While New York has been a center of arthouse theaters from the very beginning, in recent years executing the concept of a well-programed venue with work from around the world has become challenging. With both independent venues and multiplexes tackling home viewing opportunities, movie theaters need to work harder than ever before. Last month, the single-screen institution the Ziegfeld Theater closed, making it clear how tough it is for small theaters in New York to stay open.
Earlier this week, the Metrograph, a boutique two-screen theater that features a restaurant, bookstore and lounge, opened. Apart from being a great theater, the project is designed to be a great place to hang out, write by day, do rough-cut screenings and let both filmmakers and filmgoers brush elbows on a regular basis. The initial programming is the dream come true of any film buff, with an eclectic array of films that are guaranteed to make everybody excited. Under the guidance of filmmaker and fashion designer Alexander Olch, programmers Jake Perlin and Aliza 
Ma are getting ready to introduce an ambitious new presence in New York’s film scene.
This Wednesday, the stylish LES theater had its grand opening. While theaters have been closing left and right, Olch has insisted that this theater is a good business idea, especially when done at a specific scale. While bigger chains favor blockbuster releases, a growing number of people have become disillusioned with a lack of originality and quality in these blockbusters, and have begun turning to more independent films. Yet fans of these movies tend to prefer watching their movies at home on Netflix, although Olch isn’t worried about getting film buffs off the couch, comparing the phenomenon to Seamless’ effect on restaurants.
The programming booklet for the first two months is an astounding 64 pages long, featuring both newer films and repertoire fare, as well as completely unknown films and specials series that feature films with an important impact. This Wednesday’s premiere was attended by such names as Noah Baumbach, John Waters, Willem Dafoe, Greta Gerwig, Judah Friedlander, Dustin Hoffman and Jim Jarmusch.
It’s exciting to think about what this theater will mean for film in New York City, and will do a great job at revitalizing the smaller art-house theater scene in the face of such corporate giants as AMC. If you’d like to learn more, you can click here!
Maria Haymandou 