Your journey begins with The Fellowship of the Ring at Noon. There will be a 30 minute break before The Two Towers at roughly 3:00 pm. Following that film, there will be a 60 minute break for dinner at 6:30 pm before The Return of the King at 7:30 pm. The full program should exit by 11:00 pm.
The Lord of the Rings is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential film series ever made. Each film was critically acclaimed, with high praise for their innovative special effects, acting, set design, musical score and emotional depth, and heavily awarded, the series winning 17 Academy Awards.
Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, the trilogy follows the hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and the Fellowship embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring, to ensure the destruction of its maker, the Dark Lord Sauron. The Fellowship eventually splits up and Frodo continues the quest with his loyal companion Sam and the treacherous Gollum. Meanwhile, Aragorn, heir in exile to the throne of Gondor, along with Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Merry, Pippin and the wizard Gandalf, unite to save the Free Peoples of Middle-earth from the forces of Sauron and rally them in the War of the Ring to aid Frodo by distracting Sauron’s attention.
Of course, nothing is certain in these times and dates may change.
So keep an eye on this space or at slfstix.org for any new additions to the schedule. We still have some surprise announcements coming soon…
And don’t forget Summer Showdown every Friday and Saturday night! We will be finishing up with some classics that you don’t want to miss on the big screen.
We have all seen films that have changed us, whether by shifting our perspective or making us think about their themes and stories for days on end. But an important question remains; can film really make a positive difference in the world? As a non-profit that seeks to amplify diversity and support social progress in our community through film, Salt Lake Film Society would definitely say “yes” to that question. However, the reality is a bit more nuanced; films do not vote or pay taxes, nor do they determine policy, constitutional rights, or election results. But crucially, they have the power and potential to inspire those who do.
“The purpose of civilization and growth is to be able to reach out and empathize a little bit with other people… the movies are like a machine that generates empathy. They let you understand a little bit more about different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears.”
Roger Ebert
This quote from the famed movie critic Roger Ebert defines our philosophy at SLFS, and the impact of cinema that we believe in. Independent films that exhibit unique stories and amplify diverse voices help cultivate a more sympathetic community, full of people aware of the issues and inequalities in our society, and as curious as they are impassioned to do something about it. A group of inspired people can change the world, and that’s why our independent theaters strive to play independent films that educate, advocate, and inspire people everyday.
Independent Film – A Machine of Empathy and Accessibility
How exactly does film help though? What makes film a potential tool for social good? Well firstly, movies are accessible. The variability of human experiences that the film medium can present and represent makes it a highly approachable form of art for all types of people from all types of backgrounds. Watching a film on the big screen is also easier than ever, as most theaters offer a wide selection of showtimes, all day, everyday, at fairly affordable rates. There seems to be a visual story out there for just about everyone; almost every person has a favorite film, and rarely are they the same.
Oscar-winning director Guy Nattiv, at a Q&A with SLFS CEO, Tori Baker
But more importantly, the diversity of visual stories that film can tell leads to a nearly unavoidable exchange of ideas, culture, and human experiences. Film pares down these large, intricate concepts or issues into approachable encounters with your fellow human beings, giving audience members an emotional glimpse into the lives, aspirations, and suffering of other people. Every film is a machine capable of producing this empathetic epiphany that Ebert describes, and this effect is only intensified when we share a film in a theater with others. A thoughtful film can make us feel closer and more connected to the people in our society, and also more aware of the struggles and prejudices they may face.
Furthermore, this type of film can foster a vital introspection and advocacy regarding the disadvantages that many marginalized people experience and suffer from. Independent films are some of the most common contributors of diverse and galvanizing stories. The proper telling of an underrepresented story on the big screen can play a pivotal part in the educational fight against bigotry and systemic oppression; movies are made by people, for people, and the more we can expose everyone to the lives, decisions, and experiences of others, the more progress we can make towards constructing an aware and empathetic society.
Salt Lake Film Society – Independent Theaters
The front of Broadway Centre Cinemas, showcasing our marquee for February 2021
At Salt Lake Film Society, our mission revolves around educating, advocating, and informing both about, and through cinema, especially independent film. Independent films consistently emphasize giving their audience this glimpse into the lives of others, and our goal is to show as many of these diverse and thought-provoking movies as possible.
Through independent film and the independent theaters we operate, we help cultivate a local community filled with compassionate and curious people, who are willing to learn and listen and ultimately do something about the problems they are made aware of. There’s no better place in Salt Lake City to experience consistent access to independent film than Broadway Center Cinemas or the Tower Theater. Take a step towards understanding the life of another, and come see a movie that might just inspire you.
The Tanner Humanities Center and Salt Lake Film Society are excited to welcome you back to the Broadway to relaunch our beloved presentations of National Theatre Live . We will kick off the season in August 2022 with a screening of the Royal National Theatre in London’s production of Shakespeare’s Henry V, and we will offer nine additional screenings of classic and contemporary plays throughout the year.
“National Theatre Live launched in June 2009 with a broadcast of the National Theatre production of Phèdre with Helen Mirren. Broadcasts have now been experienced by over 5.5 million people in over 2,000 venues around the world. Past broadcasts from the National Theatre have included The Audience starring Helen Mirren; Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller; Man and Superman with Ralph Fiennes; Yerma starring Billie Piper, Macbeth starring Kenneth Branagh, and Follies starring Imelda Staunton.
Each broadcast is filmed in front of a live audience in the theatre and cameras are carefully positioned throughout the auditorium to ensure that cinema audiences get the ‘best seat in the house’ view. Where these cameras are placed is different for each broadcast to make sure that cinema audiences enjoy the best possible experience every time.
Venues view the broadcasts ‘as live’ according to their time zone or at a later date – which is where we come in. The Tanner Humanities Center started broadcasting National Theatre Live productions in 2010 at the University of Utah’s historic Post Theatre. Shortly thereafter, screenings moved to Tower Theatre before finally landing at Salt Lake Film Society‘s Broadway Centre Cinemas in downtown Salt Lake.”
Join us on Friday 6/24 for an in-person Q&A with director Emilie Mahdavian following the 7:15 pm screening of Bitterbrush.
In the documentary, opening Friday at Broadway, In the remote and rugged mountains of the American West, two young women contemplate the future as they work alone herding cattle. Get tickets now here-> Bitterbrush.
Emelie Mahdavian is an Emmy, Peabody, and Sundance Award-winning filmmaker who was selected for DOCNYC’s 2020 “40 Under 40” list. Her nonfiction feature BITTERBRUSH screened at Telluride Film Festival, Doc Fortnight at the MoMA, won a Special Jury Prize at Visions du Réel, and is being released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures. She produced, wrote, and edited MIDNIGHT TRAVELER, which won numerous international prizes and was nominated for a Gotham Award for Best Documentary. She has a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis and is Assistant Professor of Film and Media Arts at the University of Utah.
Happy Pride 2022! SLFS has a commitment to showcase stories from all communities, and to be a safe place for people to come together and share in the art of film. May these stories and many future artists stories through cinema fuel our dreams, ignite our conscience, and spark our community in ways that ebb the tide of bigotry, hate, and war.
Don’t Miss This June 2022->
GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT – ONE NIGHT ONLY on 6/22
THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT One Night Only 6/24
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH One Night Only 6/25
Throughout the month we will be showcasing LGBTQIA filmmakers and cinema on our social media, so be sure to follow us! We also will have some cool merchandise available coming soon to show support for all communities.
Every Wednesday we will be screening all films with Open Captioning. This is a part of our mission to provide independent film to all in our community. Please note that some films do not have open captioning available. We’ll let you know if a film does not have open captioning available.
