4 days ago
New Jersey's Montclair Film Revives 103-Year-Old Bellevue Theatre
EXCLUSIVE: New Jersey non-profit Montclair Film has signed a multi-year deal to operate the century-old Bellevue Theatre, expanding its footprint in the New York City suburb.
Built in 1922, the Tudor-style theater in Upper Montclair has been closed since 2017. When it reopens later this year, its three screens will feature a year-round selection of current releases and repertory titles.
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The venue will also be a site for the Montclair Film Festival, which is put on each fall by Montclair Film. The organization also does year-round programming at The Claridge, a restored six-screen arthouse in Montclair. Cinema505, a microcinema, performance and event space, is also run by Montclair Film.
Located 20 miles west of New York, Montclair has been home to a number of people in the film industry and the media business. CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evelyn, have championed the film festival as longtime residents of Montclair.
This year's festival is slated to run from October 17 to 26.
The Bellevue was designed by architect J.H. Phillips.
'We are so excited to be able to bring the movies back to The Bellevue Theatre,' said Evelyn Colbert, President of Montclair Film's Board of Trustees. 'Our community has been clear in sharing their desire to see The Bellevue Theatre thriving again, and we are counting on that passion and enthusiasm to help us re-establish The Bellevue as a destination for new memories and experiences. Without an audience, there is no cinema, and we look forward to this new opportunity to expand upon our mission to transform our community through the power of film.'
Montclair Film Artistic Director Tom Hall said operating the Bellevue Theatre will 'allow us to expand and diversify our programs, delivering more opportunity for filmmakers and distributors to share their films, and offering us tremendous new flexibility to grow the impact of cinema in our community.'
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