All Over Albany

We The Animals at The Spectrum with special post-film Q&A

The Spectrum is hosting a special screening of the film We The Animals this Saturday, September 8 with a special post-show Q&A. Blurbage:

Youth FX will be hosting a screening of the critically acclaimed film, We The Animals, at the Landmark's Spectrum 8 Theatres in Albany with an exclusive Q & A following the screening with stars Evan Rosado, Isaiah Kristian, and Josiah Gabriel, along with Youth FX teaching artist and Albany High School dramatic arts teacher, Noelle Gentile, who served as their acting coach on the film for three years during the casting process and on set. The Q & A will be moderated by Youth FX director Bhawin Suchak and will be a fundraiser for the Albany-based youth film program. This special screening is sponsored by The Orchard Films, Public Record and Film Albany, who also lent lots of support to the film during production, which happened upstate in Utica, NY.

We The Animals has been selected to screen at dozens of film festivals around the world, winning awards at Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival & Outfest has been called one of the best films of 2018!

The film -- which is based on the novel by Justin Torres -- has gotten very good reviews.

The Spectrum screening is at 7:15 pm. And it wouldn't be surprising for something like this to fill up.

Earlier: Albany's award-winning Youth FX now has a home of its own

YouthFX 2016 premiere

The YouthFX program will be premiering its new slate of films at the Spectrum March 24 at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 adults / $5 students. Advance tickets will be available soon, and if you're interesting in going, you should definitely get the tickets ahead of time -- these events have sold out in the past.

Tthe screening of both short documentaries and narrative films will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Here's background blurbage on the program:

Youth FX primarily works with young people who reside in the South End, Arbor Hill and West Hill neighborhoods of Albany, NY, areas that have been historically under served and in need of meaningful opportunities for training and engagement in new digital media technology. The skills they are learning not only enables them to be more creative and express their ideas, but they are also valuable skills that are in high demand in today's technology based world. Youth FX participants engage in their communities by creating documentary and short fiction films that reflect their understanding and vision of the world around them.

The teens in the program have done some great work and made it into film festivals around the country. You can check out some past films on the YouthFX Vimeo channel.

Earlier on AOA: Hey there, Bhawin Suchak, YouthFX program director

The Spectrum is being sold

The owners of the Spectrum 8 Movie Theatres announced this past weekend they're selling the movie house to the Landmark Theatres chain:

After 35 years in the movie business, we felt it was time to hand over the stewardship of the Spectrum. We searched long and hard for a company that reflects our views about the importance of independent film. Landmark showcases much of the same type of programming that the region has come to expect from the Spectrum and therefore we feel that Landmark will serve our community well. We are very grateful for the support that the Capital District has afforded us over the years. As some of you may remember, two couples, Sugi and Keith Pickard & Annette Nanes and Scott Meyer, started the 3rd Street Theatre in Rensselaer in 1980 and The Spectrum in 1983. We have always felt very fortunate to have partnered with such an involved, enthusiastic and passionate community. With gratitude for your support over the last 35 years, our last day running the Spectrum will be November 17th. The theatre will close for 2 days and then reopen with Landmark at the helm.

Over at the Times Union Amy Biancolli has more details about the decision and the sale.

Of course, The Spectrum is a staple not just of its Delaware Ave neighborhood, but the wider Capital Region. It's provided a place to see both limited-released films and blockbusters in a cozy venue. (Noted: The Spectrum says the popcorn and butter will stay the same.)

The Landmark Theatres group has 54 theaters (with 259 screens) in 25 markets, many of them in the western and midwestern US. It bills itself as "a recognized leader in the industry for providing its customers consistently diverse and entertaining film products in a sophisticated adult-oriented atmosphere." Here's the current lineup of films running at its two locations in Boston -- it's a slate that wouldn't look out of place at The Spectrum.

And one other bit that caught our eye: The company that backs Landmark is one of Mark Cuban's companies -- you know, the guy who owns the Dallas Mavericks and is on Shark Tank.

The Spectrum advertises on AOA.