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The Neon

POWER OF THE DOG, LOST DAUGHTER, BELFAST & More at The Neon

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On Monday, while making predictions and confirming our engagements of THE POWER OF THE DOG and THE LOST DAUGHTER, we decided to throw in a handful of screenings of BELFAST. I’m glad we did. Our slate for this weekend is golden. (I’ll go into more details with each synopsis.) In addition to those 3 films arriving on Friday, you’ll still have chances to see LICORICE PIZZA (nominated for 3 Academy Awards including “Best Picture”) and PARALLEL MOTHERS (nominated for 2 Oscars including “Best Actress”). If you still need to see WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA, Thursday will be your last chance to see it at THE NEON.

This Sunday, February 13, we will have our first ever FREE POPCORN DAY! Whether you’re just passing by or joining us for a movie, any beverage purchase starting at Noon until closing on Feb. 13 will get you a FREE SMALL POPCORN (one free popcorn per customer). You can stop by and grab a beer “to go” before you kick-off your pregame at home…or grab a soda for your screening of THE POWER OF THE DOG – either way, the popcorn will be on us!
Please pay close attention to this week’s schedule. Some movies are only screening a handful of times, so I’ve moved them all around in order to get a mix of matinee and evening times throughout the week.
More nominees are on the way! THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (nominated for “Best International Film” and “Best Original Screenplay”) opens next Friday. CYRANO and many of the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS will open on Feb. 25. Other surprises are also in store. (FYI – Tickets for opening weekend of CYRANO are slated to go on sale this Friday morning!)
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for THE POWER OF THE DOG: Nominated for 12 Academy Awards including “Best Picture” and “Best Director” (Jane Campion is the first woman to ever be nominated twice for this award – how is that possible?). “A domineering rancher responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son, until the unexpected comes to pass.” Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee – all nominated for their performances! Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for THE LOST DAUGHTER: Nominated for 3 Academy Awards including “Best Actress” for Olivia Colman. In the feature directorial debut from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colman gives a strong and unsettling performance – one that has been winning awards around the world. “A college professor confronts her unsettling past after meeting a woman and her young daughter while on vacation in Italy. Her obsession with the woman and her daughter prompts memories of her early motherhood.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. Gyllenhaal was nominated for her “Adapted Screenplay” for this film!
Synopsis for BELFAST: We had a feeling that nominations might renew interest in this gem…so we re-booked it without knowing it would garner 7 Academy Awards nominations including “Best Picture” (and a surprise nomination for the much-loved Judi Dench). We’ll have BELFAST for 5 special screenings starting Friday, Feb. 11. Director Kenneth Branagh’s “semi-autobiographical film which chronicles the life of a working class family and their young son’s childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital.” (Focus Features) With Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds…and introducing Jude Hill. Click on the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about the few films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is in its last days (at least for now), but you still have a chance to check out a couple titles from home.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
“K. Carter, with film creator Jeremy Tkach, give a glimpse into the progress of a man’s passions in a city thriving after chaos. This documentary shines a light on the process of a native Dayton talent pursuing his passions: music and his community. After devastating tornadoes, a mass shooting, and in the midst of a global pandemic, K. Carter continues to work on his music and plan a music festival for a small urban city. Viewers will see the teams behind Carter’s endeavors and the words of those who look up to him. His journey to making an album not only spans across time but across state lines, while planning a festival has its own challenges. See the connections made and the leaps bound to bring something special to Dayton, Ohio.” Join us on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 for the World Premiere of SON OF HIP HOP: A RAPUMENTARY – followed by a Q&A with K. Carter and Jeremy Tkach! Tickets only available at this LINK.
We’re set for 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
Details for this year’s screening party of the Academy Awards (set for March 27)…always a FREE Event for NEON fans…will be revealed soon!

Almodovar’s PARALLEL MOTHERS and Stunning Refugee Doc FLEE at The Neon

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Two films are rolling in and two films are rolling out! If you still need to see THE VELVET QUEEN or RED ROCKET, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open Almodóvar’s new film with Penelope Cruz – PARALLEL MOTHERS (one of my absolute favorites of 2021). In addition, we’ll bring the very special animated doc FLEE for three screenings this weekend! LICORICE PIZZA is sticking around for another week, and because DRIVE MY CAR saw a nice uptick over the weekend, we’ll bring it back for three more shows starting Friday.

On February 4, we will open one of the most powerful documentaries I have seen in a long time – WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA. I think this film should be part of a national curriculum. I hope you’ll help me spread the word about this doc that needs a groundswell of support to gain traction. Here’s a LINK to the trailer.
As most of you know, we closed our doors for 3+ months in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. We reopened with strict protocols in late June that year and have only closed our doors again when we installed new projectors last Fall. It’s been a challenging ride for numerous reasons…but you’ve stuck with us, and we appreciate your support so much. We’ve had a few successes along the way – NOMADLAND, SUMMER OF SOUL, and THE FRENCH DISPATCH have been the highlights – and now LICORICE PIZZA has become our highest grossing film since we reopened our doors in June 2020. Thank you!
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for PARALLEL MOTHERS: “Don’t miss Pedro Almodóvar’s gorgeous new film on the big screen! “Two women, Janis and Ana, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn’t regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in these hours will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way.” (Sony Classics) EMPIRE writes, “Almodóvar juggles comedy and drama to terrifically entertaining ends, aided by a tip-top Penélope Cruz. It’s hard to think of a more exciting actor-director partnership working today.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for FLEE: Rated “98% Fresh” – “FLEE tells the story of Amin Nawabi as he grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20 years, one that threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon to be husband. Recounted mostly through animation to director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, he tells for the first time the story of his extraordinary journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan.” (Neon Releasing) Don’t miss this gorgeous documentary that is certain to be an Academy Award contender this year! ABC News says, “The year’s most inventive animated adventure mixes graphic design with documentary realism and puts hallucinatory brilliance at the service of understanding the continuing psychic damage of war. You’ll never forget it.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about all the films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen that you can enjoy from home! As a reminder, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and A RAISIN IN THE SUN are only available until January 31!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
Last week, I let you know about special screenings of ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30. Tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control…we’re also looking at other arthouse cinemas in major markets across the country. We have recently made one minor change to our policy. Masks are now required for all guests age 2 and higher until further notice.  All patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-reported vaccination records not verified by a third party health care provider are not acceptable. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance. Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!
Thank you for all of your continued support through these challenging times!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

Neon Newsflash: RED ROCKET and THE VELVET QUEEN!

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This Friday, we’re bringing two new films to town. The mesmerizing documentary THE VELVET QUEEN and the boisterous and critically acclaimed RED ROCKET. Both of these films might only play for a week…so hurry down. LICORICE PIZZA will stick around for another week, and DRIVE MY CAR will stick around for one show per day over the weekend. If you still need to see THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH on the big screen, Thursday will be your last chance at THE NEON.

Several distributors are moving dates around this season, so we will likely be filling the early weeks of February with some critically lauded titles from earlier in the Awards Season that deserve to be seen on the big screen – like THE POWER OF THE DOG and THE LOST DAUGHTER. I’ll keep you posted. That said, we’re still on track to open two incredible new films next Friday (both of which will likely garner Academy Award nominations) – Almodovar’s PARALLEL MOTHERS and the animated documentary FLEE.
One special event that I know many of you will be excited about is now set for March 27 & 30 – 2 special screenings of ANYTHING GOES – a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. This Cole Porter treasure is a treat! Tickets are available now! More details can be found on our website.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT:
Synopsis for THE VELVET QUEEN: “In the heart of the Tibetan highlands, multi-award-winning nature photographer Vincent Munier guides writer Sylvain Tesson on his quest to document the infamously elusive snow leopard. Munier introduces Tesson to the subtle art of waiting from a blind spot, tracking animals, and finding the patience to catch sight of the beasts. Through their journey in the Tibetan peaks, inhabited by invisible presences, the two men ponder humankind’s place amongst the magnificent creatures and glorious landscapes they encounter along the way.” (Oscilloscope) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for RED ROCKET: “The audacious new film from writer-director Sean Baker (THE FLORIDA PROJECT and TANGERINE), starring Simon Rex in a magnetic, live-wire performance, RED ROCKET is a darkly funny and humane portrait of a uniquely American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.” (A24) The Chicago Tribune says this film is “Raunchy, restless, cinematically vital…” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about all the films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen that you can enjoy from home! As a reminder, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and A RAISIN IN THE SUN are only available until January 31!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT
January 20th  – A DREAM TO SERVE THROUGH EDUCATION is a new short documentary that is being presented by the founder of The Dayton School. “The Dayton School (TDS) is an up and coming revolutionary educational experience for students, families, and the surrounding community. The school will specifically service Dayton students, however, through after school programming and community partners we plan to offer educational experiences for TDS families and the community. This documentary outlines a story of a young woman’s journey of resilience through poverty to educational success. Follow her on this voyage as she transforms humbling life lessons and early teaching experiences into passion and commitment to create rewarding education environments for all Dayton families. Witness her unflagging support for the Dayton community as a dedicated educator inside and outside of the classroom. It is the belief of The Dayton School that every child, regardless of zip code, economic status, or culture, deserves a free holistic project based style education that transcends beyond high school. The Dayton School has a mission to improve access, opportunity, and resources for students through multiple exemplary education pathways. This short 30 minute documentary can be viewed for $10 on Thursday January 20th at 7:30pm at THE NEON. After viewing the film The Dayton School’s board, and/or film participants will be available for questions, comments, and discussion. Tickets are available at THE NEON’s Box Office or via this LINK. For more information regarding The Dayton School, including ways in which you can support prior to viewing, please visit Daytonschoolohio.org.” (taken from press notes)
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control…we’re also looking at other arthouse cinemas in major markets across the country. We have recently made one minor change to our policy. Masks are now required for all guests age 2 and higher until further notice.  All patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-reported vaccination records not verified by a third party health care provider are not acceptable. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance. Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!
Thank you for all of your continued support through these challenging times!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

“Julia Reichert: 50 Years in Film” Retrospective Coming to Neon

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Traveling film exhibit which debuted at the Museum of Modern Art finally premiering in Dayton

The Neon, Dayton’s downtown art house cinema, will host “Julia Reichert:  50 Years in Film,” a traveling celebration of the Oscar winning filmmaker’s decades of documentaries.  The screenings begin on Sunday afternoon, November 21, 2021.   The retrospective, which was curated and organized by the Wexner Center for the Arts, premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in May 2019.  The film series then traveled to Los Angeles, Houston, Minneapolis, Portland, Cleveland, Louisville and Madison before the pandemic shut everything down. 

