The Intern's Perspective: BMFI's August Programming

Richie Weker, a long-time BMFI intern and a rising senior at Lower Merion High School, reflects on BMFI's August programming. Enjoy!

If there are four things in life that I love they have to be, in no particular order, music, birthdays, girls, and food. It is often difficult to integrate these into my life, given my already busy schedule. Who would have thought that Bryn Mawr Film Institute’s August programming would help me conveniently include these delights in my life?


First, the music: on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00pm, Bryn Mawr Film Institute will continue its tradition of sing-alongs with a screening of Mary Poppins, where patrons can sing along with Julie Andrews in her Oscar-winning film debut. If you wear a costume—you could dress up as a chimney sweep (or the chimney), the bird woman, or a penguin, for example—you get a free small popcorn! We can also finally learn how to spell the incredible “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” when the song’s lyrics appear on the big screen.

As if this wasn’t enough for BMFI, they are even throwing a birthday bash that lasts five weeks! Famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa would have hit the century mark this year and BMFI is showing five films that best represent the director’s lifelong achievements, including Rashomon, The Hidden Fortress, and Stray Dog. A movie will be shown once every Tuesday night at 7:00pm, starting with Seven Samurai on Tuesday, August 3 and ending with Yojimbo on Tuesday, August 31.

Girls are very confusing and yet fascinating to me. I have yet to fully understand them, but I am getting there through many hours of hard research and observation. This August, BMFI will offer me three great opportunities to study three big name female stars as part of the Leading Ladies of the Silver Screen film series. Running Wednesday nights from August 11 through August 25, the series features Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun, and Barbara Stanwyck in The Lady Eve.

As for food, the fourth delight, the answer is simple. The rich and buttery popcorn at BMFI is simply unbeatable! You would have to be crazy to pass up on this and the many treats that BMFI has to offer.

Thank you, Richie! Find out more information about our August programming online at http://www.brynmawrfilm.org/.

Patrons feast on FORKS OVER KNIVES with guest Rip Esselstyn

On Monday night, nearly 400 people gathered at Bryn Mawr Film Institute for the premiere of Forks Over Knives, a revolutionary documentary written and directed by Lee Fulkerson that explores the relationship between our health and the foods we eat. The film makes the profound claim that many of the diseases plaguing Americans can be controlled by rejecting a diet of animal-based and processed foods. Joining us specially for the screening, which was graciously sponsored by Whole Foods Market, was the New York Times bestselling author Rip Esselstyn, who gave a short talk and signed copies of his book, Engine 2 Diet.

Engine 2 Diet author Rip Esselstyn signs BMFI's guest book after the fundraiser reception.

Fifty patrons enjoyed a special plant-strong vegan dinner upstairs at a fundraiser reception before the film, mingling with Esselstyn as a pianist played nearby. Provided by Whole Foods Market, the delicious spread featured Engine 2 lasagna, kale salad, fruit salad and oatmeal cookies.

For those unable to get tickets to the dinner (which filled up weeks in advance), Whole Foods Market provided vegan-friendly snacks in the theatre arcade, including fruit smoothies and a summer soup made without any oils. Whole Foods also organized free health testing including blood pressure and body mass index readings.

Above: Guest Kathy Pollard gets her blood pressure taken--104/62! She beamed, declaring, "I'm powered by a plant-strong diet!" 

Esselstyn’s experience firefighting in Austin, Texas led him to write the Engine 2 Diet. BMFI was pleased to invite local firefighters to attend the event for free! Some of Bryn Mawr’s own firefighters and junior firefighters came to the event--and they brought their truck too! The firefighters were invited upstairs to grab a bite before the movie and then headed into the theatre to enjoy the documentary. Find out more about the volunteer Bryn Mawr Fire Company here.

Author Rip Esselstyn (back row, fourth from left) joined Whole Foods Market managers Ruth Harp (second from left) and Charlene Nolan (front row, center) to welcome Bryn Mawr Fire Company's firefighters to the screening.

