Updated by Allison Blum, July 2005
free summer festivals
Brooklyn Bridge Park Summer Film Series
This Dumbo park series offers free Thursday-night screenings all summer long. DJs spin music starting at 6pm, and the movies– this year revolving around a water theme– begin at sunset.
• Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, July 7-August 25; 718-802-0603, bbpc.net. Celebrate Brooklyn Festival
Harking back to the days of silent film, live music (sometimes an orchestra, sometimes a hip-hop band) will accompany the movies shown during this Prospect Park arts and music festival.
• Prospect Park Bandshell, June 15-August 7, Prospect Park West & 9th St., Brooklyn, 718-855-7882, prospectpark.org. HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
HBO’s annual Monday-night series in Bryant Park is packed with good-old gems. The 2005 lineup includes Suspicion, The Odd Couple, and Jaws.
• Sixth Avenue at 40th Street, June 30 -August 22; 212-512-5700, bryantpark.org. Movies Under the Stars
If Bryant Park is too crowded, you can head across the river for Hoboken’s movie series, which screens recent blockbusters like Million Dollar Baby and Harry Potter every Wednesday night.
•Pier A Park, June 1-August 31, 1st St. and Frank Sinatra Drive, 201-420-2207; hobokennj.org. Outdoor Cinema in Socrates Sculpture Park
Queens’ international festival offers screenings of movies from around the world, along with regional dance, music, and food.
•Socrates Sculpture Park , July 6-August 31, Broadway at Vernon Blvd, Long Island City , 718-956-1819; socratessculpturepark.org. River Flicks
Hudson River Park screens popular movies every Wednesday night at Pier 54 and Friday night at Pier 25. Free popcorn is included.
•Hudson River Park, July 6-August 26, 212-627-2020, hudsonriverpark.org.
cheap screenings
Cantor Film Center at NYU
You don’t have to be an NYU student to get into some of the Cantor Center’s free screenings. You do have to call first to find out the schedule.
• 36 E. 8th St., 212-998-4100. Deutsches Haus
This cultural center regularly holds free screenings of German films. The screenings are typically on Fridays, but call ahead or check the website for schedules.
• 42 Washington Mews, 212-998-8660, nyu.edu/deutscheshaus. MoMA Film and Media Exhibitions
Film screenings at the MoMA are free of charge with admission to the museum, and on Fridays from 4pm-8pm, admission is free as well.
• 11 W. 53rd St., 212-708-9400, moma.org . Sony Wonder Technology Lab
This museum shows popular Hollywood releases for free in their 73-seat High-Definition theater. Screenings are every-other Saturday at 2pm, and reservations must be made the Monday before.
• 550 Madison Ave, 212-833-7858, sonywondertechlab.com .
memberships
Many art houses offer discounted ticket prices with the purchase of an annual membership. Writing out a $50-plus check may not seem cheap, but in the long run you’ll save money!
Anthology Film Archives
Specializing in avant-garde films, Anthology offers its members reduced admission for all shows, except Essential Cinema screenings, which are free! Individual memberships, $50; student and senior citizen memberships, $30; duel-membership, $75.
• 32 Second Ave., 212-505-5181; anthologyfilmarchives.org Film Forum
The West Houston Street institution screens indie films on three screens all year long. With a $65 membership, screenings cost $5 instead of $10.
• 209 W. Houston St., 212-727-8110; filmforum.com Film Society of Lincoln Center
The New Directors/New Films festival and the New York Film Festival, as well as additional screenings, are all shown under the auspices of the Lincoln Center Film Society. A $60 membership ($85 dual membership) gets you discounted tickets to all Walter Reade Theater screenings, a one-year subscription to Film Comment magazine, and so much more.
• Walter Reade Theater, W. 65th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave., 212-875-5600; filmlinc.com Symphony Space
The unofficial home of the double feature and an Upper West Side institution, this repertory theater offers 15-40% discounted tickets with a $60 individual membership.
• 2537 Broadway, at 95th St., 212-864-1414; symphonyspace.org