Film Streams is a nonprofit arts organization in Omaha, Nebraska that oversees two cinemas: the Ruth Sokolof Theater, in North Downtown Omaha, and the historic Dundee Theater, Omaha’s longest surviving neighborhood cinema. It receives funding from corporate and individual donors, members, and the government.
History
Founded by Rachel Jacobson in 2005, Film Streams' mission is to enhance the cultural environment of the Omaha-Council Bluffs area through the presentation and discussion of film as an art form. In July 2007, Film Streams opened the Ruth Sokolof Theater, a new two-screen cinema in downtown Omaha's North Downtown area, within a development anchored by internationally acclaimed music labelSaddle Creek Records. In February 2016, Film Streams announced that Susie Buffett's Sherwood Foundation had donated the 92-year-old Dundee Theater to the organization. The organization launched a public capital campaign in April 2017 with the intention of renovating and reopening the cinema by 2018. The name "Film Streams" is inspired by Omaha and the John Cassavetes film, Love Streams.
The Ruth Sokolof Theater
The Ruth Sokolof Theater has two auditoriums with 35-millimeter platter and reel-to-reel projection capabilities. The larger theater seats 206 and runs first run feature films. The smaller theater seats 96 and shows a selection of classic films, retrospectives, and other films. Film Streams has DVD, Blu-ray, and digital high-definition projection. Rachel Jacobson founded Films Streams by joining with Saddle Creek Records, the indie record label based in Omaha, to build a mini-campus in a deserted downtown Omaha area. The block that is home to Film Streams also houses the Saddle Creek headquarters and Slowdown, a rock club the label operates.
Ruth Sokolof
Film Streams' North Downtown Omaha cinema is named after Ruth Sokolof, née Rosinsky, a well-known educator in Omaha who focused her life on helping children with disabilities. With her husband, Phil, many education-based scholarships are awarded in their name each year to Omaha-area students and educators.
The Dundee Theater
Film Streams announced plans to renovate and reopen Omaha's longest-running cinema in February 2016. When it opened, it featured two screens: the historic 300-seat main house and a new 25-seat microcinema. The lobby will also house Kitchen Table Central, a second location of a popular farm-to-table restaurant.
Programming
Film Streams offers screenings of first-run films and a selection of retrospectives and classic films; education programs, and community development programs. Programming includes:
First run films: New American independents, documentaries, and international films making their theatrical premieres in Omaha and the surrounding region.
Repertory Series: Classic films, themed series, director retrospectives, and revivals celebrating the history and cultural spectrum of film as art
* Alexander Payne Presents: Curated repertory series by director Alexander Payne
* Forever Young Family & Children Series
* The Met: Live in HD: Presented in collaboration with Opera Omaha
Community Development: Collaborative screenings with other nonprofit organizations, using film as a catalyst for important conversations about our community and the world around us.
Education: Year-round film-education opportunities for all ages.
* Daytime screenings for visiting classes: High School curriculum support
* Student night at the Ruth Sokolof Theater: First Monday of every month free for full-time students
Special Programs: Q&As with visiting filmmakers, live musical performances to silent classics, an annual Local Filmmakers Showcase.
Feature
First held in 2008 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, Film Streams' fundraising galas bring acclaimed filmmakers to Omaha for conversations about their careers and perspectives on the medium.
Feature I : Director Alexander Payne in conversation with actor Laura Dern
Feature II : Director Alexander Payne in conversation with actor Debra Winger
Feature III : Kurt Andersen in conversation with director Steven Soderbergh with an introduction by director Alexander Payne
Feature IV : Director Alexander Payne in conversation with actor Jane Fonda
Feature V : Kurt Andersen in conversation with Nebraska director Alexander Payne and actors Bruce Dern and Will Forte
Feature VI : Director David O. Russell in conversation with director Alexander Payne
Feature VII : Actor Julianne Moore in Conversation with director Alexander Payne
