The Zeotrope Theatre Lives Again, Almost

Since the 2005 closure of the beloved Zeotrope Theatre, there has been an absence of steady programming for our local cinephiles.

With a generous Mass Cultural Council grant from the Franklin Cultural District, Town Councilor Cobi Frongilllo, in collaboration with THE BLACK BOX, is piloting a 3-film monthly series to assess the local appetite for more regular independent, arthouse, foreign, and classic film screenings. The films will show at 7pm on the last Tuesday of April, May, and June; all three will be screened at THE BLACK BOX (15 W Central St, Franklin, MA 02038).

Last month's showing of the 2022 Oscar-nominated Aftersun kicked the series off with a hit. "I was greeted by the smell of buttered popcorn as I entered the lobby, which immediately set the stage! The quality of the image and sound was great. The film was poignant and beautiful," reflected Mereille E. on social media. "Looking forward to next month's show."

The second film, If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), will be screened on Tuesday, May 30th. The moving drama from Barry Jenkins, Academy Award winning director of Moonlight, is based on the acclaimed novel by James Baldwin. The film, which tells the story of a young couple in 1970s Harlem, received three Oscar nominations and earned Regina King a win for Best Supporting Actress. The novel itself will be in stock all month at Escape Into Fiction!

Popcorn and other refreshments will be available for purchase. This is a pilot program, so the group welcomes any feedback as they build out and improve the cinematic experience.

Tickets will be sold at the door for a suggested $5 donation. All are welcome!

According to Frongillo, the funding came through a Cultural District Committee grant. They received $15,000 from the state, put $7,000 toward the utility box project and awarded the remaining $8,000 through a competitive grant process in February.  From that remaining funding, Frongillo said he was awarded a grant for $825 to screen the three films at the Black Box.

According to the funding letter from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, all funds need to be spent by June 30.