Tonight the Sackville Film Society makes it Amherst debut, with the documentary The League screening at the Amherst Theatre on Church Street.
After more than three decades at the Vogue Theatre in downtown Sackville, the society faced a crisis point this summer when the cinema closed its doors and was put up for sale. The Amherst Theatre is a former Cineplex property now under independent ownership, and put out the call to host the film society for the 2023 fall season.
CHMA spoke with Sackville Film Society organizer Thaddeus Holownia to find out more:
“I know that there’s a lot of excitement in Amherst,” says Holownia. There’s already a contingent of film society members that had been making the trip from Amherst to attend screenings in Sackville, and he’s heard that there are more in Amherst who might make it out now that it’s a shorter trip. He’s also hoping that Sackvillian film-goers will carpool and make it across the border to see the films.
Tonight’s season opener The League tells the story of the all-Black baseball leagues that thrived in America in the first part of the twentieth century. The program of 13 films throughout the fall includes documentaries, dramas, and even a rom-com. While Holownia admits, “not everything is for everybody” he says he finds the film society members are often open to anything. “Lots of people come waiting to be entertained or challenged or whatever, as great cinema shown in a big theatre allows to happen,” says Holownia.
Not much will change in the operation of the society from previous years, says Holownia. There will be full memberships, six-pack punch cards, and individual tickets available. But the size of the theatre could have an impact. “We are going to be screening in a much smaller theatre… I’m going to say that if people really want to have a seat, then they should think about getting a full membership,” says Holownia. While the Vogue seats over 200 people, the Amherst Theatre will hold 109. Holownia is asking members to come early, and he will reserve seats for them to be released right before the screening begins.
As for the Vogue Cinema, its future is still up in the air. The asking price for the building recently dropped to $250,000. Holownia has been gathering a group to work on possibly turning the cinema into a community-run space. But he’s hesitant to share details, warning that the process could be a long one.
“There are a small group of people who have met and are moving forward with some more concrete plans to get some entity together, to really put together a sensible and feasible plan,” says Holownia. “It’s in its infancy, but there are some smart, together people who are working towards something.”
