Special selections by Senior Curator Peter Bagrov

The George Eastman Museum celebrated 75 years on November 9, 2024. Since its opening, the museum has had a film collection, begun by James Card, the first director of the film department. Since that time, the collection has grown to more than 28,000 titles across all periods of cinema

5 Films on Screen Newman had one of the most indelible careers in Hollywood, leaving an extensive number of tough but charming individualists as his legacy. This January, the Dryden presents five of Newman’s best-known performances from the zenith of his career.

11 Films on Screen Pulling films that have come into the collection in the last decade, this series will highlight not only the best of these additions, but demonstrate how the museum is growing and assembling a world-class collection.

20 Films on Screen There are several prominent actors, actresses, and directors reaching the 100th anniversary of their birth in 2025, including Robert Altman, Tony Curtis, Angela Lansbury, Jack Lemmon, Paul Newman, Sam Peckinpah, and Peter Sellers.

4 Films on Screen As part of our Recent Acquisitions series, this set of Indian films toured Europe and the United States before being donated to the George Eastman Museum.

From director George Melford, actor Norman Kerry, and actress Louise Brooks in the silent period, to musician Cab Calloway, writers Garson and Michael Kanin in Hollywood’s golden years, to more recent actors such as John Lithgow and Taye Diggs, Rochester has produced an impressive list of artists who have contributed to the art of cinema. This year, the Dryden Theatre will bring films featuring many of these artists to the big screen, opening up chapters of this city you may never have known.