A Theater Near You at MoMA

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Episode Transcript

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June 12th, 2025 to July 10th, 2025.
The Museum of Modern Art Prior to his long tenure as Chief Film
Curator at Museum of the Moving Image, David Schwartz learned
about the art of film and film programming by spending
countless hours in the various repertory theaters, museums,

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avant-garde showcases, and otherindependent venues that have
long made-up the city S vibrant film culture.
These spaces offer an alternative to mainstream movies
and reflect the tastes and vast knowledge of their programmers
and the distinct missions of their institutions.
They also respond to the interests and passions of their

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audience members and in particular those frequent
attendees, affectionately known as regulars.
This series celebrates the ever changing and always vital world
of New York film culture with programs highlighting 16 iconic
screening venues, some long gone, some still thriving today.
Each theater is represented withprograms that give a sense of

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their unique styles and the preoccupations of such
influential programmers as Iris Berry, Amos Vogel, Dan Talbot,
Karen Cooper, Bruce Goldstein, Richard Pina, and Jed Rapp
Foggle. Though each theater presented a
wide variety of films, it is also fair to say, for example,
that Anthology Film Archives is known for its focus on the

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international avant-garde. The New Yorker Theater for its
mix of forgotten Hollywood filmsand new releases reflecting the
various new waves of the 1960's,The Elgin for its legendary
midnight screenings or the Maples Film Center for an
engaging mix reflecting its self-proclaimed identity as
Harlem S living room. And what better venue could

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there be for the series? Schwartz asks.
Then MO Ma, whose film program started 90 years ago and set the
standard around the world and more importantly, in New York
City, for the appreciation of film art.
Guest curated by David Schwartz,independent curator and writer,

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organized at MO MA by Dave Care,Curator, Department of Film.
Film at MO MA is made possible by Chanel.
Additional support is provided by the Annual Film Fund.
Leadership support for the Annual Film Fund is provided by
Deborah and Leon D Black, with major funding from the

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Contemporary Arts Council of theMuseum of Modern Art, the
International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, Joe
Carroll and Ronald S Lauder, theAssociation of Independent
Commercial Producers, AICP, and the Young Patrons Council of the
Museum of Modern Art.