If you’re looking for a way to spend those long summer days, the Hippodrome State Theatre is hosting limited movie screenings to draw audiences throughout the summer.
Jason Potak, the cinema director at the Hippodrome, said although film distributors approach the Hippodrome with their films, a lot of the selection process is personally choosing films he’s excited to see.
“What it comes to, for me, is looking at directors that I have some history with — I’ve enjoyed their films, and I’m excited for their next film,” he said.
The Hippodrome will be showing “Saving Banksy” on Monday and Tuesday in partnership with the Thomas Center Galleries exhibition “Uncontainable.”
The exhibition is centered around 20th century street art, the diffusion of graffiti art and features several artists including Cuban muralist Juan Travieso.
“Saving Banksy,” which released in January, follows the rise in notoriety of graffiti artist, Banksy, and the struggles of being acknowledged in the art world.
Following the Tuesday screening, audience members will have the opportunity to partake in a Q&A session with the film’s executive producer, Brian Greif.
Potak said the Hippodrome’s audience is willing to see the films they have selected not only because of their entertainment value, but also because of the value of the film’s plot.
“Our audience, basically, tends to be pretty open and receptive to what we’re showing,” Potak said. “There’s no other places to see films like that.”
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” will also be shown at the Hippodrome for a limited screening June 24. Potak said he chose the film, which was originally released in 1966, not only based on how entertaining it is but how influential the premise is.
“For anyone in any age demographic, it’s a great film to see,” Potak said. “Anyone could walk away and feel impacted by it.”
Potak said the Hippodrome is different from other movie-watching venues in Gainesville because of the welcoming atmosphere.
“It’s an independent cinema,” Potak said. “We are able to do a lot and do it in a way that’s personal. It’s not going to a giant theater and seeing ‘Wonder Woman’ or ‘Baby Driver’ — it’s more intimate than that.”
The Hippodrome is currently showing “Your Name” and “Colossal,” with other films, including “Graduation”, “I, Daniel Blake,” and “It Comes At Night” premiering at the theater throughout June.
For more information about tickets and showtimes, visit this link.
