FilmColumbia 2019

The leaves are turning and days are growing shorter so it must be time for the 20th annual FilmColumbia, the Crandell Theatre’s signature program. The eight-day festival of world-class films representing major studios, independents, international films, animated features, documentaries and children’s short films begins Friday at 1PM.

In addition to screening approximately 50 films, the festival also features panels, Q&A sessions with filmmakers and screenwriting workshops.

The schedule has been curated by film critic and historian, Peter Biskind, along with co-artistic director and former senior film curator at MOMA, Laurence Kardish. It will be run by festival manager Calliope Nicholas and offers a selection of the year’s best films, most of which have earned awards from larger festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Telluride, New York and Toronto.

Many of the films featured go on to be nominated or win Oscars in various categories. Among the films screened at the 2018 festival Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Capernaum, Cold War, Green Book, Never Look Away, and Shoplifters were all nominated for Oscars.

The movies are shown in the classic Crandell Theatre, built in 1926 and considered an architectural gem. The theater was designed in the Spanish Renaissance style by architect Louis L. Wetmore of Glens Falls, NY. Designed as an “atmospheric theatre,” the Crandell has remained largely unchanged since it opened on Christmas Day 1926 with a Jules Verne photoplay. It was purchased in 2010 by the Chatham Film Club, which has made much-needed repairs.

A full schedule for FilmColumbia can be downloaded by clicking the link below. Tickets can be ordered online or in person for all films and events. Receipts for all tickets purchased online must be printed and brought directly to film screening along with ID.