The arcade was packed for this sell-out event! Some people came all the way from Florida to attend!

Admission to the screening was by suggested donation and all proceeds from this world premiere event and the fundraiser dinner benefited BMFI, a non-profit. For more ways to help BMFI, click here.

Did you see the film? What did you think of the event?

Best of the Tredyffrin Student Film Festival at BMFI

In addition to showing independent and international cinema, Bryn Mawr Film Institute invites you to see some of the best work from the filmmakers of tomorrow. On Monday, August 2 at 9:15pm, BMFI will showcase the best films of the 4th Annual Tredyffrin Student Film Festival, sponsored by the Tredyffrin Public Library. This is a great opportunity for the public to view the hard work of the contestants on the big screen. Come enjoy a fun evening while viewing the work of these local young artists… for free!


See these festival winners on BMFI’s big screen:

First Place: The End by Dan Leung
Second Place: Vietnam by Ian Connelly
Third Place: The Adventures of Barbara and Octavius by Franklin Brown and Jake Elkin
Honorable Mention: Valley Forge by James Connors

The winners were chosen by BMFI’s own Andrew J. Douglas, Ph.D., Valerie Temple, and Ben Hickernell and were announced on Tuesday, July 27.

Read a Main Line Suburban Life article about the festival here.

Watch the clever trailer for the festival here.

The winning films are featured as part of Open Screen Mondays, a monthly program in which filmmakers of all ages can show their work on the big screen and receive praise (or criticism) from their peers, free of charge! Find out more information online here.

HOT News: Vote for BMFI!

Bryn Mawr Film Institute has been nominated as the Best Indie Theater on MyPHL17’s Best of Philly Hot List for 2010!

Here at BMFI, we feel we’ve done more than renovate a historic theater building—we’ve worked to build a vibrant community of film lovers through our screenings, film education offerings, and membership program.

All of our patrons can enjoy:
* A diverse selection of the best art house and repertory film programming
* Plays from London’s National Theatre and operas from Europe simulcast in HD
* Saturday morning Kids Matinees that families can enjoy together, October through May
* Film classes and educational programs for students of all ages
* Free discussions help you get the most out of the films you love
* The best popcorn on the Main Line!

In addition, BMFI members receive special benefits including discounted tickets and free members-only screenings.

If you love what we offer, help us by telling MyPHL17. With just the click of a mouse, you can show how much BMFI means to filmgoers like you! It’s easy and free to vote, just click here.

Voting is only one small way to help BMFI. You can also talk us up to your friends and family, sign up to volunteer, become a member, become a business sponsor, and/or contribute to our Theater Three Challenge campaign.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the movies.

The Girl Who Played with Fire - Friday at BMFI!

The Girl Who Played with Fire starts at BMFI this Friday, June 16. We couldn't be happier to welcome the second film in the Millennium trilogy, based on the best-selling novels of Stieg Larsson. The first film adaptation, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was already a huge hit at BMFI this spring, playing for nine weeks; it has just been released on DVD. A Hollywood version of Tattoo is in the works from director David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac) as well, although I can't imagine anyone would be better suited to play the enigmatic computer hacker Lisbeth Salander as the Swedish sensation Noomi Rapace, who reprises her role in The Girl Who Played with Fire.

Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl Who Played with Fire.

To read a summary, watch a trailer, view showtimes, and buy tickets, visit BMFI's website.

If you are looking for a good read, check out Larsson's novels--you won't be alone! Recently released in the US, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, the third and final novel in the Millennium trilogy, is currently number three on The New York Times bestseller list; the first two thrillers dominate the paperback bestsellers, with Tattoo featured for 54 weeks now. Forty million copies of the trilogy have been sold worldwide. According to Entertainment Weekly, that's enough for every person in Sweden to own four copies!

For an interesting article about Stieg Larsson and the trilogy's journey from page to screen, check out this recent Entertainment Weekly cover story.

