New York City Film

Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (www.filmforum.org), A mainstay of New York's film scene since the early 1970s, the Film Forum has been tireless in its attempts to provide a consistently unique and innovative screening schedule. Unique premieres of films that will only open in a few other theaters across the country occur in the midst of weeks-long “revivals and repertory” series organized around classic Hollywood's great directors, great foreign directors and movements, and other thematic and historical groupings. Only the best and newest prints are used, so this is the perfect place to discover (or rediscover) classics and unknown gems from decades past. The Forum also hosts talks, signings, and other events related to the revivals. Tickets $12. Showtimes vary; check website for details. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
Bryant Park Film Festival, Bryant Park (www.bryantpark.org), On Monday nights during the summer, HBO and Time Warner Cable show a free movie at sundown in Bryant Park. Movie selections generally include crowd-pleasing classics such as Bonnie and Clyde and T Monty Python and the Holy Grail. BYOP (Bring Your Own Popcorn). Free. Movies M nights at sundown. Wheelchair access.
Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St. (www.filmlinc.com), Nestled in the Samuel B. and David Rose building of Lincoln Center, the Walter Reade Theater is home to the International Human Rights Watch Film Festival in June and the New York Film Festival in September and October. $12, students and seniors $8. Box office opens M-F at 12:30pm, Sa-Su 1hr. before first screening. Closes 15min. after the start of the final show. Box office closes at 6pm if there are no evening screenings. Tickets also available online at Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
New York Film Festival, Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St. (www.filmlinc.nyff), For almost 50 years, the most compelling new films have been shown at this festival. The character of the lineup changes from year to year; sometimes there is a large mainstream presence, sometimes films are almost exclusively independent. For the most part, however, people expect to munch their popcorn in front of independent and foreign films (the 2009 festival included works from 17 different countries). A noted portion of the festival is Views from the Avant-Garde, which features non-narrative, experimental film. $12, students and seniors $8. Late Sept/early Oct box office opens M-F at 12:30pm, Sa-Su 1hr. before first screening. Closes 15min. after the start of the final show. Box office closes at 6pm if there are no evening screenings. Tickets also available online at Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Ziegfeld, 141 W. 54th St. (www.clearviewcinemas.com), Named after a Broadway theater, the Ziegfield is a 1131-seat single-screen movie palace. As the largest single-screen cinema in New York, the Ziegfield is often used for ritzy film premiers and events. Showtimes vary. Box office opens 30min. before first show of the day. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Angelika Film Center, 18 West Houston St. (www.angelikafilmcenter.com), The Angelika is one of several downtown cinema luminaries specializing in all things foreign and indie. Their unmissable corner location is matched by a grand interior lobby defined by a chandelier suspended above sofas, all of it geared toward classy discussion of the artsy Swedish horror flick you just watched. The food bar is far better than most: in addition to the usual popcorn and sweets, you can get coffee, pastries, and vegan food. Tickets $13. Showtimes vary; check website for details. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
IFC Center, 323 6th Ave. (www.ifccenter.com), Like its nearby cousin, the Film Forum, the IFC Center showcases a unique blend of new, foreign, indie, and documentary releases along with historical retrospectives devoted to great directors or movie genres. The theater is only a few years old—it opened in the former Waverly Theater—and holds true to the IFC's quirky ethic. Short films precede every feature, cult classics show midnights on Fridays and Saturdays, and “weekend classics” show at 11pm from Fridays to Sundays. Every cinéaste should be satisfied. Tickets $12.50. Showtimes vary; check schedule for details. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St. (www.cinemavillage.com), Cinema Village's location is quite distinctive: housed in a small, blue building sandwiched between taller neighbors, it immediately tries to distance itself from the usual. Its selection of films is predictably eclectic. Only the most obscure indie and foreign films qualify, often making this theater the only place to catch them in the city. Check their online schedule for events and unique, short-time screenings. Tickets $11, students $8. Showtimes vary; check website for details. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
Landmark's Sunshine Cinema, 143 E. Houston St., between Forsyth and Eldridge St. (www.landmarktheatres.com">www.moviefone.com'>www.landmarktheatres.com, tickets www.moviefone.com), It wouldn't be the Lower East Side without vegan cookies and an espresso bar at the concessions stand. See foreign and independent films to your heart's content at this renovated vaudeville house, declared “Best Theater for Cult Films” by Time Out New York. The theater shows movies of the 2001: A Space Odyssey ilk Friday and Saturday nights at the witching hour. $12.50, seniors $9, midnight screenings $10. Showtimes vary; check website for details. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (www.anthologyfilmarchives.org), Opened in 1969 by a group of cineastesand experimental filmmakers (including Stan Brakhage), the Anthology focuses on the margins of film—from obscure foreign works to little-known indie premieres to the latest in avant-garde cinema. Their “Essential Cinema” series is a set of 330 titles that attempt to “define the art of cinema.” The theater also publishes books and DVDs and engages in film preservation work. Tickets $9, essential cinema screenings $8, students $7. Box office opens 30min. before day's 1st show. Check website for showtimes. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access.
BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave. (www.bam.org), Part of the old and expansive Brooklyn Academy of Music performance center, this acclaimed theater screens everything from mainstream releases to indie films to historical retrospectives. Special events often bring in filmmakers themselves. The theaters themselves are beautifully designed, making the trip to Brooklyn worth it. Tickets $12, matinees $7.50. Check website for showtimes. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
92 Y Tribeca, 200 Hudson St (www.92ytribeca.org), The downtown branch of the 92nd Street Y, this new cultural center is a younger, retooled version of the famous Jewish-focused uptown institution. In addition to a restaurant, a live music space, a dance hall, lecture halls, and art galleries, the space also hosts a tiny, 72-seat cinema. The offerings range from American indies to foreign faves, with a healthy sampling of short films. Screenings $12. Check website for showtimes. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.