24 Jan Philadelphia Organization Spotlight: Lightbox Film Center

BY ANDRE CHERRY

The cinéSPEAK Journal publishes a monthly Philadelphia Organization Spotlight highlighting a  local film or moving image focused organization, business, or collective doing unique and  impactful work.

For more than 40 years, local cinephiles seeking an alternative to mainstream films have  frequented Lightbox Film Center (LFC) as a destination to view independent films. LFC was formerly known as The Neighborhood Film/Video Project and prides itself as Philadelphia’s first cinema to focus exclusively on independent and international films.  

Lightbox plays a crucial role in advancing local access to emerging filmmakers and engaging  audiences around social and political issues. Over their four decades of existence, Lightbox Film Center has hosted filmmakers and artists including Richard Kern, Robert Downey Sr.,  Derek Boshier, and Lizzie Borden, among many others.

cinéSPEAK asked Jesse Pires, Director of Lightbox Film Center, about how LFC is helping to promote film in the general public, the transformative power cinema wields over an audience, and the various ways people can get involved at LFC.  

cinéSPEAK: What impact do you hope your organization has in the Philadelphia community?  

LFC: We hope our programs present a wider spectrum of moving image histories/cultures that  allow audiences to appreciate cinema as more than just popular entertainment.  

As reported on the LFC website, the organization was founded in 1979. LFC screens 500 films annually to a total of 22,000 audience members. LFC also offers 234 film programs each year. 

cinéSPEAK: In what way do you view cinema?  

LFC: We believe cinema is a powerful tool for understanding our world and enables new ways  of connecting the past, present, and future. 

Lightbox’s vision is to “advance underrepresented and unexpected modes and makers of moving image art. Building a community around a shared reverence for cinema, Lightbox celebrates the projected image as a framework for diverse ideas and perspectives. Lightbox programs inspire discourse, invite exploration and challenge the status quo.”

cinéSPEAK: What are some of the programs or opportunities at LFC that folks can get  involved in?  

LFC: The best way to get involved is to attend a screening. For those interested in a broader engagement with film and filming, UArts has a wide variety of programs to further this experience.  

cinéSPEAK: What is unique about your organization within the Philadelphia landscape?

LFC: Lightbox is an exhibitor of classic “arthouse/repertory” films along with a wide variety of  more challenging moving image works with a focus on lesser-seen films. We have also recently  begun a film preservation project thanks to a generous gift.  

cinéSPEAK: What is one thing the general public might not know about LFC?  

LFC: Lightbox is now part of the University of the Arts.  

According to the Lightbox website, “In 2017, the program was renamed Lightbox Film Center to create more visibility and better position itself for the next era of moving-image presentation. After announcing the intention to sell the building, International House facilitated the transfer of Lightbox Film Center to The University of the Arts where it continues film programming at 401 South Broad Street beginning in 2020.”

cinéSPEAK: Does LFC have anything exciting coming up soon?  

LFC: UArts is currently planning to construct a new screening room which will be the new home of Lightbox.  

cinéSPEAK: Is there anything else you would like us to know about LFC? 

LFC: Lightbox offers several very affordable ways to become a member which allows  individuals to attend a year’s worth of programs at no extra cost. 

Upcoming Events at LFC:  

JLG in Six: In Memoriam Jean-Luc Godard: During the month of February, LFC will present  six films from iconic French-Swiss director Jean-Luc Godard. Godard is regarded as a pioneer  of the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s. LFC describes this six-film survey as “a  mere glimpse of JLG’s revolutionary craft and singular vision.”  

Flaming Ears (New Restoration): As described on the LFC website, “Flaming Ears is a pop  sci-fi lesbian extravaganza set in the year 2700 in the fictional burned-out city of Asche that  follows the tangled lives of three women… This story of obsession and revenge is also an anti-romantic plea for love in all its many forms.”  

In addition to presenting a robust calendar of events, LFC’s theater also hosts film festivals and  programs in partnership with regional organizations including BlackStar Film Festival,  Exhumed Films, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival,  Scribe Video Center, Intercultural Journeys, and University of Pennsylvania Cinema and Media  Studies.  

Check out LFC’s website for more updates!  

*Featured Image: Still from Every Man for Himself, Directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Courtesy of The Film Desk.

Would you like your organization to be featured in a future spotlight? Please fill out the  Philadelphia Organization Spotlight form. The cinéSPEAK Journal maintains sole discretion over  the publishing of any information provided via the form.Questions: journal@cinespeak.org.

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Andre Cherry’s love of storytelling compels him to create art. He is a cinéSPEAK Fellow, background actor, and writer. His screenplays have placed within the Austin Film Festival and Stowe Story Labs. Andre, who originally hails from the Chicagoland area, quickly grew to love Philadelphia after moving to the area in 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Illinois State University.