by Jim Servin
“As the East End heats up for the summer season, we are excited to welcome our neighbors and friends back to Herrick Park for our now-annual outdoor screening series,” says HamptonsFilm Executive Director Anne Chaisson. Launching on June 22 at sundown, the festival presents free screenings of a family film favorite every Wednesday. “Our programming team has selected an incredible lineup of timeless classics, some celebrating their anniversaries like us,” says Chaisson, referencing the 35th anniversary of Dirty Dancing (July 27), and, alongside Hamptons International Film Festival’s own pearl anniversary, three decades of Sister Act (June 29), Aladdin (July 6) and A League of Their Own (June 22). Other guaranteed good-time flicks scheduled include Raiders of the Lost Ark (July 13), March of the Penguins (July 20), Open Water (Aug. 10) and Apollo 13 (Aug. 17).
“It is such a pleasure to revisit these films,” says HamptonsFilm Artistic Director David Nugent. “As a longtime lover of film, it means so much to have the opportunity to share these titles with my children. These films function as time capsules of the periods they originated from, and it is a treat to travel back into these worlds. Films such as Aladdin were groundbreaking achievements. It feels only fitting to pay homage to them during their and HIFF’s own milestone anniversary years.”
Visit hamptonsfilm.org to reserve an 8-foot square, which can accommodate up to six patrons. Seats in the first two rows near the screen are available for purchase, with proceeds going to support HamptonsFilm’s year-round educational programs. RSVPs are encouraged (patrons who don’t RSVP are accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis). “We are grateful to East Hampton Village,” says Chaisson, “for continuing to support our year-round programming and initiatives.” Stay tuned for HIFF’s annual SummerDocs programming, dates to be announced, for top-of-the-line documentaries.