“I’m deeply grateful to the Neon’s manager Jonathan McNeal for bringing this retrospective home,” said Julia Reichert.  “It means so much to me to share these films again with Dayton audiences, many who weren’t even born yet when these films came out.  New and beautiful 4K restorations of the four films I made with Jim Klein will play on the Neon’s screens, and they look amazing.”

“For 50 years, my professor, mentor and dear friend Julia Reichert has been telling powerful and engaging cinematic stories,” said McNeal.  “These important films still resonate, and we’re thrilled to finally be able to present this incredible collection of work back on the big screen.”

The retrospective will begin on Nov 21 with Reichert, who taught film at Wright State for 28 years, giving a live, intimate, illustrated talk about her origins.  How did she go from a working-class small-town girl, told she could only be a secretary, teacher or nurse, to being a pioneering filmmaker?  The first event will also include a screening of Julia Reichert & Jim Klein’s first film, GROWING UP FEMALE, their groundbreaking 1971 documentary exploring how girls and women are socialized.  This film, Julia’s senior project at Antioch College, was selected in 2011 by the Library of Congress for the prestigious National Film Registry of historically significant films.

The 2021 events in the retrospective are:

  • Sun, Nov 21 at 4:00: Julia Reichert Artist Talk and GROWING UP FEMALE (1971)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7:00:  UNION MAIDS (1976) and THE LAST TRUCK: CLOSING OF A GM PLANT (2009).
  • Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7:00:  SEEING RED:  STORIES OF AMERICAN COMMUNISTS (1984)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7:00:  Julia’s Hidden Gems & Deep Cuts:  Four shorter documentaries from Reichert’s body of work:  METHADONE – AN AMERICAN WAY OF DEALING (1974), SPARKLE (2012), MAKING MORNING STAR (2014) & NO GUNS FOR CHRISTMAS (2014).

Reichert’s retrospective will continue in 2022 with films and dates to be announced. 

Tickets are $10 for each screening and available on THE NEON’s website www.neonmovies.com or at THE NEON’s Box Office.  For additional information, please contact Jonathan McNeal at theneon@msn.com

 

SIB Celebrates Black Storytelling in Film

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A new movie series is kicking off tonight at The Neon, curated by Dana Graham, Founder and Creative Director of Scripted in Black (SIB).  “This movie night series is a chance for the community to celebrate the importance of Black storytelling and the way it honors the multi-dimensional layers of our culture, experience, and perspective,” explained Graham. Tickets for tonights event may be purchased on The Neon’s online ticket site.

Each of the evenings events  will begin with a mixer featuring a locally owned black businesses before the showing of a film they’ve had a hand in selecting .  “The Scripted in Black Team is excited to provide and enjoy this experience with our community because it creates an opportunity to be lifted through fellowship and supporting local Black businesses and Black films together,” said Graham. “Storytelling has always been a rich tradition and necessity in Black culture. The films chosen by each featured business express an aspect of our culture that makes us resilient, determined, creative, lit, hopeful, strong, and beautiful.”

SIB Founder Dana Graham

Scripted in Black LLC is an exclusive multi-disciplinary arts collective currently serving the Dayton area. SIB centers the work + collaboration of unconventional Black and Brown creatives through the yearly curation of boutique to high scale experiential installments.  Ms Graham and her team, Ashley Brooks, Installment Coordinator and Korey SmithVisuals Director  to present diverse installments  that focus on eclectic cultural storytelling through events and lifestyle merchandising, community engagement and education. The collective aims to address and alleviate the lack of minority representation in the local social arts + culture infrastructure. With a background in theatre arts coupled with a social-forward approach, Scripted in Black LLC will ensure that High-Vibe, Black & Brown identities have an intentional, vibrant, and affordable home in their creative landscape. You may support SIB by becoming a member, or just attending their events around the city.

Neon News: Martin Sheen in 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS

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This week, we’re moving right along with another film that has a Dayton connection. 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS, the new film based on the beloved bestseller, stars Dayton’s own Martin Sheen! Though our much loved WSU grad combo of HOLLER and WE STILL MAKE THINGS will stick around for a second week, Thursday will be your last chance to catch SUBLET on the big screen. And don’t forget that we have 2 special in-person screenings of TRUMAN & TENNESSEE happening in this week’s schedule.

In our Virtual Cinema, we have numerous films available to watch at home. I hope you’ll check out that long list soon. That said, we’ll be adding the crowd-pleasing MONUMENTSand TRUMAN & TENNESSEE to the mix this Friday. (If you can’t make it to THE NEON for one of our special in-person screenings about these literary greats, we hope you’ll support it virtually.)
TICKETS AVAILABLE. Tickets for the June 24 preview screening of RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT are available now! Tickets for the July 1 preview screening of SUMMER OF SOUL will be available later this afternoon. Tickets for ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN will go on sale July 7.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS: “12 MIGHTY ORPHANS tells the true story of the Mighty Mites, the football team of a Fort Worth orphanage who, during the Great Depression, went from playing without shoes—or even a football—to playing for the Texas state championships. Over the course of their winning season these underdogs and their resilient spirit became an inspiration to their city, state, and an entire nation in need of a rebound, even catching the attention of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The architect of their success was Rusty Russell, a legendary high school coach who shocked his colleagues by giving up a privileged position so he could teach and coach at an orphanage. Few knew Rusty’s secret: that he himself was an orphan. Recognizing that his scrawny players couldn’t beat the other teams with brawn, Rusty developed innovative strategies that would come to define modern football.” (Sony Classics) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for TRUMAN & TENNESSEE: AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION: We have 2 in-person screenings set for this great new documentary. “The brilliant work, personal struggles, and cultural impact of iconic American writers Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams explodes onto the screen in this innovative dual-portrait documentary. Filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland masterfully collages a wealth of archival material, including dishy talk show appearances with Dick Cavett and David Frost, with clips from some of the duo’s most memorable movie adaptions: A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Glass Menagerie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and In Cold Blood. Featuring vibrant voiceover work by award-winning actors Jim Parsons (Capote) and Zachary Quinto (Williams), the film is dripping with wit and wisdom. It is a celebration of both men’s fearless candor and often tumultuous friendship that honors how their identity as gay Southerners informed their timeless artistic achievements and relationships with family, colleagues, confidants, and – most significantly – each other.” TRUMAN & TENNESSEE will screen this Saturday at Noon and on Thursday, June 24 at 7:30. Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
NEW IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for MONUMENTS: “A young widower sidesteps grief, loss, and familial dysfunction when he steals his wife’s ashes and sets off on an impulsive odyssey through America’s heartland in the charming new road trip comedy, MONUMENTS. Ted (David Sullivan) encounters a cast of eccentric characters, including his rival Howl (Javier Muñoz), who direct and misdirect him on his mission to find something he’d lost long before the death his wife Laura (Marguerite Moreau). MONUMENTS infuses humor and hope into a story of mourning, loss, and marriage to create one of the best feel-good indie films of 2021.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $11.99.
Synopsis for TRUMAN & TENNESSEE: If you can’t catch this terrific new doc in person, you’ll be able to watch it from home. “The brilliant work, personal struggles, and cultural impact of iconic American writers Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams explodes onto the screen in this innovative dual-portrait documentary. Filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland masterfully collages a wealth of archival material, including dishy talk show appearances with Dick Cavett and David Frost, with clips from some of the duo’s most memorable movie adaptions: A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Glass Menagerie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and In Cold Blood. Featuring vibrant voiceover work by award-winning actors Jim Parsons (Capote) and Zachary Quinto (Williams), the film is dripping with wit and wisdom. It is a celebration of both men’s fearless candor and often tumultuous friendship that honors how their identity as gay Southerners informed their timeless artistic achievements and relationships with family, colleagues, confidants, and – most significantly – each other.” This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device. You can also watch via your TV (when you download the Kino Now app on Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon TV/Stick). Additional instructions can be found on the film’s landing page…just click the picture below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film for $12.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for SUBLET: “Michael, a travel columnist for The New York Times, goes to Tel Aviv to write an article after suffering a tragedy. He is still grieving and the loss has caused problems between him and his husband. He just wants to do his research and go home. But when he sublets an apartment from Tomer, a young film student, he finds himself drawn into the life of the city” (Greenwich Entertainment) This film will be available to watch on your computer or mobile device or via the Eventive app on your Roku or AppleTV. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to check out the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $9.99.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Several critically acclaimed films and audience favorites are still available! Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.
Would you like to know what titles we have planned for our Virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On June 25, we’ll star the gorgeous mother-daughter Israeli drama ASIA. July 2 will bring the Berlin winning Macedonian film GOD EXISTS, HER NAME IS PETRUNYA. And on July 9, we’ll open THE GOD COMMITTEE – starring Kelsey Grammer and Julia Stiles. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
We have a few spots left for DISCLOSURE: TRANS LIVES ON FILM – set for Saturday, June 26 at Noon. This screening will be used as a fundraiser for David’s Place at Daybreak, and you can request your free tickets (though donations will be appreciated on the day of the screening) by clicking the image below. Click HERE to watch the film’s trailer.
Attention Families with Young Kids! Starting on July 3 at 11am, THE NEON and ThinkTV PBS will begin presenting a 10-week, FREE Summer Family Film Festival. Short films from PBS Kids will screen on Saturday mornings at 11am on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is a great, affordable way to keep kids engaged this summer…and ThinkTV will provide activity books for kids to take home after each screening. More details will be available in next week’s newsletter, but I wanted to make sure you were the first to hear about this. Please help us spread the word. This wonderful partnership is made possible with generous support from The RubiGirls Scholarship Initiative.
Scripted in Black, an exclusive multi-disciplinary arts collective that centers the work and collaboration of Black + Brown unconventional creatives, will be hosting a series of films in July, and tickets are already on sale. “When SIB thinks of super chill kick back Thursday vibes, we envision a film series featuring just a few of the greatest Black classics + favorites to date. Whether we are learning from the past, relishing in hood politics, or examining the dynamics of friendship, this film series allows us to collectively experience the art of cinema, together. Featuring three Black-owned local businesses and partnering with THE NEON in Dayton allows for mingling amongst the creative community + supporting the local business ecosystem. This movie night series is a chance to celebrate as a community the importance of Black storytelling and the way it honors the multi-dimensional layers of our culture, experience, and perspective. This movie night series is the perfect way to close out a busy work week and step into the weekend with laughs, high vibes, + a little reminiscing on the good old days.” (Scripted in Black) Tickets are $20 each and come with a complimentary popcorn and soda. Each film will be preceded by a business mixer from 6:00-7:00 on THE NEON’s patio…then films will start at 7:15! Series sponsored by Westchester Education Services. July 8 – JUST MERCY, featured business – Dayton Young Black Professionals. July 15 – PAID IN FULL, featured business – AKenlo. July 22 – THE WOOD, featured businesses – Flyght Academy + Wright Way Foundation.
A NOTE ABOUT COVID PRECAUTIONS. Starting Friday, June 25, THE NEON’s Board has decided to make a change to our COVID protocols. Though every other row will remain unavailable, we will only require one empty seat between parties sitting in the same row. As a reminder, All NEON Staff as well as unvaccinated patrons will still be required to wear masks…they are optional for all vaccinated patrons.

