Film Forum — Local services in New York

Film Forum began in 1970 as an alternative screening space for independent films, with 50 folding chairs, one projector and a $19,000 annual budget. Karen Cooper became director in 1972 and under her leadership, Film Forum moved downtown to the Vandam Theater in 1975. In 1980, Cooper led the construction of a twin cinema on Watts Street. In 1990, Film Forum’s current Houston Street cinema was built at a cost of $3.2 million. In 2018, Film Forum raised $5 million to renovate and expand its Houston Street cinema, upgrading the seating, legroom, and sightlines in all theaters and adding a new, 4th screen. In 2023, Cooper stepped down as Director and was succeeded by Deputy Director Sonya Chung.

They present two distinct, complementary film programs – NYC theatrical premieres of American independents and foreign art films, programmed by Cooper (Advisor to the Director as of 2023), Mike Maggiore, and Sonya Chung; and, since 1987, repertory selections including foreign and American classics, genre works, festivals and directors’ retrospectives, programmed by Bruce Goldstein. Our third and fourth screens are dedicated to extended runs of popular selections from both programs, as well as new films for longer engagements.

Film Forum is open 365 days a year, with as many as 250,000 annual admissions, nearly 500 seats, approximately 50 employees (of which half are full time), 6,500+ members and a $6 million operating budget. Approximately 79% of there budget is spent directly on programs. As a non-profit, we raise approximately 45% of our operating income. Public funders include: The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council for the Arts, and various NYC agencies including the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Private donors include individuals, foundations, and corporate entities. Additionally, our members contribute more than $500,000 annually. This allows them to take risks on emerging filmmakers and challenging films. Film Forum has a $6 million endowment, begun in 2000 with a $1.25 million gift from the Ford Foundation.

Film Forum is the only autonomous nonprofit cinema in New York City and one of the few in the U.S. The success of our distinctive position is evidenced by our over 50-year tenure, during which our programs and fiscal resources have grown steadily. Sadly, since the 1970s, dozens of NYC art-house theaters (and a great number throughout the U.S.) have closed their doors.

As a cinema of ideas, Film Forum is committed to presenting an international array of films that treat diverse social, political, historical and cultural realities. Unlike commercial cinemas that primarily “book” high-grossing, Hollywood films, Film Forum’s programs are thoughtfully selected, with attention to unique cinematic qualities, historical importance individually or within a genre and – particularly for documentaries – relevance to today’s world.

They are a 501(c)(3) cultural institution, chartered in New York State and registered as...

Absolutely disastrous customer service. Unaccommodating. The theater is one I love but is rarely crowded. The manager insisted that meitner staff not I could go in to confirm that my wallet was under the seat three to the left of a pillar having fallen from my pocket at the previous showing. She claimed that ‘a flashlight would be too distracting’ and that my only option was to leave my number or wait until the screening ended. I waited briefly then entered the screen, confirmed without the use of a flashlight that there was indeed someone in my former seat and didn’t interrupt their viewing experience. Had there been no one in the row, it could have been easily retrieved in the light of the screen. All she needed to do was show a modicum of concern, but was only ready to shut me down.

Any regulars could confirm that especially daytime showing rarely have more than a quarter of the seats filled, and that customers regularly pull out their personal flashlights to find their seats at the start of the film and returning from restroom breaks. They're welcomed back again and again despite being actually disruptive. I'm glad to live in a city with rich enough options such that I needn't return.

It's been a year and I can't say I miss the place's small awkward screens and offerings sure to stream on the Criterion Channel with patience....

If I was judging a theater only on the quality of films they curate, Film Forum would get 5 stars, but quality of experience counts for a lot. As some one who is new to the City and coming from a place with incredible, independent theaters, I was less than impressed. I went to see Seed of the Sacred Fig. I do not speak Farsi, and assume most of the audience don't either. The position of the screen was so low and poorly placed that everyone was bobbing and repositioning themselves throughout the film to have a fighting chance at reading the subtitles. It was painful. What makes this such a headscratcher is that there looks to be about 8 feet of unused space between the ceiling and the top of the screen. In other words, they have plenty of room to move the screen up 2 or 3 feet which would dramatically improve everyone's viewing experience. I would never go see a film with subtitles there again. Finally, although less fundamental, their popcorn is the most tasteless I have had in or out of a movie theater. I believe popcorn is something movie theaters should be intentional about and take pride in. No butter (or butter flavoring) - Jeeze. Maybe you could get away with that if there was some other flavor components. I seriously might have enjoyed gnawing on crumpled up recycled paper more. Deeply disappointed by things that seem...