking the Frankenstein Myth on Film: Between Laughter and

Horror, Caroline J. Picart says, “The Rocky Horror audience does not simply sit back and spectate, but talks back and interacts with the material. Moving between ritualized response and spontaneous ad libbing,

this audience listens in and performs, breaking down the usual barrier that exists separating

the diegetic world of the actors, and the “real World” of the spectators. Among the more

ritualized acts include: throwing rice after the newlyweds leave the church; using newspapers

to shield the head from rain (as Janet does), and deploying squirt guns to simulate the

thunderstorm; using flashlights (or lighters) during the song “Over at the Frankenstein Place,”

when in unison with Dr. Frank during the creation speech; using noisemakers to join in the

celebration after the creation speech; throwing confetti to celebrate the newly animated

Rocky as he and Dr. Frank head for the master bedroom; hurling toilet paper, preferably of

the Scott name brand when Dr. Scott makeshis appearance; throwing (unbuttered) toast

when the toast is made to absent friends and wearing party hats using the dinner scene;

sounding a bell when Dr. Frank inquires “Did you hear a bell?”; throwing cards when Dr.

Frank sings the line “Cards for sorrow, cards for pain” during his final song “I’m going home.”

This insider-outsider performative position is particularly true of fans who not only dress up

like the characters they would like to be (and not simply impersonate), but who have become

professional performers, integrated into the fabric of Rocky Horror showings at various

theaters.”

There was a sequel, Shock Treatment, in 1981, which never caught on in quite the same

way- attributed, perhaps, to the recasting of every major character, though Jessica Harper gives an

admirable Jessica Weiss in place of Susan Sarandon; the 2015 remake by Fox sees a cameo by

Tim Curry, whose role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter has been taken up by Laverne Cox.

The original, however, remains firmly entrenched in the popular consciousness and has been

indubitably redeemed as one of the most fascinating and beloved cult films of all time. We hope that

you can come down and enjoy it with us as part of our interactive cinema programming.

Welcome to CAT&Blog!

marketing@rehobothfilm.com (Kim RBFS) — Thu, 18 May 2023 21:02:56 GMT

Welcome to our new blog!

Welcome to the CAT&Blog, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s official blog that chases down the art house Indie scene you want to see… We love to chat about the films and special events happening year-round at the Cinema Art Theater (CAT) located at 17701 Dartmouth Dr., Lewes, DE 19958First order of CAT&Blog business: What to do in Rehoboth Beach this summer… Kick-off 2023 PRIDE Month with the Rehoboth Beach PRIDE Film Festival in June! Sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach Film Society and CAMP Rehoboth , the Rehoboth Beach PRIDE Film Festival features films and shorts by LGBTQ+ cinema creators reflecting the many faces of the LGBTQ+ experience.

On Saturday, June 3 ^rd , come out to the pre-PRIDE Festival party at community-minded Aqua Bar & Grill from 6-8pm for some CAT giveaways and great conversation in a welcoming space! (57 Baltimore Ave. Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971/ 302-226-9001)

On Friday, June 9 ^th at 7pm, the Rehoboth Beach PRIDE Film Festival starts off with “Kokomo City,” a documentary about four black, trans sex-workers in New York and Georgia. Director and photographer D. Smith interviews Daniella Carter, Dominique Silver, Koko Da Doll, and Liyah Mitchell about their struggles with finding their places within the black community. She also films interviews with community members about their complicated relationships with the women. Shot up-close and in black & white, the interviews are both gritty and poignant. There will be a Pre-Film Tribute Toast to Koko Da Doll at CAT who was tragically killed prior to the release of this film. This screening is hosted by Studio C Creative.

On Friday, June 9 ^th at 9pm, end your night in Paris with “Passages,” an emotional relationship-drama directed by Ira Sachs (Love is Strange, Keep the Lights On) about two men who have been together for 15-years. The bisexual narcissist who can’t resist his feelings for a younger woman is the main character, but the partner trying to hold on and make sense out of the mess, might be the most interesting role. Let us know what you think!

On Saturday, June 10 ^th at 2pm, catch the showing of “Eismayer,” a German film (subtitled) based on a true story. Sergeant Major Eismayer of the Austrian Armed Forces falls for openly-gay recruit, Falak, in this intense and thought-provoking film. Written and directed by David Wagner (Trade Queen, Aoro), “Eismayer” takes a deep dive into questions about masculinity, machismo, and homosexuality in the military.

On Saturday, June 10 ^th at 4pm, be sure to see “Nelly & Nadine,” an archival documentary of a love story, pieced together from photos, audio and video footage, diary entries and family interviews. Directed by Magnus Gertten (True Blue, Harbour of Hope), “Nelly & Nadine” is a story about two women French Resistance fighters, who met in Ravensbrück concentration camp during WWII. They fell in love on Christmas Eve in 1944, when opera singer Nelly Mousset-Vos sang a piece from Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” for writer Nadine Hwang. The two women were able to find each other again after Liberation and lived the rest of their lives in a secret relationship. In the film, Nelly’s granddaughter, Sylvie, unboxes their brave story, as well as her own feelings about the secret relationship that unfolds, as she combs through their letters and lives. This film is recorded in English, French, German, and Swedish with subtitles.