NOMADLAND Returns + FOUR GOOD DAYS with Glenn Close

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This week, we’re holding both TOGETHER TOGETHER and STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET – both of which our audiences are loving. That said, we’re adding a couple titles to the mix. After its “Best Picture” win on Sunday (and because we agree with Frances McDormand that it should be seen on the big screen), we’re bringing back NOMADLAND for a handful of screenings. We’re also going to pepper in some shows of FOUR GOOD DAYS – a new drama about a family dealing with addiction starring Glenn Close & Mila Kunis.

On Friday, we will also open two new films in our Virtual Cinema – a wonderful Icelandic film THE COUNTY as well as ABOUT ENDLESSNESS, the latest film from brilliant filmmaker Roy Andersson.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT:
Synopsis for FOUR GOOD DAYS: “Emerging from a detox clinic, a young addict must stay clean while living with her mother for the next four days.” Starring Glenn Close & Mila Kunis. In addition to offering this film for a few traditional screenings, we will also have two benefit screenings. See this powerful film on the big screen and benefit FOA (Families of Addicts) at the same time. The 2 Special Screenings are this Friday at 7:00 and Sunday at 1:15. Tickets for these benefit screenings can be reserved by calling Anita Kitchen at (937)329-2865 (or by email at anitak@FOAfamilies.org). Our few traditional screenings can be purchased on our website or at our box office. Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for NOMADLAND: Winner of 3 Academy Awards – “Best Picture,” “Best Director” & “Best Actress!” “Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The third feature film from director Chloé Zhao, NOMADLAND features real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.” Inspired by the non-fiction book. Click the image below to visit the film’s official site (where there are several, wonderful Q&As).
NEW IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for ABOUT ENDLESSNESS: Available starting April 30! The new film from master filmmaker Roy Andersson! IndieWire says “You give Roy Andersson 76 minutes, and he’ll give you the universe.” “ABOUT ENDLESSNESS is a reflection on human life in all its beauty and cruelty, its splendor and banality. We wander, dreamlike, gently guided by our Scheherazade-esque narrator. Inconsequential moments take on the same significance as historical events: a couple floats over a war-torn Cologne; on the way to a birthday party, a father stops to tie his daughter’s shoelaces in the pouring rain; teenage girls dance outside a cafe; a defeated army marches to a prisoner-of-war camp. Simultaneously an ode and a lament, ABOUT ENDLESSNESS presents a kaleidoscope of all that is eternally human, an infinite story of the vulnerability of existence.” (Magnolia Pictures) This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve 72 hour access for $12.
Synopsis for THE COUNTY: Available starting April 30! “After the global success of his Un Certain Regard winner RAMS, director Grímur Hákonarson returns to his native Iceland with another humanist farmland fable. Bitterly funny and deeply affecting, THE COUNTY plays out a timely political allegory against a jaw-dropping natural landscape, aided by a brainy, tenacious anti-heroine and Hákonarson’s dry Nordic humor.
When we first meet Inga (a brilliant Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir, in a star-making performance), she is midwifing a calf, in the middle of another back-breaking day on the small, nearly bankrupt dairy farm she shares with her husband, Reynir (Hinrik Ólafsson). She is one of many hard-working farmers in her region who work under a bureaucratic co-operative that, having fallen out of the control of its farmers, operates as a monopoly, pushing her and her community deep into debt. After Reynir’s sudden and suspicious death, Inga learns the true extent of both her powerlessness and her late husband’s involvement with the co-op’s schemings. With an eye to the future, and with no other option, she aims to chip away at the co-op’s domination…THE COUNTY cuts deep, putting a human face on an all-too-likely conflict, along with suspense, charm, and a touch of Scandinavian zaniness.” (Dekanalog) This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve 72 hour access for $10.
Synopsis for THE RACE TO SAVE THE WORLD: “THE RACE TO SAVE THE WORLD is a climate documentary with a uniquely optimistic approach. It follows passionate activists whose single-minded focus is the creation of a sustainable world for future generations. These climate warriors, ages 15 to 72, are in the trenches fighting for a livable future, regardless of the personal cost. Emmy award-winning filmmaker Joe Gantz brings an urgent and intimate portrait of the protests, arrests, courtroom drama, and family turmoil these activists endure as they push for change. The Race to Save The World is an energizing and inspiring call-to-action that inspires viewers to quit waiting on the sidelines and start making their voices heard.” Michael Mann, Author of THE NEW CLIMATE WAR, writes, “There is still time to prevent catastrophic climate change. This powerful film shows how each of us can use our voice and our actions to save this planet from destruction. Watch it and be inspired to make a difference.” This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve 72 access for $12
SPECIAL EVENT! Tomorrow! Wednesday, April 28 at 7pm, join us for a special, FREE Virtual Roundtable Discussion on our official FACEBOOK PAGE about BILL TRAYLOR: CHASING GHOSTS (you don’t need a Facebook Account to join us) – Guests will include Jeffrey Wolf (the film’s director and producer) and Jeany Nisenholz-Wolf (the film’s producer – and Dayton native) as well as renowned, local artist Bing Davis and Distinguished Research Professor, Dr. Flavia Bastos from School of Art, University of Cincinnati. (Special thanks to Meredith Moss for her story in last Sunday’s DAYTON DAILY NEWS. Here’s a LINK to that story.) If you haven’t seen the film yet, you can check it out HERE in our Virtual Cinema.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Several critically acclaimed films and audience favorites are still available! Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.
Would you like to know what titles we have planned for our Virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On May 7, we’ll open HIGH GROUND – an Australian period piece that The Hollywood Reporter calls, “A gripping, visually spectacular revenge thriller that makes superb use of stunning landscapes while also addressing the lingering scars of colonial-era racism.” On May 14, we’ll start a poignant, award-winning doc – US KIDS, and on May 21, we’ll open WHEN HITLER STOLE PINK RABBIT– based on the bestseller by Judith Kerr. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!

Cult Movie Night: CAROUSHELL

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Toxic Brew Co. & Hole in the Wall are hosting their third “Cult Movie Night” this Sunday at 7:30…and they’ve chosen CAROUSHELL this time – a film featuring Hole in the Wall bartender Haley Madison. Tickets are $20 each, and those tickets come with 2 beers from Toxic Brew (this event is limited to folks 21 and up). This horror/comedy will be hosted by Madison with pre-screening drink specials at Hole in the Wall (just down the street).”Duke, a carousel unicorn, hates his job. He has to let kids climb on his back and ride him for hours every day. But one kid has finally pushed him too far. Duke breaks free of his carnival hell and embarks on a bloody rampage of revenge on humanity.” Click the image below to reserve a ticket.

LITTLE FISH, A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX and Next “Director Spotlight!”

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We have two new films opening this week. The first is LITTLE FISH – a film currently rated “100% Fresh” that indieWire calls “a creative, inventive romance for a broken time.” In addition, we’ve booked a few screenings of a film that just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last week – A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX.

