The Hudson Valley is a movie lovers paradise! There are cinemas that show multi-million dollar blockbusters, drive-ins for those waxing nostalgic, and film festivals for the truly dedicated film lovers. Here is just a bit of what the Hudson Valley has to offer when you’re in the mood for a flick!
Located in the heart of Rhinebeck, Upstate Films (www.upstatefilms.org) opened in 1972 and provides an alternative to the larger theaters. Upstate is a great place to see independents, internationals, documentaries, animations, experimentals, foreigns, and silents.
Upstate Films
Upstate Films has grown since it opened, from a three-person staffed cinema that only showcased films for the weekend crowd, to a staff of seven. It is open seven days a week year-round and the facility has more than 700 shows per year.
In September, Upstate Films showcased such flicks as “It 
Might Get Loud,” a movie that brings together three generations of electric guitar rock stars - Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, The Edge of U2, and Jack White of the White Stripes - to reveal their roots, show off favorite guitars, and jam and rock the house. Also on the calendar was the heartbreaking movie, “The Cove” about the heinous mistreatment of dolphins.
The cinema benefits from memberships and private donations and has also received funding from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Upstate also offers a guest speaker series where film & video makers and professionals – including directors, editors, directors of photography, sound personnel, production designers, and writers – discuss their work with the audience. For example, in September, Fred Nagel, chairman of the Dutchess Peace Coalition, was a special guest speaker and discussed the film,
“The Day After Peace,” a movie that centers on how, after member states of the UN unanimously adopt Peace Day, the struggle isn’t over and there hasn’t been a cease fire, so what now? These discussions are a great way to meet the people behind-thescenes, to learn about the moviemaking business and about the role of films in our society. You can visit the website and sign up for a newsletter to keep up-to-date on what movies will be released.
Neversink Valley Area Museum
The Neversink Valley Area Museum (www.neversinkmuseum.org) is located in the D&H Canal Park on Rt. 209 in Cuddebackville. Founded in 1967 by a group of concerned citizens, the museum focuses on preserving and interpreting the history of the Neversink Valley. The museum also showcases several movies a year and exhibits through their Institute for Early Film Studies, which explores the history of early films, especially those made in our region.
They also offer lectures on film topics and screenings, and are building a library of films, books and artifacts pertaining to early motion picture making. One exhibition illustrates the development of early film making, focusing on films made in the Tri-State area up to 1915. The film industry was centered in New York City during these early years, and many short and feature silent films were made throughout the counties.
The museum also published Movies Before Hollywood: A Legacy of Film Making in the Tri-State Area, and the Institute’s for Early Film Studies’ director, Seth Goldman, has held discussions on women in the film industry where he discussed such legends as Mary Pickford, Florence Turner, Ida Lupino, Dorothy Arzer and Anita Loos.
Woodstock Film Festival
If you missed it this year, don’t worry, you can still catch miss the Woodstock Film Festival (www.woodstockfilmfestival.com) next year! The annual Festival includes more than 150 films, panels, concerts and special events in Woodstock and the neighboring towns of Kingston, Rhinebeck and Rosendale. The Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and presented 50 premiers and 10 world premiers. Stay on top of the upcoming events by signing up for their newsletter.
Downing Film Center
The Downing Film Center at Yellow Bird opened in 2006 with the film “WATER!” Downing is located on the festive Newburgh Waterfront in The Yellow Bird Building, a former 1925 furniture warehouse restored in 2005.
The Center specializes in foreign, and classic movies. The screening room is open six nights a week and, in October, will show “Against the Current” starring Joseph Fiennes, Justin Kirk, Elizabeth Reaser and Mary Tyler Moore. The film focuses on a man struggling with a tragic past, who enlists two friends to help him swim the length of the Hudson River (from Troy to NYC).
Also showing in October is “Bright Star,” based on the threeyear romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by Keats' untimely death at age 25.
Fun at the drive-in
Contrary to popular belief, drive-in movie theaters still exist, even right here in the Hudson Valley. It’s a fun and exiting way to watch any movie with your family and friends on a huge screen! According to the website (www.driveinmovie.com) New York State was one of the first ten American states to host a Drive-in movie theatre. The first drive in was opened in opened August, 1938 in Valley Stream, Long Island. Today, New York remains one of the top five drive-in states, with nearly 30 drive-ins that remain lit.
HiWay Drive-in, Coxsackie (518-731-8672): all four screens are lit with a different double feature from April thru October, on weekends only in the Fall.
Fair Oaks Drive-in, Middletown (845-361-5774): Capacity for up to
800 cars. Screen one is the larger of the two screens. Both screens are lit with a double feature, seasonally, from late-April thru September; on weekends only during Fall.
Overlook Drive-in, Poughkeepsie (845-452-3445): Largest movie screen of any kind for the New York metropolitan area. Many people sit on the vast grassy fields under the huge movie screen on blankets and lawnchairs. Catch them soon, their season ends in mid-October.
Warwick Drive-in, Warwick (845-986-4440): has three screens playing from mid-March thru October, every night of the week.
Lisa Iannucci will always say yes when invited to see a movie.