Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands and Film Streams are thrilled to announce that they will partner to host Filmfest on Tuesday, February 27. This fundraising event marks the culmination of the Boys & Girls Club Film Club, a program dedicated to teaching members critical thinking skills by learning to investigate, evaluate, synthesize, and critique film.
Filmfest includes a cocktail hour at 5:30 pm, followed by an exclusive screening and a Club member panel discussion produced by Film Club members and directed by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands President and CEO Richard Webb at 7 pm. The event will occur at Film Streams' Dundee Theater, 4952 Dodge Street. The fundraiser has been made possible by the night's honorary chairs, Ashley and Kris Kuhn and Mikaela and John Sibley.
To prepare for the festival, Boys & Girls Film Club members review the trailers and synopses from a list of films before voting on three they would like to screen during the program. Over three weeks, they watch the films voted on and select a winner to be screened the night of the fundraising event. This process replicates how many major film festivals select films in their lineups. This year, the three films that members are screening and discussing are Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012, dir. Benh Zeitlin), School of Rock (2003, dir. Richard Linklater), and The Farewell (2019, dir. Lulu Wang).
The organizations began their partnership in 2017 in service of their community-based missions. The event has continued to evolve since Richard Webb joined the Film Streams' Board of Directors in 2022. "Over the years, this event has grown due to the support of both Film Streams and the Clubs' leadership," said Webb. "The Filmfest event is focused on our youth and gives them a platform to be heard. This will be an event you do not want to miss."
Film Streams is also no stranger to educational programming centered on children. It is well-known for its School to Screen program that invites students from grades 6-12 to integrate film into their curriculum through a thoughtfully curated pedagogical approach. Film Streams' Education Manager, Paul Sanchez, oversees School to Screen and has been integral to Filmfest's development.
"Our partnership originally featured a single night where members viewed and discussed the Oscar® Animated Shorts," he said. "We decided to update our approach to increase members' engagement and ownership of this program and to empower them to choose the films that interest them the most. I love hearing members' unique ideas and seeing them gain confidence in discussing film as an art form."
Sanchez's passion for hosting discussions about film in a community-centric space is also evident in his successful adult educational programming initiatives, including Deep Dive seminars offered throughout the year. His upcoming The Women Who Won Deep Dive will occur on Saturday, March 9, at Film Streams' Ruth Sokolof Theater. The seminar aligns with the organization's series of the same name that will screen from March 1-7, showcasing the renowned films The Loveless, Sweetie, and Songs My Brothers Taught Me, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Jane Campion, and Chloé Zhao, respectively. Celebrating the groundbreaking work of the only three female directors to ever win Academy Awards® for Best Director, these events are also part of Film Streams' See Change initiative, which aims to promote gender parity in the film industry.
Omaha offers abundant educational opportunities for film, and both organizations are delighted to present Filmfest as a program specifically designed to benefit the city's youth. Tickets for the fundraising event are exclusively available to sponsors and are not open to the general public. Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Film Streams is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the cultural
environment of the Omaha-Council Bluffs area through the presentation and discussion of
film as an art form. The organization oversees two cinemas: the Ruth Sokolof Theater in North Downtown Omaha and the historic Dundee Theater. The organization hosts a variety of programs within five principal areas: new releases, classics, community collaborations, education, and special programs. For more information, visit www.FilmStreams.org.
For Media Inquiries:
Marie Schuett, Director of Marketing (402) 933-0259 x 123 | Marie@FilmStreams.org
About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands offers a safe place for youth to learn, grow and have fun. The Clubs represent 62 years of service to youth. Dedicated staff at 12 metro-area locations and a summer camp provide activities and support to thousands of young people from kindergarten through high school graduation and beyond. Club sites are placed in targeted neighborhoods where the need is greatest. For more information, visit www.bgcomaha.org
