MFI's Free Winter Film Series Kicks Off In Greenport To Crowd

GREENPORT, NY — The line inside the Greenport movie theater was long as an excited crowd waited to purchase popcorn — eager to take their seats for two iconic films, "Home Alone" and "Christmas Vacation."

The Manhattan Film Institute's second Winter Film Series kicked off last weekend at the Greenport Theatre, located at 211 Front Street, with free movies. Family films are shown at 6:30 p.m.; classic films at 7 p.m. After last weekend's holiday showings, films will come back January 11, and play every Saturday night through May 9.

And that's not all: Before every 7 p.m. screening, an MFI student short film will be shown with a 10-minute discussion afterward identifying the connection between the two. The experience will offer "a chance to appreciate the classic films and the voices of those emerging artists who have studied at MFI," said Tony Spiridakis, co-founder.

Donations are welcome to help keep the program vibrant. Text MFIMOVIES to the phone number 44-321 to donate or click here.

As the debut season wrapped up a successful run last winter, with more than 3,500 in attendance, Spiridakis was happy to announce that the free films would be back this year.

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

The Greenport movie theater, which opened its doors last year during the winter months, was a welcome addition during the off season.

And absolutely, stepping inside the theater, especially with your grown child — my son Billy, 27, was home for the holidays — is an experience that's hard to describe. When Billy was small, we spent a lot of time at the movies; his love for Disney is lifelong and today he works at Universal Studios in Hollywood, making magic for guests every day.

The movie we chose was "Home Alone." Certainly, we'd both seen it before. We have the DVD and have watched it on television almost every year. But when the lights dim in that grand space, and the screen is illuminated with Macaulay Culkin's iconic screaming face, suddenly the years slip away. Suddenly, it's 1990 and you're in a theater in Ludlow, VT ,watching the film for the first time. Suddenly, you remember watching "Home Alone 2" in 1992, pregnant with the baby who's now sitting beside you, all grown, remembering the dreams you had. What would it be like, you wondered, to take your little boy to his first movie?

Billy's first movie was Disney's remake of "The Jungle Book" in 1994; I took him on his second birthday and he watched, rapt, without stirring even once. So many movie days followed, so many memories. The time he and I were the only two in the theater for "Mathilda" and we danced in the aisles by ourselves to the music that played before the movie. The many times he came home from college for Thanksgiving and we headed to Mattituck for the new Pixar film.

So much laughter. So many tears. Those days in the movie theater, so much a part of our shared life.

Things changed, of course. He began to prefer DVDs and later, cable and digital choices became endless. He'd watch movies by himself, in his room, on his laptop, on his phone. And later, with his friends in college and in the apartment he shares now in Los Angeles with his roommates.

But last weekend, for that magical two hours, it was me and my boy again, in a classic movie theater, eating popcorn and seeing every scene through new eyes. Movies, they're just better on the big screen.

As I sat in that hushed theater, I smiled as I heard the laughter of little kids, clearly seeing Kevin's antics for the first time. The sound of a child's laughter, it's priceless. And then, after the movie, I heard my son describing the experience to a friend of his. "I loved the sound of the little kids laughing," he said.

We'd never discussed this. No, we'd just both come away touched by the sheer joy in those children's giggles.

And that's the thing, right there. That's why the lines are so long for MFI's free film series. Because sharing a movie in a theater, a classic movie that has delighted, enlightened, transformed for years, it's an experience meant to be shared. To be savored with others in a darkened theater.

Last year, when I went to see MFI's showing of "Up," there was an elderly couple in front of me, holding hands, wiping away tears.

Watching a movie on the big screen in Greenport's little gem of a theater, it's a chance to make memories. A chance to stop time and step back into the years when movies were, quite simply, magic.

I, for one, will be back. "Saturday Night Fever" is on the list for this year, my favorite film of all time. And while I'll soak up every cinematic second, nothing will ever be as special as being able to share "Home Alone" with my grown son, all the memories and love sprinkled into every scene.

Grab your kids, your family, your friends, and go. MFI has brought something priceless to Greenport. Don't miss the magic.