Eastman House and Business Association of South Wedge Area present classic film festival at Highland Bowl in August — 'Cinema at Sunset'

Assemblywoman Susan John secured funding for five-day event, to feature food, live music, free films

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochesterians will have the opportunity to have the Dryden Theatre experience outdoors this summer, with the five-day classic film festival Cinema at Sunset, taking place at Highland Park's Highland Bowl Tuesday through Saturday, Aug. 26 through 30. The experience features state-of-the-art projection and sound, including 35mm film and projectors, plus a jumbo 45-foot screen stretched across the bowl. Cinema at Sunset is presented by George Eastman House and the Business Association of the South Wedge Area, with the generous support of Assemblymember Susan John and additional support from the City of Rochester and Monroe County.

Cinema at Sunset is open to the public and admission to the films is FREE. The roster of films is geared toward an adult audience, as a complement to the popular series of family films screened at the Highland Bowl each summer.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Rochester with the presentation of these classic films from the George Eastman House archives," said Assemblymember Susan John. "Rochester is known for its festivals and as the home of motion picture film technology. I am pleased to partner with the Business Association of the South Wedge Area and the Eastman House to combine the best of Rochester to bring free film entertainment to the city."

Live music will be performed before each screening from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by shorts, trailers, and animation from the Eastman House motion picture collection. To further offer the Dryden Theatre experience, each screening will be preceded by a live introduction from Jim Healy, Eastman House's assistant curator of motion pictures.

The featured films of Cinema at Sunset
Tuesday, Aug. 26: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Wednesday, Aug. 27: Manhattan

Thursday, Aug. 28: North by Northwest (Music by Bobby Henrie & The Goners)

Friday, Aug. 29: American Graffiti ("Cruise Night" plus music by The Hi-Risers)

Saturday, Aug. 30: The Black Cat and The Bride of Frankenstein (Music by Ancient Youth and Gordon Munding & Curtis Waterman)

The Dryden Theatre will be dark during the run of this festival, but will be the rain location if a screening cannot take place at the Highland Bowl due to weather.

"Since 1951 Rochester audiences have experienced classic films at the Dryden Theatre, as part of a varied roster of films screened daily at George Eastman House," said Dr. Anthony Bannon, director of George Eastman House. "We are delighted to bring the Dryden Theatre experience to the South Wedge, as we enjoy our summer nights outdoors and also introduce new audiences to the state-of-the-art film experience one receives at the Dryden Theatre."

The projection and sound elements will be provided by Boston Light & Sound, an internationally renowned company that has overseen recent and dramatic upgrades to the Dryden Theatre's projection and sound.

Those attending Cinema at Sunset can bring a picnic supper or purchase items on site from South Wedge neighborhood restaurants providing concessions onsite. The film screenings begin at dark, to start no later than 8 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

"We are excited to be hosting the Cinema at Sunset film festival with George Eastman House this August," said Chris Jones, president of the Business Association of the South Wedge Area and a South Wedge area business owner. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase a multitude of 'classics' — the beautiful and historic Highland Bowl; the fantastic film collection and experience of George Eastman House; many of our great South Wedge shops and restaurants; and some of our most talented local musicians."

Assemblymember Susan John obtained the funds necessary to present Cinema at Sunset from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Additional sponsors for Cinema at Sunset are Brighton Securities, City Newspaper, Echo-Tone Music, Flower City Glass, Highland Hospital, Time Warner Cable, Sam Adams Brewery, 321 Productions, Pinnacle Printers, C.H. Morse Stamp Shop, HTB Custom Screen Printing, Clarion Riverside Hotel, and ImageOut Film Festival.

About the Dryden Theatre and the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection
The Dryden Theatre, which opened in March 1951, was a gift from George Eastman's niece, Ellen Dryden, and her husband, George, in honor of Eastman's contributions to motion pictures. The theater has hosted more than 20,000 films; more than a million moviegoers; and hundreds of film legends, including Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, and Meryl Streep. The motion picture collection at the Eastman House, founded in 1948, contains 30,000 motion picture titles from 1894 to the present and includes the personal film collections of Cecil B. DeMille, Martin Scorsese, and Spike Lee. George Eastman House is also a world center for film preservation, housing the world's first permanent school of film preservation, the L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation.

About the Business Association of the South Wedge Area
One of the primary missions of the Business Association of the South Wedge Area is promotion of its commercial and residential area. Members work to raise awareness about the South Wedge area of the city, and try to highlight the area's unique businesses and services. Members views Highland Bowl as one of the jewels of the South Wedge Area and have long wanted to bring a festival to the bowl.

Attention Media: For additional information or high-resolution images, please fill out this form to obtain the address of the Press Room's FTP site.