Next week will be pretty special. In addition to MINARI (a film that will almost certainly be nominated for “Best Picture”), we will have another round of retrospective titles from from a brilliant filmmaker. This time, we’re going to take a look at 3 classics from the prolific Spike Lee – DO THE RIGHT THING (1989), MO’ BETTER BLUES (1990) and CROOKLYN (1994). More details soon!
In our Virtual Cinema, we also have 2 new films this week. M.C. ESCHER: JOURNEY TO INFINITY has drawn a lot of interest on our social media platforms, and COWBOYS is a beloved film that has been making the rounds on the festival circuit.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS
Synopsis for LITTLE FISH: This little gem is being heralded as one of the best sci-fi indie films of the last decade. “LITTLE FISH, the fourth feature film from director Chad Hartigan, is a romance set in a near-future Seattle teetering on the brink of calamity. Starring Olivia Cooke, Jack O’Connell, Soko and Raul Castillo, the film opens in the midst of a global epidemic: Neuroinflammatory Affliction, a sever and rapid Alzheimer’s-like condition in which people’s memories disappear. Couple Jude Williams and Emma Ryerson are grappling with the realities of NIA, interspersed with glimpses from the past as the two meet and their relationship blooms. But as NIA’s grip on society tightens, blurring the lines between the past and the present, it becomes more and more difficult to know what’s true and what’s false.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX: Direct on the heels of its Sundance Premiere, A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX will screen for a few special shows starting Feb. 5. “What if we are living in a simulation, and the world as we know it is not real? To tackle this mind-bending idea, acclaimed filmmaker Rodney Asher (ROOM 237, THE NIGHTMARE) uses a noted speech from Philip K. Dick to dive down the rabbit hole of science, philosophy, and conspiracy theory. Leaving no stone unturned in exploring the unprovable, the film uses contemporary cultural touchstones like THE MATRIX, interviews with real people shrouded in digital avatars, and a wide array of voices, expert and amateur alike. If simulation theory is not science fiction but fact, and life is a video game being played by some unknowable entity, then who are we, really? A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX attempts to find out.” (Magnolia Pictures) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for MINARI: Winner of the 2020 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, we’re excited to open MINARI – a certain contender for “Best Picture” this year. We will have a preview screening on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7:15…then it will open on a full schedule on Feb. 12. “A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.” (A24) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
NEW IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for COWBOYS: Available Starting Feb. 5! “In Montana, a father tries to liberate his young transgender son by taking him to Canada, but as a frustrated female detective spearheads an investigation, she discovers that the child’s family situation is more complicated than she thought.” Starring Steve Zahn & Jillian Bell and introducing Sasha Knight. This film is available to watch on your computer or mobile device. It is also available to watch via Chromecast. For help regarding accessing this title, please visit the Samuel Goldwyn VHX Help Page HERE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
Synopsis for M.C. ESCHER: JOURNEY TO INFINITY: Available Starting Feb. 5! “M.C. Escher: Journey To Infinity is the story of world famous Dutch graphic artist M.C Escher (1898-1972). Equal parts history, psychology, and psychedelia, Robin Lutz’s entertaining, eye-opening portrait gives us the man through his own words and images: diary musings, excerpts from lectures, correspondence and more are voiced by British actor Stephen Fry, while Escher’s woodcuts, lithographs, and other print works appear in both original and playfully altered form. Two of his sons, George (92) and Jan (80), reminisce about their parents while musician Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills & Nash) talks about Escher’s rediscovery in the 1970s. The film looks at Escher’s legacy: one can see tributes to his work in movies, in fiction, on posters, on tattoos, and elsewhere throughout our culture; indeed, few fine artists of the 20th century can lay claim to such popular appeal.”
This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device. You can also watch via your TV (when you download the Kino Now app on Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon TV/Stick). Additional instructions can be found on the film’s landing page…just click the picture below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film for $12.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for RAMS: “Brothers Colin and Les have been fighting for decades. Both are award-winning sheep farmers but when disaster strikes and disease threatens their flocks, will they be able to work together to save their sheep, their legacy, and their community?” This 2020 remake of the 2015 Icelandic film stars Sam Neil, Michael Caton and Miranda Richardson. This film is available to watch on your computer or mobile device. It is also available to watch via Chromecast. For help regarding accessing this title, please visit the Samuel Goldwyn VHX Help Page HERE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.
Would you like to know what titles we have planned for our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) Next week, we’ll make A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX available virtually and we’ll open TWO OF US – a lovely film that is France’s submission for “Best Foreign Film” this year. Later in February, we’ll have a new documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg (in her own words) – simply titled RUTH as well as a film with Spike Lee as executive producer – SON OF THE SOUTH. On March 5, we’ll bring a film that I know many design folks will adore – GUSTAV STICKLEY: AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!

Colin Firth in SUPERNOVA and Stunning MALCOLM & MARIE at The Neon

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We have two films with a lot of star power opening this Friday. SUPERNOVA stars two NEON heavyweights – Colin Firth (THE KING’S SPEECH and several others) and Stanley Tucci (SPOTLIGHT & MARGIN CALL). On our other screen, we’ll have MALCOLM & MARIE starring Zendaya (known for bigger Hollywood films like THE GREATEST SHOWMAN and SPIDERMAN: FAR FROM HOME) and John David Washington (known for his roles in BLACKKKLANSMAN and last summer’s TENET…though he did have a small role in the NEON hit OLD MAN AND THE GUN). We hope you’ll join us to see these new films on the big screen. Next Thursday, we’ll offer a preview screening of LITTLE FISH before it officially opens on Feb. 5. PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN is still performing quite well – so we found a way to bring it back again this weekend. If you still need to see THE DIG or MLK/FBI, you need to hurry down.
In our Virtual Cinema, we will open RAMS – an Australian remake of a beloved Icelandic film. This new version stars Sam Neill, Miranda Richardson and Michael Caton.
NEW IN-PERSON SCREENINGS
Synopsis for SUPERNOVA: “Sam (Colin Firth) and Tusker (Stanley Tucci), partners of twenty years, are travelling across England in their old campervan visiting friends, family and places from their past. Following a life-changing diagnosis, their time together has become more important than ever until secret plans test their love like never before.” (Bleecker Street) Click the image below to watch the trailer. Tickets for the Jan. 28 preview are on sale now!
Synopsis for MALCOLM & MARIE: “Sam Levinson teams up with Zendaya and John David Washington for an achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker (Washington) and his girlfriend (Zendaya) return home following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love. Working with cinematographer Marcell Rev, Levinson creates a film of rare originality; an ode to the great Hollywood romances as well as a heartfelt expression of faith in the medium’s future.” (Netflix) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. Tickets for the Jan 28 preview screening are on sale now!
Synopsis for LITTLE FISH: Preview screening on Thursday, Feb. 4! “LITTLE FISH, the fourth feature film from director Chad Hartigan, is a romance set in a near-future Seattle teetering on the brink of calamity. Starring Olivia Cooke, Jack O’Connell, Soko and Raul Castillo, the film opens in the midst of a global epidemic: Neuroinflammatory Affliction, a sever and rapid Alzheimer’s-like condition in which people’s memories disappear. Couple Jude Williams and Emma Ryerson are grappling with the realities of NIA, interspersed with glimpses from the past as the two meet and their relationship blooms. But as NIA’s grip on society tightens, blurring the lines between the past and the present, it becomes more and more difficult to know what’s true and what’s false.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
NEW IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
Synopsis for RAMS: “Brothers Colin and Les have been fighting for decades. Both are award-winning sheep farmers but when disaster strikes and disease threatens their flocks, will they be able to work together to save their sheep, their legacy, and their community?” This 2020 remake of the 2015 Icelandic film stars Sam Neil, Michael Caton and Miranda Richardson. This film is available to watch on your computer or mobile device. It is also available to watch via Chromecast. For help regarding accessing this title, please visit the Samuel Goldwyn VHX Help Page HERE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
Synopsis for SOME KIND OF HEAVEN: “SOME KIND OF HEAVEN explores life inside the palm-tree-lined streets of The Villages, America’s largest retirement community in Florida. Referred to as the ‘Disneyland for Retirees,’ this planned community is home to over 130,000 seniors. It offers residents a utopian version of the American yesteryear: wide, safe streets, perfectly manicured lawns, and countless activities all in service of enjoying their golden years. While most residents have bought into its packaged positivity, we meet four residents living on the margins, striving to find happiness. By turns biting, tender, and surreal, the film demonstrates that no matter our age, we are always becoming. With strikingly composed cinematography, SOME KIND OF HEAVEN challenges our stereotypes around aging, emboldening its characters to live as vibrantly as possible in the time they have left.” Tickets are $12 for 72 hour access. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film.
Synopsis for MY REMBRANDT: Available starting Jan. 22! “Rembrandt, the grandmaster of intimacy rocks the art world; 350 years after his death, many people, even entire nations are obsessed with his paintings. Aristocrats cherish, experts rule, art dealers investigate, collectors hunt, museums battle. The epic documentary MY REMBRANDT dives deep into the art world of Old Masters, exploring the motives of its elite.” Tickets are $12 for 72 hour access. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.

