This is from Steve Leiber, one of the founders of Upstate Films…
“Once again it’s time to look in the mirror and then look out the window where I see my country founded on genocide of the native peoples and slavery and its aftermath (including prison labor allowed through the 13th amendment to the constitution). This continues to stomp on my fellow citizens… Decades since MLKing – since the Panthers – since Malcolm X – and still many, mostly people of color, are systematically swept aside as the rich get richer, the privileged get special treatment, and the many are left to grab for the scraps from the table. Race and class are inextricably connected. How to unravel this double discrimination and create a way more just society?”
We’re closed for now
Upstate Films remains closed for the foreseeable future in compliance with Governor Cuomo’s executive order. Although we regret not being able to show you the many films we’d planned and missing our special events, we know we’re doing the right thing for all of our sakes.
Before Gov. Cuomo’s order to shut down tight, we did get to do some repainting, refurbishing, and cleaning. When we reopen, we hope you’ll enjoy the fresh look.
During this uncertain-unprecedented-challenging period, we have received donations from filmgoers & members who have chosen to show their support. Perhaps you too would consider buying yourself or a friend a gift card, updating your membership, or making a donation, no matter the amount? We thank you in advance. And soon, we hope to be able to welcome you back.
— from the gang @ Upstate — DeDe, Joel, Steve, Jake, Matt, Fiona, George, Laura, Alex, Nate, E-Liz
Thelma Adams chats with Upstate Films about Pauline Kael
Despite being “shuttered” for the time being, we are presenting films in our Virtual Cinema. And now we’re even ready for our “close-up” as film critic. Steve Leiber, co-director of Upstate Films, had a chance recently to talk with Thelma Adams, twice chair of the NY Film Critics Circle & novelist (The Last Woman Standing), about the doyenne of film critics, Pauline Kael, the subject of WHAT SHE SAID: PAULINE KAEL, now playing in our Virtual Cinema.
Welcome to the Upstate Films Virtual Cinema
Upstate Films is closed for the foreseeable future, but we still want to bring you some of the programming that we were planning on screening this spring. In partnership with select distributors, we are happy to bring you Virtual Screening Rooms. Purchase a ticket through one of the links offered on our website, and watch the movie in the comfort and safety of your own home.
Just as with a real ticket, the proceeds will be split between Upstate Films and the distributors. Your ticket allows you to watch the film for a specified period of time, and you'll be able to stream it on compatible streaming devices, your mobile device or your computer browser. Please see our Virtual Screening Room FAQ for more information.
“As willfully unconventional as a literary portrait could possibly be, director Josephine (Madeline’s Madeline) Decker’s take on Shirley Jackson is a thrillingly perverse example of what happens when the shackles of biopic formula are cast aside.” —The Guardian- Combing stop-motion techniques, painting and photography, this exquisitely handcrafted animation feature tells the story of a girl who escapes a cult colony of religious fanatics during Chile’s darkest years under Pinochet.
- Based on the international bestseller by rock-star economist Thomas Piketty (which sold over three million copies worldwide and landed Piketty on Time's list of most influential people), this captivating documentary is an eye-opening journey through wealth and power...
- SPACESHIP EARTH is the true, stranger-than-fiction, adventure of eight visionaries who in 1991 spent two years quarantined inside of a self-engineered replica of Earth’s ecosystem called BIOSPHERE 2.
- A dazzling, course correcting documentary that describes not only the life and craft of af Klint, but also the history of her rejection and rediscovery by the art world.
- An exquisitely crafted documentary about the woman who was arguably the greatest movie critic who ever lived.
- A beguiling new documentary offering a tour of New York City through the lens of the passionate and often eccentric individuals who love, collect and sell vintage and antique books.
- In a remote Icelandic town, an off-duty police chief (a chilling Ingvar Sigurdsson, who received Cannes’ Critics’ Week award for Best Actor for his performance) begins to suspect a local man of having had an affair with his late wife, who died in a tragic accident two years earlier. Gradually his obsession for finding out the truth takes over his life and inevitably begins to endanger himself and his loved ones.
- Flailing thirty-four-year-old Bridget (Kelly O’Sullivan) finally catches a break when she meets a nice guy and lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances (played by a scene-stealing Ramona Edith-Williams). But an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication. To make matters worse, she clashes with the obstinate Frances and struggles to navigate a growing tension between Frances’s moms. Amidst her tempestuous personal relationships, a reluctant friendship with Frances emerges, and Bridget contends with the inevitable joys and shit-shows of becoming a part of someone else’s family.
- A passionate tale of love and liberation set amidst the conservative confines of modern Georgian society, AND THEN WE DANCED follows Merab, a devoted dancer who has been training for years with his partner Mary for a spot in the National Georgian Ensemble. The arrival of another male dancer, Irakli — gifted with perfect form and equipped with a rebellious streak — throws Merab off balance, sparking both an intense rivalry and romantic desire that may cause him to risk his future in dance as well as his relationships with Mary and his family.
In 2022 Upstate Films will celebrate its 50th anniversary. After nearly five decades of running Upstate, its co-founders and Executive Directors, Steve Leiber and DeDe Leiber, will soon be retiring. Upstate is now seeking a new Executive Director to whom they can “pass the reels” (actually, Upstate went digital in 2013).Please support our business sponsors.
Get showtimes in your inbox
Our weekly email will keep you up-to-date about upcoming films and events.
Advertise with us
Ads on the website are seen by over 11,000 unique visitors per month, and they appear in the on-screen slideshow seen by every audience.
Become a member
Save $ on Ticket Prices
Plus, members can show their cards to receive perks from over 50 participating businesses!
Donate or give a gift
Upstate Films is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible.