thumbnail_arthouse-theater-dayThe Art House Convergence, an international consortium of independent, community-based, mission-driven movie theaters, is pleased to announce its’ first wave of programming for the inaugural Art House Theater Day, taking place on Saturday, September 24th, 2016. Over 185 theaters will participate in this nationwide celebration of the cultural and community growth that art house theaters promote.

This lineup has been curated to celebrate incredible first run and repertory films across a variety of genres. On the heels of announcing Magnolia Pictures’ theatrical premiere of documentary DANNY SAYS, Art House Theater Day is excited to announce it will screen the brand-new restoration of Don Coscarelli’s 1979 cult sci-fi/horror classic, PHANTASM: REMASTERED, making its first appearance in theaters nationwide following its world premiere at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival. In addition to PHANTASM: REMASTERED there will be a never-before-seen sneak peek behind the scenes of the fifth and final PHANTASM: RAVAGER including a tribute to Phantasm star Angus Scrimm. Additional films announced include the beloved Terry Gilliam-directed fantasy classic TIME BANDITS and a one-day-only presentation of GKIDS A TOWN CALLED PANIC: THE SPECIALS.

PHANTASM: REMASTERED, distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment, has been given a loving 4K restoration from the original camera negative and a brand new 5.1 audio soundtrack, overseen by longtime fan J.J. Abrams and his production company Bad Robot. “When I made Phantasm three decades ago, the term “indie” didn’t have the same positive connotations that it does today. But that’s what Phantasm was. And in the decades since, the art house movement has cultivated an appreciation for independent films that break molds and push boundaries. That’s why it doesn’t surprise me that in 2016, art houses have embraced Phantasmand are giving it new life on Art House Theater Day. It’s really a dream come true to see it playing in so many exceptional theaters on the big screen, the way I originally intended, ” said filmmaker Don Coscarelli.

Dave Jesteadt, SVP Distribution of GKIDS said, “The local arthouse cinema is an essential meeting place for the celebration of movie culture in the community, and it also has a vital role to play in the creation of the next generation of film-obsessed moviegoers. GKIDS is thrilled to support Art House Theater Day with an exclusive one-day-only presentation of A TOWN CALLED PANIC: THE SPECIALS, a new collection of stop-motion adventures from the revered series that has won numerous film festival awards and captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with its absurd antics. These hilarious short films will allow audiences of all ages to enjoy their local independent cinema, and also offer a great reminder that just because your film played at Cannes, that doesn’t mean it can’t also feature a talking horse wearing a chef’s hat.” The program showcases two new specials, Back to School Panic and Christmas Panic, that will only be available in this program.

Distributed by Janus Films, TIME BANDITS’ 2K digital restoration was supervised and approved by director Terry Gilliam himself. The journey through time and space welcomes breathtaking visuals and audio as a boy named Kevin escapes his gadget-obsessed parents to join a band of time-traveling dwarfs. Lawren Desai, owner of Aperture Cinema and Art House Theater Day cofounder, said “Repertory film screenings are one of the unique ways that art house cinemas celebrate both the joy of the theatrical experience and the artistry of filmmakers who have stood the test of time. I couldn’t be more excited that in Time Bandits we have found a film that exemplifies both!”

A menu of exclusive programming options will be offered to participating theaters, including sneak-peeks, major art house films, and repertory re-releases. The offerings will reflect the interests of the diverse audiences that art houses serve, and many will be accompanied by more valuable content. Theaters will also have exclusive memorabilia and giveaways, and will host unique events like filmmaker visits, live music, and parties. There will be one more upcoming announcement to unveil the full programming line-up.

“Art House Theater Day is a chance to show film-lovers that their local theaters are part of a larger cultural movement. These cinemas are not passive, insular venues–they are passion-driven institutions that collaborate with distributors, filmmakers, and each other to deepen film appreciation and to increase the diversity and artistic integrity of what you see on the big screen,” said Art House Theater Day cofounder Gabriel Chicoine.

Chicoine of Amherst Cinema (Amherst, MA) and Desai of Aperture Cinema (Winston-Salem, NC) were inspired by the success of Record Store Day and its commitment to promoting independent record shops. They developed this event as a celebration of art house theaters and films, and the filmmakers, patrons, projectionists, and staff dedicated to providing extraordinary cinematic experiences.

To see the complete list of participating theaters & for more info visit-www.arthousetheaterday.org

ABOUT ART HOUSE THEATER DAY:
Art House Theater Day celebrates the legacy of independent theaters as advocates for cinema arts. In an age where media has become more digital than tangible, more solitary than social, art house theaters remain the physical spaces where film lovers congregate and connect with intrepid, creative filmmaking. They are the beating heart for new and exciting cinema that is shaping the future of the medium.

In recent decades, a colorful constellation of art houses has emerged across the globe. This art house movement has nurtured a flourishing ecosystem of adventurous audiences, independent productions, and an incredible diversity of original filmmaking. Art House Theater Day is a worldwide celebration in honor of this movement, a day to celebrate cinemas that stand the test of time and the tremendous film culture that art house theaters promote.

ABOUT ART HOUSE CONVERGENCE:
The Art House Convergence began in 2005 as the Sundance Institute Art House Project, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Sundance Institute by honoring a small group of leading U.S. Art House theatres. A few years later, this grew into the independently run Art House Convergence, which in 2008 presented its first annual conference, an industry educational program designed to empower and inform independent cinemas nationwide. The growth of the Art House Convergence and its development of research, surveys and year round communication among art house theaters affirm that the organization has evolved into a leading national resource for the support of independent film and the promotion of film culture in local communities. The upcoming annual conference will be January 16 – 19, 2017 in Midway, Utah.

ABOUT MAGNOLIA PICTURES:
Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies, a vertically-integrated group of media properties co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban. Recent releases include the documentary TICKLED, Andrew Rossi’s THE FIRST MONDAY IN MAY, Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner THE WOLFPACK, Terence Davies’ SUNSET SONG and Arnaud Desplechin’s MY GOLDEN DAYS. Upcoming Releases include Alex Gibney’s ZERO DAYS, Ira Sachs’ LITTLE MEN, the latest from Werner Herzog LO AND BEHOLD, REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD, and Park Chan Wook’s THE HANDMAIDEN.

ABOUT HANDMADE FILMS (SOURCE FROM WIKIPEDIA):
HandMade Films is a British film production and distribution company. Notable films from the studio include Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Time Bandits, Withnail and I and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

ABOUT JANUS FILMS:
Janus Films (www.janusfilms.com) is a film distribution company. The distributor is credited with introducing numerous films, now considered masterpieces of world cinema, to American audiences, including the films of Michelangelo Antonioni, Sergei Eisenstein, Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, François Truffaut, Yasujirō Ozu and many other well-regarded directors. Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal (1957) was the film responsible for the company’s initial growth.[1] Janus has a close relationship with The Criterion Collection regarding the release of its films on DVD and is still an active theatrical distributor.

ABOUT GKIDS:
GKIDS is a New York-based distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2009, the company has scored eight Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, and Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016.

ABOUT WELL GO USA:
Well Go USA Entertainment (www.wellgousa.com) is a theatrical and home entertainment distribution label that specializes in bringing top content, including the best in action, genre and independent films from the US and around the world, to North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms, including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment’s corporate headquarters is in Dallas, Texas, with offices in New York, Taiwan, and China.

Recent Well Go USA Entertainment releases include Na Hong-jin’s acclaimed supernatural thriller The Wailing, Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s The Assassin, Wilson Yip’s Ip Man 3, Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan, and Felix Thompson’s King Jack.