MLK/FBI and THE DIG at The Neon

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We have two new films opening this week and a surprise for next Thursday. MLK/FBI is the powerful, award-winning documentary that premiered with The Toronto International Film Festival this year, and THE DIG is a lovely period film with NEON-favorites Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes – they both open this week. If you need to see HERSELF, Thursday will be your last chance. Due to the love and support for ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI and PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, we found a way to hold both for one show per day over the weekend.On Thursday, Jan. 21, we will have a preview screening of OUR FRIEND – starring Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson, and Casey Affleck (which will officially open on Jan. 22).
In our Virtual Cinema, we will open ACASA, MY HOME and ROCK CAMP: THE MOVIE – two very different, well-crafted docs. We truly have something for everyone this weekend!
Be sure to check out our recently updated “Coming Soon” list below. Some titles are still very tentative, but the list is stellar – including highly anticipated, award-season films like NOMADLAND (which just won “Best Picture” at the Gotham Awards on Monday), SUPERNOVA and MINARI.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for MLK/FBI: “MLK/FBI is the first film to uncover the extent of the FBI’s surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Based on newly discovered and declassified files, utilizing a trove of documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and unsealed by the National Archives, as well as revelatory restored footage, the documentary explores the government’s history of targeting Black activists, and the contested meaning behind some of our most cherished ideals. Featuring interviews with key cultural figures, including former FBI Director James Comey, MLK/FBI tells this astonishing and tragic story with searing relevance to our current moment.” Click the image below to watch the trailer.
Synopsis for THE DIG: “As WWII looms, a wealthy widow (CAREY MULLIGAN) hires an amateur archaeologist (RALPH FIENNES) to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain’s past are illuminated in the face of its uncertain future.” (Netflix) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for OUR FRIEND: “OUR FRIEND tells the inspiring and extraordinary true story of the Teague family—journalist Matt (Casey Affleck), his vibrant wife Nicole (Dakota Johnson) and their two young daughters—and how their lives are upended by Nicole’s heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer. As Matt’s responsibilities as caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming, the couple’s best friend Dane Faucheux (Jason Segel) offers to come and help out. As Dane puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, the impact of this life altering decision proves greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined.” (Gravitas Venture) Click on the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
NEW TO OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for ACASA, MY HOME: Available Starting Jan. 15! “In the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta, an abandoned water reservoir just outside the bustling metropolis, the Enache family lived in perfect harmony with nature for two decades, sleeping in a hut on the lakeshore, catching fish barehanded, and following the rhythm of the seasons. When this area is transformed into a public national park, they are forced to leave behind their unconventional life and move to the city, where fishing rods are replaced by smartphones and idle afternoons are now spent in classrooms. As the family struggles to conform to modern civilization and maintain their connection to each other and themselves, they each begin to question their place in the world and what their future might be.” (Zeitgeist)
some reviews:
“A PROFOUND EXPLORATION of family, nature and contemporary society.”—Steve Dollar, LOS ANGELES TIMES
“LYRICAL AND PROVOCATIVE…Timeless and of-the-moment, vividly specific and universally resonant, this portrait of poverty, displacement and social engineering is sure to strike a chord with fest programmers and international art house audiences..”—Sheri Linden, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV (when you download the Kino Now app with Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon TV/Stick). Additional instructions can be found on the film’s landing page…just click the picture below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film for $12.
Synopsis for ROCK CAMP: THE MOVIE: Available Starting Jan. 15! “Summer camp meets Spinal Tap as we journey to Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp in ROCK CAMP: THE MOVIE, where dreamers from across America and around the world gather to shred with their heroes – and learn to rock like the legends. Rock Camp is an institution and cultural phenomenon that has been going on in Los Angeles, New York and other cities since 1996. The brainchild of music producer David Fishof, Rock Camp boasts a jaw-dropping array of rock star “counselors” that include Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, Nancy Wilson, Joe Perry, Jeff Beck, Slash and countless other rock legends. The counselors teach, inspire and jam with the campers over the course of four days. Each Rock Camp concludes with all of the counselors and their respective campers, performing together.” Click the link under the title to visit our landing page for this film. After content becomes available January 15th at 3:00 am EST, you’ll have 7 days to start watching. Once you begin, you’ll have 24 hours to finish watching. Tickets are $12, and $1 from every ticket sold will benefit MusiCares, which provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film. HERE’S SOMETHING FUN!! When you rent this doc, you are automatically entered into a sweepstakes with really cool prizes (like signed guitars, a trip to Rock Camp and more).
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for THE REASON IN JUMP: “Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida’s revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe. Moments in the lives of each of the characters are linked by the journey of a young Japanese boy through an epic landscape; narrated passages from Naoki’s writing reflect on what his autism means to him and others, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps. The film distills these elements into a sensually rich tapestry that leads us to Naoki’s core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say.” (Kino Lorber) This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device as well as via AppleTV, Roku or AmazonFireStick. For additional notes regarding connectivity, you can visit the film’s FAQ’s at the bottom of the rental page. Click the picture below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.
Would you like to know what titles we have planned for our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On January 22, art lovers will delight with MY REMBRANDT, and audiences will be intrigued by SOME KIND OF HEAVEN – an interesting look at aging. On Jan. 29, we’ll open RAMS – a British film starring Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson. In early February, we’ll have a new doc about a brilliant artist (though he preferred the term “mathematician”) – M.C. ESCHER: JOURNEY TO INFINITY. Also in February, we are looking at A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX, TWO OF US and COWBOYS. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
SPECIAL EVENT!
Our friends from Toxic Brew Co. & Hole in the Wall are hosting their second “Cult Movie Night”…and they’ve chosen SPACE BABES FROM OUTER SPACE this time. Tickets are $20 each, and those tickets come with 2 beers from Toxic Brew (this event is limited to folks 21 and up). It’s this Sunday, January 17 at 7:30! “Three babes from a faraway galaxy end up stranded on Earth after a surprise encounter with their mortal enemies, the Scrotes!” This outrageous sci-fi sex comedy will be hosted by Haley Madison with pre-screening drink specials at Hole in the Wall (just down the street).

AMELIE & New PINOCCHIO and More at The Neon

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Neon Movies on Fifth Street

We’ve got a great weekend in store at THE NEON. In addition to the new “definitive” edition of PINOCCHIO, we are bringing back an old friend. I am now in my 20th year of managing THE NEON, and AMELIE was our first big hit when I took over operations of the cinema. She was the film that made us breathe a little easier – knowing that we could handle crowds and that people knew we were here. We’re delighted to bring her back to the big screen this weekend! AMELIE will only be here for 5 days because a week from today, we will open a personal favorite from Sundance this year – HERSELF…and special thanks to our friends at Artemis Center who are helping us spread the word. Today is the last day for MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (which we’ll be hearing a lot about this Oscar season) and George Clooney’s THE MIDNIGHT SKY – hurry down if you want to see them on the big screen.

We also have two new films in our Virtual Cinema. LOVE SARAH, a film I know so many of you will love, is a heartwarming British comedy starring Celia Imrie (from BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL). DEEP IN VOGUE, presented in part with The Dayton LGBT Film Festival, is an hour-long documentary that comes with Q&A’s and a Virtual After-Party!
In addition to hearing your responses to our Virtual Cinema, we’ve been reading a lot about several of our virtual offerings in year-end round-ups. DRIVEWAYS (a film so many of you loved this summer) has been noted as a favorite from many. ANOTHER ROUND(just included on Pedro Almodovar’s list of best films this year) and 76 HOURS (a doc that just had a great story on NPR) are still available in our Virtual Cinema.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for PINOCCHIO: “Shot in stunning Italian locations, Matteo Garrone’s rich world of mystery and wonder stars Academy Award® winning actor Roberto Benigni as Geppetto, the old woodcarver whose puppet creation, Pinocchio, magically comes to life with dreams of becoming a real boy. Easily led astray, Pinocchio tumbles from one misadventure to another as he is tricked, kidnapped and chased by bandits through a wonderful world full of imaginative creatures – from the belly of a giant fish, to the Land Of Toys and the Field Of Miracles.” (Roadside Attractions) FYI – this version is in English.
Synopsis for AMELIE: We re-opened our doors in October 2001 after being closed all summer for major renovations – going from one screen to two. Attendance was minimal for the first few weeks, but then she arrived. AMELIE broke records, and she stole our hearts. Come see this dazzling film, back on the big screen for 5 days, opening Dec. 25! “Amélie is an innocent and naive girl in Paris with her own sense of justice. She decides to help those around her and, along the way, discovers love.” The colors, the characters, the whimsy…don’t miss this film on the big screen…the way it was meant to be seen. Click the image below to watch the film’s original trailer.
Synopsis for HERSELF – Opening January 30!: “HERSELF tells the story of Sandra, a young mother who seeks to rebuild her life from scratch, and provide a safe home for her two young daughters. In order to do so, she must escape the grip of a possessive ex-partner, circumnavigate a broken housing system, and bring together a community of friends who can support her and lend a helping hand.” (Amazon) During our run of HERSELF, we will have literature in our lobby about the services provided by an organization we care so much about – Artemis Center. You can find out all about how you can help (financially or by volunteering) on their website. Click the image below to watch the trailer for this powerful and empowering film.
NEW IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for LOVE SARAH: A sweet British film is just what so many of us need for the holidays. “Determined to fulfill her late mother’s dream of opening a bakery in charming Notting Hill, 19-year-old Clarissa enlists the help of her mother’s best friend Isabella and her eccentric estranged grandmother Mimi(played by Celia Imrie from THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL). These three generations of women will need to overcome grief, doubts and differences to honour the memory of their beloved Sarah while embarking on a journey to establish a London store filled with love, hope and colourful pastries from all over the world.” (Samuel Goldwyn Films) This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device as well as via Chromecast or via an HDMI cable attached to your television. For additional notes regarding connectivity, you can visit the film’s HELP PAGE. Click the picture below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.
Synopsis for DEEP IN VOGUE: The Dayton LGBT Film Festival is helping us present DEEP IN VOGUE – complete with a virtual after-party and Q&A. “DEEP IN VOGUE celebrates the colorful, queer, emotional and political stories of Northern Vogue in Manchester, UK and the black, gay ballrooms of 1980s New York City. The documentary had its UK premiere at BFI Flare and its US premiere at NewFest NYC. Over the course of a year, film makers Dennis Keighron-Foster and Amy Watson charted the buildup to the Manchester ICONS Vogue Ball and explore universal themes and the unique styles from both sides of the Atlantic including the sometimes dramatic internal politics of Vogue to external politics including the disenfranchisement of black youth, LGBT issues, the dearth of art spaces and modes of expression, the over-commercialized gay scene, and the lack of safe spaces for the truly different. DEEP IN VOGUE is an electric, informative, and entertaining celebration of people coming to love and accept themselves, finding a new family through Vogue.” (FilmRise) This movie can be watched on your computer or mobile device. Click on the image below to watch the trailer and gain access to the film for $12.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for FINDING YINGYING: This award-winning film was produced by WSU Motion Picture graduate Brent Huffman. “Yingying Zhang, a 26-year-old Chinese student, comes to the U.S. to study. In her detailed and beautiful diaries, the aspiring young scientist and teacher is full of optimism, hoping to also be married and a mother someday. Within weeks of her arrival, Yingying disappears from the campus. Through exclusive access to Yingying’s family and boyfriend, Finding Yingying closely follows their journey as they search to unravel the mystery of her disappearance and seek justice for their daughter while navigating a strange, foreign country. But most of all, Finding Yingying is the story of who Yingying was: a talented young woman loved by her family and friends.” This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device or via your Roku or AppleTV. For additional information regarding accessibility of the film, please visit this Eventive HELPpage. Here is a LINK where you can watch at trailer. Click the image below to purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.
Synopsis for THAT CLICK: “A man at the cutting edge of fashion, photojournalism and portraiture, photographer to the stars Douglas Kirkland has, with his camera, portrayed over sixty years of pop culture. Famed for his legendary shoots with Hollywood favourites including Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Angelina Jolie and the stars of over 150 motion pictures – The Sound of Music, Moulin Rouge, Titanic and The Great Gatsby to name a few – Kirkland’s unique style and approach have resulted in hundreds of beautiful, immortal images that still influence the world today, decades after that first fateful click of the camera. This fascinating feature takes a closer look into the astonishing career of one the most important photographers of the last century, from his very first assignments at Look magazine in the 50’s to Vanity Fair in the present, with contributing cast including Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Williams, Baz Luhrmann and Andy Garcia amongst many others.” This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device as well as via Chromecast or via an HDMI cable attached to your television. For additional notes regarding connectivity, you can visit the film’s HELP PAGE. Click the picture below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $10.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Several films like the WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI (the retrospective on this incredible artist’s work) as well as 76 DAYS and ANOTHER ROUND (which was also just featured on NPR) are still available. As a reminder, THE LIBRARY DOLLY BUILT is only available to us until the end of the year. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.
Wanna know what titles we’re planning in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) In January, we’ve got several fantastic docs…the first two are big the Sundance winners – ACASA MY HOME (about a family who are forced to live in the big city after living in harmony with nature for 20 years) and THE REASON I JUMP (a cinematic exploration of the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world). On January 15, we’ll have a really fun doc called ROCK CAMP – a doc featuring some big rock’n’rollers. On January 22, art lovers will delight with MY REMBRANDT. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!

