Looking Back: Jacob Burns Turns 10

Ten years ago today, the (JBFC) in Pleasantville opened its doors for the very first time.

"I think the original vision for it was that it would be both a cultural center to meet around film and also an education center for looking at film in the 21st century," said Programming Director Brian Ackerman. "It was really a dual mission from the get-go."

And no one can argue that mission hasn't been fulfilled today.

"I think we've been very happy with the we've been able to move that mission forward," reflected Ackerman. "And the community has been far more receptive to it than I could have ever imagined."

Here are some of Ackerman's reflections looking back at JBFC after 10 years.

Patch: What's something the community might not know about JBFC?

Ackerman: A lot of people come to the film center. That's something that people are very accustomed to visiting, but I think a lot of people are not aware of the educational programs—the sheer number of students, the thousands that are actually using the facility—that is something that is frequently less known by the people who come to the film center. It's very, very cutting edge and really at the forefront of 21st century literacy.

Patch: Why was Jacob Burns opened in Pleasantville?

Ackerman: It really wound up here because [Executive Director] Steve Apkon was living here and had this desire to have a local film center. He really wanted to have it local and connected to the community—a walking community that had a walkable downtown. That's really the genesis of it. It was just a beautiful opportunity.

Patch: For you personally, what have some of the most memorable moments been during JBFC's 10-year history?

Ackerman: Woody Allen coming here and our fifth anniversary was enormously fun. Meryl Streep and Mike Nicholas came here for Angels in America—we had a six-hour screening of the two part series, and after six hours of watching, people talked for an hour and just didn't want to leave. It was incredible.

Frederick Franklin, one of the great dancers of the 20th century, was here...91-years-old at that point. It was amazing to see him step out of the movie and onto the stage. There was a standing ovation that went on for like three minutes.

There's a lot of moments where the audience is so overwhelmingly grateful to have that personal element to the film.

Patch: JBFC has been celebrating its 10th anniversary all-year-long, with for kids, last weekend's and the upcoming in November, for example. Can you talk about special events?

Ackerman: The idea was to have a series of anniversary screenings. There are a lot of different audiences that come here and we're trying to reach out to the many different audiences that we have. It's really a thank you in a variety of ways.

Patch: What is JBFC looking to do next?

Ackerman: To do more of the same. In education, we have a whole set of plans and initiatives. As many movies as we've played, we've only scratched the surface of the movies that are out there, old and new. There's an endless world of opportunities.

Patch: Do you have a dream film series or special guest you would like to see JBFC host?

Ackerman: I'd love to have a series where we would have great scientists come in after films. We had Eric Kandel [neuroscientist and Nobe Prize winner] talking about memory, which is his particular subject of study. We could do a series of films on cosmetology and have a well-known cosmetologist come in after the film. I'd love to do some science-based programming, in additional to what we're doing already.

Patch: Where do you see JBFC in another 10 years?

Ackerman: We just hope to be bigger and better. Our basic hope is we can continue to build the community that we have built and continue to be a place where people can meet and learn about cinema, but also engage each other and become friends with people in the theater and Media Arts Lab.

Patch: What would you like to say to everyone who has supported JBFC in one way or another?

Ackerman: I would really say a heartfelt thanks. The organization is a not-for-profit and it would not be here if it didn't have a lot of people who were holding our hand in some way and supporting us in a lot of different ways—donors, members, going to movies, taking courses and by volunteering in the Media Arts Lab. It's genuinely a community effort.