Visit Larsson's website for a complete biography and fun features like the Millennium Stockholm Map.

If you're already a fan of the novels, you may also appreciate writer/director Nora Ephron's affectionate parody in this month's New Yorker magazine, The Girl Who Fixed the Umlaut. (The Philadelphia Inquirer film critic Steven Rea begins his review of the The Girl Who Played with Fire by commenting on her story!)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is coming to theaters in October 2010.

Shall We Sing? THE KING AND I Reigns at BMFI

Last night 150 patrons answered the question "Shall We Dance?" with a resounding "Yes!" at Bryn Mawr Film Institute's sing-along screening of THE KING AND I. The 1956 film version stars Deborah Kerr as Anna Leonowens, the feisty widow hired as school teacher to the wives and children of King Mongkut of Siam, played by the masterful Yul Brynner. A chorus of voices chimed in on such Rodgers and Hammerstein hits as "Hello Young Lovers" and "Getting to Know You" as the classic played on the big screen. As always with our sing-along screenings, patrons who came in costume received a free small popcorn!

Sing-along fan Anne O'Brien's costume is a composite: the King on the top half and Anna on the bottom! She's accompanied by Gail Bober, dressed as one of the King's wives.  

The family-friendly sing-along had some younger film fans dressed up too. Here Nina Zimmerman poses with her grandma, BMFI President Juliet Goodfriend.

Join everyone's favorite magical nanny for the final sing-along of the summer, Mary Poppins, on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00 pm. Dress as your favorite chimney sweep and bring a kite or your very own flying umbrella to get free popcorn at BMFI's screening of this Disney musical treat!

Ooooo-KLAHOMA! Sing-along

Oh, what a beautiful evening it was at Bryn Mawr Film Institute on Wednesday, June 2. Over 125 enthusiastic patrons of all ages came out for BMFI's sing-along screening of OKLAHOMA!, the first of three sing-alongs this summer. Fans of the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit belted out such classic tunes as “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” and “People Will Say We’re in Love” as the film played on the big screen. Many even rustled up costumes in honor of the event!

Conestoga High School alums Julia Race and Emma Backe were excited
to make BMFI's sing-along a part of their summer.

Cowgirls at heart, Eileene Donnelly, Helene Snyder, and Rosemary Haggerty wore the hats and bandanas to prove it.

When asked about her lemon-bedecked hat, Pam Bentz (posing with Ted Douglas) responded, "There was a lack of citrus in Oklahoma!, and I'm here to help rectify that." 

Even BMFI President Juliet Goodfriend and the Chairman of the Board, Samuel R. Scott, wore their finest western duds to the sing-along!

If you think this sounds fun, check out the other musical classics that will get the sing-along treatment this summer at BMFI: The King and I shows on Wednesday, July 7 at 7:00pm, followed by Mary Poppins on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00pm. Remember, patrons who come in costume receive a free small popcorn!

BMFI has a brand-new website!

Bryn Mawr Film Institute is thrilled to announce the launch of its new website, designed by Zero Defect Design. Now it will be easier than ever to check the schedule and learn about our theater's programming, news, membership, film courses, and fundraising. The new site goes live today, June 2, and will appear in your browser within the next twenty-four hours.


Explore BMFI’s new online home, keeping in mind a number of new features:

Calendar. The daily schedule appears under the calendar. Click on a date in the calendar to see all of the films showing that day. Click on the individual film titles for more information about them.

Online Ticketing. Buy tickets to screenings directly from the website through MovieTickets.com. Click the red ticket icon on the right-hand side, which leads to a general page from which you can navigate to the film and show you would like to see. You can also click the showtime for which you would like to buy a ticket.

Film Pages. Each film has its own individual webpage, featuring a description, the show times, and a trailer and review as available. Certain events are highlighted in the ever-changing box at the top of the homepage, and others are highlighted down below. Click on these highlighted events to access detailed information about them. Find the full list of upcoming screenings and events by selecting the drop-down “Films” menu and selecting “films”. Then click on any of the grey links in the resultant list to get to the specialized events pages.