AMELIE & New PINOCCHIO

David Fincher’s Award Hopeful MANK & More NEON News!

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We’re moving along with the highly anticipated film – MANK – David Fincher’s look at how Mankiewicz rushed to finish the screenplay for Orson Welles’ CITIZEN KANE. It opens tomorrow. If you still need to see THE CLIMB, Thursday will be your last chance. On Friday, we open the documentary ZAPPA for one week only. If you still need to see HILLBILLY ELEGY on the big screen, it will stick around for one more week.

In our Virtual Cinema, we have a new documentary that seems “right on time” about a social movement from the 60’s – WBCN AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. It also opens tomorrow.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT
Synopsis for MANK: “David Fincher’s latest masterpiece is slated for THE NEON for Thanksgiving Weekend! “1930s Hollywood is re-evaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of CITIZEN KANE for Orson Welles.” Starring Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Charles Dance, and Lily Collins….you’ll be seeing some of these names during Oscar season! Click the image below to watch the film’s vintage-looking trailer.
Synopsis for ZAPPA: “With unfettered access to the Zappa family trust and all archival footage, ZAPPA explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time. Alex Winter’s assembly features appearances by Frank’s widow Gail Zappa and several of Frank’s musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others.” (Magnolia Pictures) Click the image below to watch the trailer.
NEW IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
Synopsis for WBCN AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: Available starting Nov. 25! “WBCN AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION follows a compelling cast of characters as their lives connect and intersect during the rise of the legendary radio station that became both a player in and a platform for the explosive rock ‘n roll counterculture, passionate anti-war movement, and burgeoning civil rights, women’s rights, and gay rights movements. The dramatic and compelling stories in WBCN and The American Revolution are interwoven with the original sights and sounds of the critical events of the late 1960s and early 1970s, thanks to more than 100,000 audio and visual items, many of which were donated to the project by members of the WBCN community and the station’s many listeners and fans. The material includes never before exhibited film shot by Andy Warhol and cinema vérité pioneer Ricky Leacock, images from notable photographers including the late Peter Simon, brother of singer Carly Simon, and Jeff Albertson, as well as aircheck audio from memorable on-air, in-studio moments.” This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device as well as via Chromecast or via an HDMI cable attached to your television. For additional notes regarding connectivity, you can visit the film’s Help Page HERE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
Synopsis for MONSOON: Available Now! “Kit (Henry Golding from CRAZY RICH ASIANS) returns to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time since he was six years old when his family fled the country in the aftermath of the Vietnam-American war. Struggling to make sense of himself in a city he’s no longer familiar with, he embarks on a personal journey across the country that opens up the possibility for friendship, love and happiness.” This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device or via your Roku or AppleTV. For additional information regarding accessibility of the film, please visit this Eventive HELP page. Click the image below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.
Synopsis for MODERN PERSUASION: Now Available! We’re delighted to bring this romantic comedy with a stellar cast (they had us at Bebe Neuwirth and Jenn Harris) and directed by Jonathan Lisecki and Alex Appel to our Virtual Cinema. Lisecki was a special guest several years ago with his hit comedy GAYBY. “A modern telling of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION. Wren Cosgrove is a happy, single, and self-confessed workaholic who, after rising to the top of the corporate ladder, finds herself coming home every night to her cat. When her firm is hired by Owen Jasper, “the man who got away,” long-lost feelings are stirred, giving Wren a second chance at true love.” This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device as well as via Chromecast or via an HDMI cable attached to your television. For additional notes regarding connectivity, you can visit Samuel Goldwyn’s Help page HERE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. We’ll continue to offer crowd-pleasing films like CHUCK LEAVELL: THE TREE MAN, RADIUM GIRLS and THE DONUT KING through Thanksgiving. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.
Wanna know what titles we’re planning in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On Dec. 4, we’ll open two new films – the first is ENDING DISEASE – a documentary that looks at advancements in stem cell therapies and curing the incurable. One subject of the film is Ryan Custer, a former Wright State basketball player who suffered a neck injury. The second film on Dec. 4 is ANOTHER ROUND – Denmark’s highest grossing film in several years and it stars Mads Mikkelsen. On Dec. 9, we’ll open a documentary about the very first days of the COVID outbreak – 76 DAYS (there’s no trailer yet for 76 DAYS, but here’s a CLIP). On December 11, we’re planning to offer a WONG KAR WAI RETROSPECTIVE – full of remastered gems including a personal all-time favorite – IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. Also on December 11, we’re glad that we can finally bring THE LIBRARY THAT DOLLY BUILT – a film we had planned to play in April before global shutdowns. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
Though dates continue to move around, I’m delighted that we are now able to bring a new documentary about Billie Holiday starting next Friday. Stay tuned for more details about BILLIE.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful, safe and warm Thanksgiving.
My best,
Jonathan

