It's A Wrap: Free Greenport Film Series Will Be Back Next Year

GREENPORT, NY — It's a wrap: A popular free film series offered at the Greenport movie theater during the winter season came to an end Saturday night with a showing of "Heaven Can Wait". But no worries — for those that packed the house every Saturday for the free movies, the program is definitely coming back next year.

"We're so grateful to the response from the community and local businesses," said Tony Spiridakis, co-founder of the Manhattan Film Institute, which kicked off the program this winter. "Because of the overwhelming positive feedback, we have the go-ahead to do the second year."

And, Spiridakis added, due to the "incredible turnout," MFI is set to go for 2020 with programming beyond showing top-of-the-line art house films.

Next year, a new component to the program will commence, a screenplay reading series, with works being read by live actors as interactive photos are projected onto the screen behind the stage. The events will feature an intermission, so the audience can talk about what they've seen, and then, a Q & A session, with a focus on an educational component for all who attend.

The film series brought out all ages to enjoy the singular experience of sharing classic cinematic masterpiece on the big screen. "We had senior couples holding hands and parents with young children at the theater, all enjoying the magic," Spiridakis said.

And there's exciting news ahead for MFI: 2019 marks the 8th year of the MFI Gold Program, a two-week session, from July 7 through July 21, where 25 films are shot, produced, edited and screened by students at Peconic Landing's Brecknock Hall in Greenport, Spiridakis said.

MFI, Spiridakis said, has evolved into not just a film program but a highly acclaimed MFI North Fork Film Festival in Greenport, also celebrating its 8th year. "We're a boutique conservatory with world class faculty," he said.

Highlights of the program in past years have included seminars spearheaded by Academy Award winning film luminaries including Marcia Gay Harden, Bobby Moresco, and Chris Wedge, as well as seminars and workshops helmed by Tony Goldwyn, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Nouri, Richard Kind and Emmy-winning writer Bill Finkelstein.

Screenings are held at Peconic Landing and Brecknock Hall, as well as at the Greenport movie theater. This year, slated screenings include a showing of "The Goodbye Girl" with Marsha Mason and "A Bronx Tale" with Palminteri, with dates, times and locations to be announced.

MFI's summer film program will culminate with a showing of the 25 Gold Program short films on July 21 at 10 a.m. at the Greenport Theater.

And, in exciting news, for the first time this year, MFI program will present a new short film competition, open to the public.

MFI partner Shannon Goldman, who directed and co-created "Greenport," the TV pilot that has garnered international recognition after kicking off the North Fork TV Festival in 2017, said the MFI program, which has blossomed at Peconic Landing's Brecknock Hall, has inspired heartfelt testimonials from former high school students.

Those young students, he said, started off at MFI, got into top film schools and now are working in the industry full time — a testament to the lifelong impact the MFI program has on the students who immerse themselves in the filmmaking experience every summer.

For additional information on the Manhattan Film Institute's upcoming programs and offerings, click here.