Comments. Share your thoughts on any event or film that we show—fill out the comments box at the bottom of the appropriate event page and an administrator will review it and post it shortly.

Contact Form. To give feedback to BMFI, click the “Contact Us” button at the top of every page to pull up the new contact form. Select the nature of your inquiry from the drop down menu, fill out the form with your contact information and question, and the appropriate staff member will get back to you as soon as possible.

For Students. A special “For Students” section geared towards high school and college students features information about student discounts, internships, different film organizations, and a list of upcoming screenings we think high school and college students would especially enjoy.

BMFInsights. The most recent posts on BMFI’s blog are now highlighted at the bottom of our home page.

Press Releases and Press Clippings. Select highlights will be featured on the home page; click on the “about” drop down menu and select “Press Releases” or “Press Clippings” to see the full list of available press releases and press clippings.

Bookmark and Share. Click the green “Bookmark & Share” button in the grey right-hand sidebar to share information easily with family and friends.

Photo Archives. This section will be appearing shortly.


The new website also streamlines previously existing content and features, including:

Membership. To become a member, click on “Become a Member” at the top of every page, or select “Membership” from the drop-down “Membership” menu.

Donate. To donate to BMFI, click on “Donate” at the top of every page or choose “Donate” from the drop-down “Support” menu.

Film Courses and Course Archive. Current classes are listed under “Film Studies” or “Film Production” on the drop-down “Education” menu. Explore BMFI’s past course offerings online by selecting “Course Archive”.

History. Click “About” or “History” on the drop-down “About” menu for more information about the theater’s past and present.


We hope that you find the new website helpful, attractive, and easy to use!

Readers' Choice: BMFI is "Best Movie Theater"

The votes are in and Bryn Mawr Film Institute has been named “Best Movie Theater” by the readers of the Main Line Times and Main Line Suburban Life! Among the hundreds of votes cast, BMFI topped the category for the third straight year, our fourth win total. The complete list winners will be revealed in a special Readers Choice supplement published by Main Line Media News on June 17th.

The 2nd Annual Main Line Student Film Festival Wows at BMFI

On Thursday night, over one hundred people gathered at BMFI for the second annual Main Line Student Film Festival to screen the twenty finalist films, created by high school filmmakers throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Over sixty shorts were submitted by students at fifteen different public and private schools. Entries ranged from comedy to documentary and experimental to stop motion animation.

(Left to right) Alex Ramsey and Joe Cilio, student organizers and Haverford School Film Club members, pose with Festival Director Brett Boham.

First, second, and third place winners were determined by a panel of film students, and received cash prizes and film books. Kevin Chou of Germantown Academy was awarded first place for his hilarious comedy, “Iced Tea,” about one young man’s obsession with iced tea and how it leads him to face his greatest fear. Second place went to the Haverford School’s Tyler Wood, Taylor Mansmann, Thomas Isen, and Martin O’Riordan for “In the Wrong Hands,” which wowed audiences and took home the Audience Award as well. Third place was given to the Shipley School’s Katherine Paige Picariello for her “Think Twice,” a drama/music video combination. Honorable Mentions went to “Tumaini” by Alex Takei of Germantown Academy, “Spork” by Corey Hughes of Malvern Prep, and “There was a Time when I thought I’d be Happy” by Craig Hacker and Kyle Boland of Owen J. Roberts High School.

The event was organized by The Haverford School Film Club, created in 2006 as a venue for student filmmakers to collaborate on productions. Over the past four years, the club has produced numerous short films and two features, as well as creating and organizing the annual Main Line Student Film Festival. Alumni of the club have gone on to such prestigious film schools as USC, Loyola Marymount, and Temple.

Check out the winning videos here. Find out more information about the Main Line Student Film Festival at mainlinestudentfilmfestival.ning.com.