Chuck Leavell, A Call to Spy & Hillbilly Elegy News From The Neon

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Audiences absolutely adored THE DONUT KING…and though we’re unable to keep it a second week for in-person screenings, the distributor is allowing us to present it in our Virtual Cinema. It will be available there starting Friday. If you still need to see STEVIE NICKS 24 KARAT GOLD, THE EXORCIST or A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, you’ll need to hurry – tomorrow (Thursday) will be your last chance for these films on the big screen.
On Friday, we will open 2 new films. The star-studded documentary CHUCK LEAVELL: THE TREE KING was made by local director Allen Farst, and the period drama A CALL TO SPY (which will only play for 5 days) is a tribute to some of the women who helped turn the tide of World War II. Next Wednesday, Nov. 11, we will open the highly anticipated Ron Howard film HILLBILLY ELEGY.
In addition to THE DONUT KING, we will off 2 new film in our Virtual Cinema. CITY HALL, rated “100% Fresh,” is being heralded as Frederick Wiseman’s latest masterpiece. RADIUM GIRLS is a fascinating story about an important time in the labor movement. These films will all be available starting Friday.
New Booking for In-Person Screenings
Synopsis for CHUCK LEAVELL: THE TREE KING: Daytonian Allen Farst has a new documentary about a rock’n’roll legend that is filled with big stars…and it opens for one week only at THE NEON this Friday. “Filmed in four countries with more than 80 interviews from artists, CHUCK LEAVELL: THE TREE MAN is the cinematic documentary that shines a light on one of the greatest rock’n roll pianists and keyboardists over the last 40 years. Not just known for his musical influence, Leavell is also one of the biggest names in environmental forestry and was selected the National Tree Farmer of the Year in the United States. His commitment to the planet and his strong family ties are refreshing reminders to be kind and treat your neighbor with respect. As Leavell puts it, ‘if you cut a tree down, plant two for the next guy.’ Featuring: Allman Brothers Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes; Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Woods; President Jimmy Carter; Eric Clapton; Chris Robinson; Mike Mills; Pat Monahan; John Bell; Lee Ann Womack; Bruce Hornsby; John Popper; Bonnie Raitt; Julian Lennon; Charlie Daniels; Miranda Lambert; John Mayer; and David Gilmore, among others”(press notes) Click the image below to visit the film’s official site.
Synopsis for A CALL TO SPY: (IFC Films). 5 DAYS ONLY! “As Great Britain’s forces were stretched thin during World War II, Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive (SOE) began to enlist women as spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. Spymistress Vera Atkins, later the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise, was the chief recruiter for this secret army. Atkins selected two unusual candidates: Virginia Hall, an American journalist from Baltimore hampered by a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan, a wireless officer of Indian descent and an avowed pacifist. Together, they worked to undermine the Nazi regime in France. The courage, sacrifices and grit of these three women helped quell the Nazi occupation.” (IFC Films) Click on the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for HILLBILLY ELEGY: “J.D. Vance (Gabriel Basso), a former Marine from Middletown, Ohio and current Yale Law student, is on the verge of landing his dream job when a family crisis forces him to return to the home he’s tried to forget. J.D. must navigate the complex dynamics of his Appalachian family, including his volatile relationship with his mother Bev (Amy Adams), who’s struggling with addiction. Fueled by memories of his grandmother Mamaw (Glenn Close), the resilient and whip-smart woman who raised him, J.D. comes to embrace his family’s indelible imprint on his own personal journey. Based on J.D. Vance’s #1 New York Times Bestseller and directed by Academy Award winner Ron Howard, HILLBILLY ELEGY is a powerful personal memoir that offers a window into one family’s personal journey of survival and triumph. By following three colorful generations through their unique struggles, J.D.’s family story explores the highs and lows that define his family’s experience.” (taken from Netflix) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. Tickets for Nov. 11 & 12 are on sale now. Additional dates and tickets will be available by early next week!
NEW FILM IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
Synopsis for CITY HALL: Available starting Nov. 6! “Fresh off its high profile screenings at the Venice, Toronto and New York Film Festivals – and featuring a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating – Frederick Wiseman’s latest film arrives at the crux of a major crossroads for our nation. City government touches almost every aspect of our lives. Most of us are unaware of or take for granted these necessary services such as police, fire, sanitation, veterans affairs, elder support, parks, licensing of various professional activities, recordkeeping of birth, marriage and death as well as hundreds of other activities that support Boston residents and visitors. CITY HALL, by Frederick Wiseman, shows the efforts by Boston city government to provide these services. The film also illustrates the variety of ways the city administration enters into civil discourse with the citizens of Boston. Mayor Walsh and his administration are presented addressing a number of their policy priorities which include racial justice, affordable housing, climate action, and homelessness. CITY HALL shows a city government successfully offering a wide variety of services to a diverse population.” (Zipporah Films) This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device or via your Roku or AppleTV. For additional information regarding accessibility of the film, please visit this Eventive HELP page. Click the image below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12 (as an FYI – this film is 4.5 hours, and many critics have said they could have kept going).
Synopsis for RADIUM GIRLS: Available starting Nov. 6! “Teenage sisters, Bessie and Jo, dream of faraway places as they paint glow-in-the-dark watch dials at the American Radium Factory. When Jo loses a tooth, Bessie’s world turns upside down as the mystery of Jo’s disease slowly unravels. Bessie befriends two young activists and in a radical coming of age, she investigates a corporate scandal. Bessie and the ‘Radium Girls’ file a lawsuit against American Radium. The notorious case ultimately led to a lasting impact in the area of workplace health and safety as well as the study of radioactivity.” (Juno Films) This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device or via your Roku or AppleTV. For additional information regarding accessibility of the film, please visit this Eventive HELP page. Click the image below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.
Synopsis for THE DONUT KING: We offered this film in person, and audiences absolutely loved it! And because we’re not able to hold it over and because it’s available to us in a virtual format, we’ll start offering this terrific film in our Virtual Cinema on Friday, Nov. 6. Rated “100% Fresh” on rottentomatoes! “Ted’s story is one of fate, love, survival, hard knocks, and redemption. It’s the rags to riches story of a refugee escaping Cambodia, arriving in America in 1975 and building an unlikely multi-million-dollar empire baking America’s favorite pastry, the donut. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. By 1979 he was living the American Dream. But, in life, great rise can come with great falls.” (Greenwich Entertainment) NEON regular Krystyna wrote, “The Donut King is a most heartwarming documentary…it is one’s man journey as he escapes from his war torn homeland (the historical footage is excellent) achieving the “American Dream” with the creation of his donut empire. The movie is fascinating as it deals with war, immigration, refuge camps, family, infidelity, addiction as it is much more than just about the donut. Do not underestimate this movie as the title is a bit misleading…you will be pleasantly surprised by this gem!!!” Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $12.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
Synopsis for NATIONTIME: “NATIONTIME is the long-lost film that William Greaves made about the National Black Political Convention of 1972, when 10,000 black politicians, activists and artists went to Gary, Indiana, to forge a national unity platform in advance of the Republican and Democratic presidential conventions. The delegates included a wide array of political thinkers.” This film can be watched on your computer or you can watch it on your Roku or AppleTV via the Kino Now app. More questions regarding accessing this film can be found on the bottom of the platform’s page. Click the image below to watch the trailer then gain 5 day access to the film for $10.
Synopsis for MADRE: If you attended the Oscar Nominated Narrative Shorts a couple years ago at THE NEON, then you’ve seen the wonderful short film on which this exquisite Spanish/French dramatic thriller is based. “Elena receives a call from her six-year-old son, who tells her that he is lost on a beach in France…these desperate words of his son were the last that she learned about him…After ten years, her life shakes again when she accidentally meets Gene, a French teenager resembling her son.” This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device or via your Roku or AppleTV. For additional information regarding accessibility of the film, please visit this Eventive HELP page. Click on the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order access for $12 (once you start watching, you’ll have 24 hours to finish). The film will become available on Friday!
Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Click HERE to see all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema.
Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On Nov. 11, we’re partnering with The Dayton Literary Peace Prize to bring a film that speaks to one of their upcoming events. RECON(based on the novel PEACE by Richard Bausch) will be available for you to watch in our Virtual Cinema starting Nov. 11…then on November 16, you can join this wonderful organization’s discussion “Turn the Page: The Legacy of War” – a discussion between Richard Bausch and Andrew Krivak – both prize winners from The Dayton Literary Peace Prize. For details about the special event, click HERE. On November 18, we’ll open MONSOON – a gorgeous film about a man’s personal journey as he returns to his birthplace and struggles to recognize himself in this unfamiliar land. On Dec. 4, we’ll open ENDING DISEASE – a documentary that looks at advancements in stem cell therapies and curing the incurable. One subject of the film is Ryan Custer, a former Wright State basketball player who suffered a neck injury. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
Many, Many thanks to our friends at Toxic Brew and Hole in the Wall – 2 neighborhood bars in the Oregon District. Their special horror film screening on Sunday night raised over $800 for THE NEON! We truly appreciate their generosity…and the crowd had a blast!
We’ve got some great new films on the horizon. AMMONITE, starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan, will open on Nov. 13. The adaptation of August Wilson’s MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, will open on Dec. 4, and George Clooney’s THE MIDNIGHT SKY opens Dec. 11. More Oscar-hopeful titles are being negotiated…stay tuned!
We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan
IN-PERSON SHOWTIMES for Wednesday, Nov. 4 – Thursday, Nov. 12:
STEVE NICKS 24 KARAT GOLD THE CONCERT (NR) 1 Hr 40 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (Nov 4 & 5): 7:00
FINAL DAY – Nov. 5!
THE EXORCIST: EXTENDED DIRECTOR’S CUT (R) 2 Hrs 12 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (Nov 4 & 5): 3:15
FINAL DAY – Nov. 5!
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (R) 1 Hr 31 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (Nov 4 & 5): 7:15
FINAL DAY – Nov. 5!
THE DONUT KING (NR) 1 Hr 30 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (Nov 4 & 5): 3:30
FINAL DAY – Nov. 5!
CHUCK LEAVELL: THE TREE MAN (NR) 1 Hr 43 Min – ONE WEEK ONLY!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Nov 6-8): 1:00, 4:00, 7:15*
(*the 7:15 show is sold out all three weekend nights)
Mon & Tue (Nov 9 & 10): 3:30, 7:15
Wed & Thu (Nov 11 & 12): 3:30
FINAL DAY – Nov. 12!
A CALL TO SPY (PG-13) 2 Hrs 3 Min – 5 DAYS ONLY!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Nov 6-8): 1:15, 4:15, 7:30
Mon & Tue (Nov 9 & 10): 3:15, 7:00
FINAL DAY – Nov. 10!
HILLBILLY ELEGY (R) 1 Hr 56 Min
Wed & Thu (Nov 11 & 12): 3:00, 7:00, 7:30
COMING SOON – In-Person Screenings:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
Nov 13 – AMMONITE
Dec 4 – MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Dec 11 – THE MIDNIGHT SKY
TBD: THE CLIMB
NOMADLAND
MANK
THE FATHER
THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS

This Week at The Neon & The Dayton LGBT Film Fest starts Friday

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Two new films that are already hot with Oscar buzz open this Friday at THE NEON. If you need to see THE WAY I SEE IT (which received rounds of applause this weekend), SAVE YOURSELVES! (the sci-fi/comedy with lots to say about today’s social media obsessed culture), or KAJILLIONAIRE (Miranda July’s latest Sundance hit), you only have until Thursday. ON THE ROCKS and THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 open on Friday!