On Saturday, June 10 ^th at 7pm, come out for Girls’ Night! “It’s Only Life After All,” isn’t just an Indigo Girls concert film, it’s a documentary about Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, their creativity, and the duo’s passion for their community. Director Alexandria Bombach (On Her Shoulders, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) lovingly weaves archival tour footage together with interviews with the modest duo, chronicling the evolution of their creative collaboration, songwriting, and activism. The film spans from their origins in elementary school, to gigs in high school and college, to their important work in communities in the present day. Ticketholders are invited to stay for a Post-Party Celebration immediately following the screening in the CAT Lobby sponsored by Rehoboth Beach Dental.

On June 10 ^th at 10 pm, finish off you evening with the thriller, “Horseplay,” by director Marco Berger (Absent, Taekwondo). Set in picturesque Argentina, this film takes a look at multiple versions of toxic masculinity through the eyes and experiences of a group of (mostly) straight men, who share a villa over the Christmas holidays one winter. Horseplay among friends turns into boundary-stretching (and -breaking) intensity over the course of their vacation in this hot-blooded film!

June 11 ^th is Short Film Sunday! At noon, come screen some of our favorite PRIDE Film Festival shorties:

The Dalles: Cam is used to seeing the same customers while working at his family’s cherry stand. After a handsome cyclist passes through and asks for directions to a local cruising site, Cam takes it as an invitation to follow him. Directed by Angalis Field.

I (heart) Jack LaLanne: A Cartoon Memoir: In this animated short documentary, the filmmaker (a lesbian, feminist baby boomer) shares her coming out story with the help of exercise guru Jack LaLanne. Directed by LeAnn Erickson.

Origami: Soodeh, a teenage schoolgirl in Iran, starts to have feelings for her schoolmate. The school basketball coach finds out... Directed by Marjan Hashemi.

And Toe Tag: Based on a true story from the life of writer/producer Michael Fisher, a gay man in his 50’s discovers a toe tag in the dunes of Fire Island. While searching for its owner, he’s struck by memories of his former lover who succumbed to AIDS. Directed by Jordon Bolden.

On Sunday, June 11 ^th at 2pm, check out the documentary, “Mama Bears.” Directed by Daresha Kyi (Trans in America: Texas Strong, Chavela), this film chronicles the struggles of two conservative Christian women (Kimberly Shappley and Sara Cunningham) struggling to come to terms with their religious beliefs as they fight for the lives of their LGBTQ+ children deep in the heart of Texas. They join an online movement of Mama Bears, a group of mothers who joined together originally just to give out hugs to anyone who needed one and evolved into a movement of passionate activists for the LGBTQ+ community. Kyi also examines the relationship of Tammi Terrell Morris, an African-American lesbian, and her mother Tenita, who does not accept her daughter’s sexual identity. Their relationship highlights the importance of the Mama Bears movement to children who don’t have the support they need from their families at home.

On Sunday, June 11 ^th at 4pm, round out your Rehoboth Beach PRIDE Film Festival tour with “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.” Directors Joe Brewster (The Changing Same, American Promise) and Michèle Stephenson (Stateless, Slaying Goliath) set down and lift up the life, poetry, and activism of Nikki Giovanni from her work from the Civil Rights movement to Black Lives Matter. Enjoy the dreamscape-style cinematography woven together with archival footage, as Taraji P. Henson and Nikki Giovanni herself read her poetry throughout this gorgeous film!

Tickets are going fast for the Rehoboth Beach PRIDE Film festival! We hope to see you at the pre-PRIDE Festival party at Aqua Bar & Grill in downtown Rehoboth Beach on June 3 ^rd | 6:00 to 8:00 PM and at the PRIDE Festival at Cinema Art Theater (CAT) in Lewes June 9 ^th -11 ^th ! Share your thoughts and comments here . We love to hear your voices!

Follow CAT&Blog and check out our website (RehobothFilm.com) for more Cinema Art Theater CAT This Week films, special events and alternative programs!

CAT is your Art House by the Sea!

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Meet Artist Michael Molanphy

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by Erik Gudris

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Takes a Final Bow

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National Theatre Live

Best of British Theatre at the CAT

Top Secret Rosies: The Female Computers of WWll

Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival Official Artwork Winner

Meet Artist Amy Salganik ﻿

Lights! Camera! Action! 25th Silver Screen Anniversary of the Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival

Intriguing films screening at the PRIDE Film Festival

The Rocky Horror Picture Show kicks-off the PRIDE Film Festival

Come enjoy this cult classic!

Welcome to CAT&Blog!

Welcome to our new blog!

Meet Artist Amy Salganik