The news of Films Streams’ plan to add a second location at the Dundee Theater was met with positive responses from leaders in Omaha’s film community.
On Wednesday, Film Streams announced the project to restore the Dundee Theater, which was donated to the nonprofit by the Sherwood Foundation.
It’s something that organizers of the upcoming Omaha Film Festival say will benefit film-lovers in the Omaha community.
"I think the biggest impact overall is it raises the level of awareness of film in the city of Omaha and that's what we're all about,” said Marc Longbrake, the festival’s program director. “We're the Omaha Film Festival. We're coming up on our 11th year and that's what we want to do. We want to bring film to the city, that they don't otherwise have an opportunity to see certain films.”
Independent film programming is nothing new to Aksarben Cinema, a family-owned and operated multiplex in Aksarben Village. Co-owner Bill Barstow says the two venues have a great relationship.
“A rising tide lifts all boats. That is a line that we use a lot. We like to collaborate with things that raise the market,” he explained.
Barstow says he expects to work closer with Film Streams, adding that the success of Omaha is very important to him.
The city’s connection to independent filmmaking is very strong, according to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Creative Director Derek Dillon.
He cited well-known figures like Alexander Payne and Dana Altman, the grandson of director Robert Altman who is also an independent filmmaker.
“We get an amazing response. In the short, few months we’ve been open, we have a dedicated crowd who come for special events,” Dillon said.
Those special events range from screening classics like Fargo to a quote-along showing of Labyrinth.
Next month, they are working with the Omaha Public Library to feature movies made from classic books, beginning with “The Big Sleep” on March 31.
If you’re looking to see off-mainstream films before then, the Omaha Film Festival runs from March 8 to March 13 at the Village Pointe Marcus Theatre.
“So the Omaha Film Festival runs one week out of the year, so we always tell people, 360 days out of the year, go to Film Streams, go to your multiplexes, one week out of the year, come see us and hang out,” Longbrake said.
Films Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater in north downtown Omaha features two screens, one with 206 seats and the other with 96 seats. The Dundee Theater, which is expected to open in 2018, will have more than 300 seats.
Previous coverage on KMTV:
Bar next to Dundee Theater will be moving, Film Streams says
Films Streams to expand to second location at Dundee Theater