In our Virtual Cinema, we have two new films. SAUL AND RUBY’S HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND opened today, and AGGIE (about Agnes Gund) opens Friday. More about both of those below.
On top of all that, The 15th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Fest starts Friday! Though most films are virtual, there is also one package of terrific short films that will be offered 4 times in-person at THE NEON. If you’re not interested in a pass that gets you everything…and you just want to support a film or two…I highly recommend the documentaries KEYBOARD FANTASIES (I just bought Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s new album) and AHEAD OF THE CURVE. If you’re more interested in a narrative, fiction film, TWILIGHT’S KISS is one that our regulars would love, and SHIVA BABY is the edgy comedy that has been a big hit on the festival circuit. BREAKING FAST is labeled as “A Ramadan Rom-Com” – and it’s the charming, feel-good film that we’ve chosen to open our festival. If you need a tutorial about how to access films and purchase tickets for the festival, this LINKwill take you to a video I made. Click on the image below to go right to the festival’s official site.
New Bookings for In-Person Screenings:
Synopsis for ON THE ROCKS: “A young New York mother faced with sudden doubts about her marriage teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father to tail her husband. What follows is a sparkling comic adventure across the city—drawing father and daughter closer together despite one detour after another. Acclaimed filmmaker Sofia Coppola brings a light touch to this blend of an exuberant love letter to New York, a generation-clash comedy about how we see relationships differently from our parents, and a funny celebration of the complications that bind modern families even as they tie us in crazy knots. Laura (Rashida Jones) thinks she’s happily hitched, but when her husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) starts logging late hours at the office with a new co-worker, Laura begins to fear the worst. She turns to the one man she suspects may have insight: her charming, impulsive father Felix (Bill Murray), who insists they investigate the situation. As the two begin prowling New York at night, careening from uptown parties to downtown hotspots, they discover at the heart of their journey lies their own relationship.” Click the image below to watch the trailer.
Synopsis for THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7: Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (THE WEST WING), this film with a stellar cast is already getting major Oscar buzz! “The film follows the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It features an ensemble cast that includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Daniel Flaherty, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Noah Robbins, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, and Jeremy Strong. Sorkin originally wrote the screenplay in 2007, with the intent of Steven Spielberg directing the film with mostly unknown actors. After the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike and budget concerns forced Spielberg to drop out as director, Sorkin was announced as director in October 2018, and much of the cast joined that same month.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
New in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for SAUL AND RUBY’S HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND: Available now! “Like many survivors of the Holocaust, after World War II, Saul and Ruby moved to America, started families and careers, grew old, and retired to South Florida. For them, retirement could have been the last chapter in their story. But then they decided to start a klezmer band, named the Holocaust Survivor Band. The band summons the bittersweet memories of childhood in Poland, but more than that, it is a celebration of life. In this utterly heart-affecting and enthralling film, we follow Saul and Ruby’s musical journey, which begins in total obscurity, playing in residential homes for the elderly and small Jewish community organizations, to being invited to perform at venues across the country, including a coveted performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. This unique and compelling story is about having the courage to live one’s dreams, finding purpose and meaning in life at any age, the transcendent power of music, and the importance of speaking out against anti-Semitism and bigotry.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and then gain access to the film for $12.
Synopsis for AGGIE: Available Starting Oct. 9! “AGGIE is a feature-length documentary that explores the nexus of art, race, and justice through the story of art collector and philanthropist Agnes “Aggie” Gund’s life. Emmy-nominated director Catherine Gund focuses on her mother’s journey to give viewers an understanding of the power of art to transform consciousness and inspire social change. Aggie is internationally recognized for her robust and prescient support of artists–particularly women and people of color–and her unwavering commitment to social justice issues. After falling in love with art as a high-school student, Aggie discovers a new way of looking at the world. The film opens with Aggie selling Roy Lichtenstein’s “Masterpiece” For $165 million to start the Art for Justice Fund. The proceeds from one of the highest grossing artworks ever sold fuel a monumental effort to reform the American criminal justice system and end mass incarceration. The film captures Aggie as a true maverick who demonstrates the unique role and potential of collectors and benefactors to use art to fight justice. This is untapped terrain, and we see Aggie leading the way.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and then preorder access to the film for $12. (The film will be available starting this Friday!)
Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for ONCE UPON A RIVER: “Based on the best-selling novel by Bonnie Jo Campbell, ONCE UPON A RIVER is the story of Native American teenager Margo Crane in 1970s rural Michigan. After enduring a series of traumas and tragedies, Margo (newcomer Kenadi DelaCerna) sets out on an odyssey on the Stark River in search of her estranged mother. Jane Smiley for The New York Times wrote, ‘an excellent American parable about the consequences of our favorite ideal, freedom.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and unlock the film for $12.
Synopsis for THE DISRUPTED: “What do a farmer in Kansas, a laid-off factory worker in Ohio, and an Uber driver in Florida have in common? All three are resourceful, positive thinkers who strive to adapt and thrive despite dehumanizing forces at play in the American economy. As the film’s heroes face these roadblocks with courage, certain ideals remain sacred: family, love, and staying strong in the face of adversity.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and unlock the film for $12.
A customer recently asked me to repost instructions as to how to use our Virtual Cinema. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how it all works. Click HERE to see all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema.
Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On Oct. 14, we’ll open MY NAME IS PEDRO – an inspiring documentary about a teacher and how transformative a single person can be to the community at large. On Oct. 16, we’ll open the sweet and funny DATING AMBER. On Oct. 21, we’ll open the festival hit MAJOR ARCANA, and on Oct. 28, we’ll open the recently restored (both in quality and length) important documentary from William Greaves – NATIONTIME (trailer will be available soon). On Nov. 6, we’ll open Fredrick Wiseman’s new highly acclaimed doc CITY HALL. We’re still trying to nail down RADIUM GIRLS and other titles…so stay tuned!
As a reminder…tickets for STEVIE NICKS 24 KARAT GOLD THE CONCERT are on sale now. Current scheduled shows are for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7:00 and Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:00 and 7:00. If you’re a Stevie fan, you don’t need more than an announcement to get your tickets…but if you’re not sure, here’s a TRAILER.
Local filmmaker and author Mathew Klickstein has a new book hitting the shelves, so we’re taking a look at a film that he produced & directed about the same kids.”ACT YOUR AGE: THE KIDS OF WIDNEY HIGH STORY (2010) is a rollicking rollercoaster of a rowdy ride up the West Coast during the world-famous Kids of Widney High’s 2008 headlining tour from Los Angeles to Seattle and back. Intimately chronicled through a punk-influenced DIY ‘video diary’ lens, ACT YOUR AGE takes the viewer into the green rooms, hotel rooms, bars, onstage and into the road-tripping van of the Kids, a group of singer-songwriters with developmental disabilities initially based out of an East Los Angeles special-ed music program.
This new tenth anniversary edition of ACT YOUR AGE has been polished and remastered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking Americans with Disabilities Act and the release of the Kids’ first book, THE KIDS OF WIDNEY JUNIOR HIGH TAKE OVER THE WORLD!, out in stores now. Come see the world through the eyes of a ‘Kid.’ ACT YOUR AGE director/producer Mathew Klickstein – a longtime author/filmmaker/journalist and recent transplant to Dayton – will be in-person for a brief introduction and follow-up Q&A after the film.” (taken from press notes) Tickets, $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors, are now available on our website.
Because distributors continue to push back their titles, we will have more weeks when we need to explore some classics. So on Oct. 23, we’re going to take a look at some early favorites from Tim Burton – PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE and BEETLEJUICE. Please help us spread the word…these should be a lot of fun. (Maybe even free prizes for people who ride their bikes to THE NEON for Pee Week!! We’ll see.)

KAJILLIONAIRE Opens, Honoring RBG, and Big Titles Coming To The Neon

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We’ve lost an amazing woman and a marvelous judge on the Supreme Court, and we want to honor her achievements by bringing back the hit documentary RBG to the big screen for a handful of special screenings.  This return engagement will start Friday!
Additionally, we will open Miranda July’s new film – KAJILLIONAIRE – starring Evan Rachel Wood, Debra Winger, Richard Jenkins and Gina Rodriguez.  The pictures below are a couple photos that I quickly snapped while at Sundance in January.  Miranda has a unique and fascinating voice as a filmmaker and storyteller, and this quirky film is full of surprises.  If you’re a person who still listens to and loves vinyl, you can enter our contest to win a lovely vinyl soundtrack from this film by posting a picture of your favorite soundtrack on your facebook or instagram page and tagging @neonmovies.
Lastly, in our Virtual Cinema, we just added the wonderful documentary OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE, and on Friday, we’ll add a touchingly beautiful film THE ARTIST’S WIFE starring Lena Olin and Bruce Dern.
I’ve got some fun news about what’s coming down the road for in-person engagements.  Next Friday, we will open SAVE YOURSELVES! – a hit from this year’s Sundance.  On Oct. 9, we’ll open both ON THE ROCKS from Sofia Coppola (with Bill Murray!) and THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 from Aaron Sorkin!
As a reminder…tickets for STEVIE NICKS 24 KARAT GOLD THE CONCERT are on sale now.  Current scheduled shows are for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7:00 and Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:00 and 7:00.
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New Bookings for In-Person Screenings:
Synopsis for KAJILLIONAIRE: “From acclaimed writer/director Miranda July comes a profoundly moving and wildly original comedy. Con-artists Theresa (Debra Winger) and Robert (Richard Jenkins) have spent 26 years training their only daughter, Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood), to swindle, scam, and steal at every opportunity. During a desperate, hastily conceived heist, they charm a stranger (Gina Rodriguez) into joining their next scam, only to have their entire world turned upside down.” (Focus Features) Click the image below to visit the film’s official site.
Synopsis for RBG: We’ve lost a true American hero, and we’re celebrating her life by bringing back the fantastic documentary about her life! “At the age of 85, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had developed a lengthy legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. But the unique personal journey of her rise to the nation’s highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans – until now. RBG explores Ginsburg’s life and career.” (Magnolia Pictures) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
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New in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE: “This wonderful documentary explores the life and work of the legendary neurologist and storyteller, as he shares intimate details of his battles with drug addiction, homophobia, and a medical establishment that accepted his work only decades after the fact. Sacks was a fearless explorer of unknown mental worlds who helped redefine our understanding of the brain and mind, the diversity of the human experience, and our shared humanity.” (Zeitgeist Films) VARIETY wrote, “A portrait of the poetic neurologist of AWAKENINGS, shot at the end of his life, [which] takes a tender and thrilling look at the sacred demons that drove him.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $12.
Synopsis for THE ARTIST’S WIFE: Available starting September 25! “Claire (Lena Olin) lives a domestic life in the Hamptons as the wife of celebrated artist Richard Smythson (Bruce Dern). Once a promising painter herself, Claire now lives in the shadow of her husband’s illustrious career. While preparing work for his final show, Richard’s moods become increasingly erratic, and he is diagnosed with dementia. As his memory and behavior deteriorate, she shields his condition from the art community while trying to reconnect him with his estranged daughter and grandson from a previous marriage. Challenged by the loss of her world as she knew it, Claire must now decide whether to stand with Richard on the sidelines or step into the spotlight herself.” Click the image below to pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12.  You can watch the trailer HERE.
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Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for BLACKBIRD: Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Sam Neill, Mia Wasikowska, Rainn Wilson and Lindsay Duncan star in this festival favorite! “Unresolved feelings surface when a mother summons her family for one final reunion as she looks to end her battle with a terminal illness.” Click on the image below to view the trailer and order access to the film.
Synopsis for ETERNAL BEAUTY: “When Jane (Sally Hawkins) is dumped at the altar she has a breakdown and spirals into a chaotic world, where love (both real and imagined) and family relationships collide with both touching and humorous consequences.” Click the image below to order access to the film.
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Wanna know what’s coming down the road in our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.)  On October 2, we’ll open the award-winning coming-of-age film ONCE UPON A RIVER as well as a new documentary with Ohio connections – THE DISRUPTED. A really wonderful documentary – SAUL AND RUBY’S HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND will open on Oct. 7, and on Oct. 9, we’ll have a film that art lovers will adore – AGGIE – a film about philanthropist Agnes Gund. On Oct 14, we’ll begin a film called MY NAME IS PEDRO – an inspiring documentary about a teacher and how transformative a teacher can be to the community at large. More to come!
Next Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11:00am until 4:00pm, many businesses in downtown Dayton will have a Sidewalk Sale.  We decided to join in this time with the help of some friends.  We’ll have our popcorn available for folks who would rather not come inside…and we’ve invited Pink Moon Goods to come set up shop for the afternoon.  Pink Moon Goods is an exciting new retail business in Dayton.  Their selection of home goods is curated and includes items that combine skill, intelligence, and virtue for ethical living.  If you are looking for new ways to reduce waste at home, support small businesses who value and respect protecting the environment, or some good old fashion socially conscious retail therapy there is sure to be something at Pink Moon Goods for you.  You can check them out on Instagram – @pinkmoongoods.
“All Access” passes and single “tickets” for all virtual presentations of The 15th Annual Dayton LGBT Film Festival are now on sale.  We had to make a major pivot this year to make the festival happen – so about 90% of it will take place virtually.  A $50 pass will get you access to all 6 virtual screenings (5 features and a package of shorts) as well as 2 tickets to our one in-person package – TOP DRAWER SHORTS VOL #2.  The line-up is strong, and we’re still ironing out lots of details (virtual filmmaker Q&A’s, video work with our sponsors, etc.).  Click the image below to check out all of our selections.  The festival is set for Oct. 9-15. Virtual components will be accessible to anyone in Ohio…so please help spread the word.  If you need a little help figuring it all out, I’ve created a tutorial video that is viewable HERE. (The image below is from the short film THE SHAWL– playing in TOP DRAWER SHORTS VOL #2.)
We hope to see you soon!
Be safe & well.
My best,
Jonathan