Amherst Cinema Presents Its 100th Bellwether Screening

Source: Amherst Cinema

Amherst Cinema will screen its 100th film in its Bellwether: New Directions in Cinema series on Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. Co-curated by Amherst Cinema programmer George Myers and Western Massachusetts-based filmmaker Luke Meyer, the series celebrates fresh approaches to fiction, non-fiction, and experimental cinema. Each film is a bold and often brave artistic statement that collectively represents the possibilities of cinema when the boundaries of exhibition are widened.  

A monthly, free-to-members series, each program features a film screening paired with a post discussion with the filmmaker, often sparking audience conversations that invite questions, challenge convention, and underscore the power and vitality of independent filmmaking. 

“It’s not lost on us that to be able to experience films of this nature on the big screen, with an inquisitive audience in deep discussion, is becoming more and more rare,” said Amherst Cinema programmer George Myers. “It’s a remarkable milestone and a great honor to have been involved in bringing, with the screening of THE FLAMINGO, one hundred films to Amherst Cinema through the Bellwether series. We’re eternally grateful for our community and members for their continued support of this important program.” 

“With this 100th Bellwether talk, we honor George and Luke’s curatorial expertise. It’s always a pleasure to be in the house to witness the meaningful and transformative experiences that they co-create,” said Yasmin Chin Eisenhauer, Amherst Cinema’s executive director. “Recognized as a catalyst for cultural and social impact, the series is underwritten by the National Endowment of the Arts.” 

This milestone event will feature THE FLAMINGO, directed by award-winning filmmaker Adam Sekuler. Following the screening, Sekuler will join the stage for a discussion with the audience. 

THE FLAMINGO 
78 mins. | Directed by Adam Sekuler | NR | 2024 

Film Synopsis
In her late sixties, Mary Phillips boldly seeks pleasure; attending dungeon parties, engaging in intimacy with strangers through her BDSM practice. THE FLAMINGO is more than just a coming-out story; it’s a deep dive into Mary’s world, where she offers healing touch and guidance to others, challenges society’s notions of aging and female sexuality, and explores the complexities of intimacy and self-embodiment. Over glasses of pink lemonade, by the bonfire, and in the most vulnerable moments, Mary’s joie de vivre and compassion shine through, even as she navigates the uncertainties of finding love on her terms. Shot in an observational style, the film ultimately offers a new way of seeing, processing, and understanding the experience of aging with pleasure.  

About the Director

Adam Sekuler is an award-winning filmmaker, curator, educator and editor. Screening in forums and film festivals throughout the US and internationally, his many alternative films strike a delicate balance between stylization and naturalism, creating a poetic and lyrical form of visual storytelling. His feature length documentary Tomorrow Never Knows won the Radical Empathy Jury Award at the Chicago Underground Film Festival where his film 36 Hours also won the Carolee Schneemann Award. He’s produced short works for Barry Jenkins, Lisandro Alonso, Josh and Benny Safdie, Valerie Massadian, Amie Siegel, and Joe Swanberg. As an editor he’s worked with Robinson Devor, Courtney Stephens, Pacho Velez and Stephanie Spray. He’s currently an assistant professor of Journalism and Media Production at University of Michigan – Dearborn. 

Tickets to THE FLAMINGO are available through Amherst Cinema’s website, or in person at the Amherst Cinema box office, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema Members receive free admission to all Bellwether screenings. 

To view a list of past screenings, visit: http://amherstcinema.org/series/bellwether  

About Amherst Cinema
Amherst Cinema is an independent, nonprofit arts and education center brimming with world-class programs. The comfortable, fully accessible theater offers state-of-the-art projection and sound and is a welcoming crossroads for all. Amherst Cinema presents over 250 programs a year on four screens in  more than 35 languages. For more information, visit: https://amherstcinema.org