Five free films spotlight a century of groundbreaking performers and filmmakers
For the second year in a row, the Dryden Theatre is partnering with the ¡Presente! Film Series to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of Latin Americans to cinema worldwide. The five-film series, free and open to the public, will take place at the George Eastman Museum’s Dryden Theatre on select dates throughout September and October. The series is generously supported by the Monroe County Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Both in front of and behind the camera, Latin Americans have told us stories of family bliss, biblical epics, the macabre, tragedy, and their own integration into American culture, as reflected in this series. Through the lens of the artists who brought these films to life—Desi Arnaz, Ramón Novarro, Luis Valdez, Edward James Olmos, Raúl Julia, Anthony Quinn, and more—audiences can take a brief journey through the last century of cinema.
Latin Cinematic Heritage Screenings
- September 16: The Long, Long Trailer (Vincente Minnelli, US 1954, 96 min., 35mm)
- September 22: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (Fred Niblo, US 1925, 140 min., 35mm)
- October 7: Zoot Suit (Luis Valdez, US 1981, 103 min., DCP)
- October 15: Addams Family Values (Barry Sonnenfeld, US 1993, 94 min., DCP)
- October 21: La Strada (Federico Fellini, Italy 1954, 108 min., 35mm)
“The Dryden Theatre is the gathering place in Rochester to celebrate the entirety of film history,” said Jared Case, curator of film exhibitions, George Eastman Museum. “We’re pleased to be teaming up again with the ¡Presente! Latin Film Series and the Monroe County Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to shift the spotlight to these great film artists across 100 years of cinema that contributed immensely to the art form we all love.”
“This year, ¡Presente! celebrates the people who didn’t just appear in film history—they built it,” said Jason Barber, cofounder of the ¡Presente! Latin Film Series. “From Desi Arnaz reinventing television to the global reach of Anthony Quinn and Edward James Olmos, and from the cultural power of Luis Valdez’s writing to the brilliance of Raúl Julia—this is Latin cinematic heritage, told through the artists who changed everything.”
All screenings will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Dryden Theatre. For more information, visit eastman.org/latin-cinematic-heritage.
About ¡Presente! Latin Film Series
¡Presente! Latin Film Series was founded two years ago by Jason Barber and Annette Ramos with the mission of celebrating the often-overlooked contributions of Latin Americans to the history of cinema. With the support of a dedicated committee, ¡Presente! has brought beloved classics like Selena and Spy Kids to The Little Theatre, creating community-centered experiences that honor Latinx storytelling and its lasting cultural impact.
About the Dryden Theatre
The 500-seat Dryden Theatre is the premier exhibition space for the art of cinema as championed and interpreted by the George Eastman Museum. Presenting film screenings six times a week, the Dryden is devoted to showing all films in their original formats, thus honoring and reproducing their historical—and aesthetically supreme—modes of exhibition. It is one of the very few theaters in the world equipped for the projection of original nitrate film that also makes nitrate film screenings part of its regular program. For more information visit eastman.org/dryden-theatre.
About the George Eastman Museum
Founded in 1947, the George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum and one of the largest film archives in the United States, located on the historic Rochester estate of entrepreneur and philanthropist George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography. Its holdings comprise more than 450,000 photographs, 31,000 motion picture films, the world’s preeminent collection of photographic and cinematographic technology, one of the leading libraries of books related to photography and cinema, and extensive holdings of documents and other objects related to George Eastman. As a research and teaching institution, the Eastman Museum has an active publishing program, and its L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation’s graduate program (a collaboration with the University of Rochester) makes critical contributions to film preservation. The George Eastman Museum is supported with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information, visit eastman.org.
