Hello Everyone!

We made some big changes for this upcoming weekend...and I'm certain all of you are going to find something to embrace. If you still need to see the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS (LIVE ACTION & ANIMATION) or THE TASTE OF THINGS, you'll need to hurry.  Tomorrow (Thursday) will be the last day for all of them.  On Friday, we are opening THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE (nominated for "Best International Film" and one of my favorites from 2023), IO CAPITANO (another "Best International Film" contender that will win you over) and Ava DuVernay's ORIGIN (a film that has already played in this market but didn't get the love it deserves). PERFECT DAYS will stick around for one show per day through next Wednesday, then we'll open ONE LIFE - starring Anthony Hopkins - on Thursday, March 14!

Of course this Sunday is our party - and you're invited toHollywood's Big Night .   This will be my 23rd year hosting this party surrounding the Academy Awards being presented on our big screen...and as always, admission is FREE!  More details and ballots are available in our lobby.

We were delighted to receive word over the weekend that THE NEON has been selected to receive operating support from The Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.  Many thanks to Ann Schenking who helped us prepare our grant application, the panelists who reviewed it and to MCACD for their generosity and support!

Synopsis for ORIGIN: "While grappling with tremendous personal tragedy, writer Isabel Wilkerson sets herself on a path of global investigation and discovery." On Friday, March 8, we will begin a one-week run of ORIGIN - the new film by Ava DuVernay - Inspired by the New York Times Best-Seller CASTE: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS. Starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Niecy Nash-Betts, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood. Our screenings will be followed by a special, pre-recorded Q&A with DuVernay!!

Synopsis for THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE: Winner of numerous awards and now nominated for "Best International Film" at this year's Academy Awards.  "When one of her students is suspected of theft, teacher Carla Nowak decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her." THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER calls this film, "a pulse-pounding exploration of the ways we draw lines between enemies and friends, and the courage it takes to blur them."

Synopsis for IO CAPITANO: "Longing for a brighter future, two Senegalese teenagers embark on a journey from West Africa to Italy. However, between their dreams and reality lies a labyrinth of checkpoints, the Sahara Desert, and the vast waters of the Mediterranean." Leonard Maltin wrote, "This is storytelling at its most visceral, painted on a broad canvas that reminded me of a saga by David Lean. In a year when all five Oscar contenders for International Film are so worthy, this one captured my heart."

ENCORE TONIGHT! "Claude Monet was an avid horticulturist and arguably the most important painter of gardens in the history of art, but he was not alone. Great artists like Van Gogh, Bonnard, Sorolla, Sargent, Pissarro and Matisse all saw the garden as a powerful subject for their art. These great artists, along with many other famous names, feature in an innovative and extensive exhibition from The Royal Academy of Arts, London." (Exhibition On Screen) An encore (documentary only, no discussion) has been added for tonight - Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30.

ONE TIME ONLY! This screening is FREE, but registration is required. "Join Playwright and Educator Kyle Holmes for a Q&A discussion immediately following this special showing of the HBO Documentary, MY SO-CALLED HIGH SCHOOL RANK chronicling the creation of RANKED, a groundbreaking musical exploring how creative outlets like theatre and music can have a profound impact on youth mental health. Holmes will share his experience developing the musical RANKED and how this collaborative creative process provided young people a platform to openly discuss immense academic pressures and other issues negatively affecting their well-being. In addition, local filmmaker, Jayson Aldridge will screen the new short A CALL TO HOPE - featuring three students from Miami Valley area high schools who were selected to share their voice on what hope means to them and how they find hope in desperate times. One-time screening - Wednesday, March 13 at 7:30.

This screening is being held in conjunction Sinclair's Student Enrichment Programs, The Montgomery County Mentoring Collaborative and Fast Forward Re-Engagement Center, for their annual Mentoring and Re-Engagement Summit. For more information about the Sinclair event, call 937 512-3179 or visit thisLINK.

The cult classic THE ROOM and special guest Greg Sestero (actor from THE ROOM and author of THE DISASTER ARTIST) are heading back to THE NEON. For the past two years, this event has sold out very quickly!  It will screen Thursday, March 14 at 7:30, and tickets are $22 - on sale now! Grab your friends (and your spoons), it's gonna be another fun-filled night! Limited tickets remain!

Tommy Wiseau is so glad that THE ROOM is coming back to Dayton that he's decided to hold the Ohio Premiere of his new film BIG SHARK directly following our screening of THE ROOM!  Tickets for the 10pm screening on March 14 are $20 each and are now on sale!  I have a feeling we're gonna be in for a wild ride! Tickets are flying!

Water - we take it for granted and probably don’t give it much thought, but it is essential to sustain life everywhere.
WATER is a feature documentary film by Gary Beeber that focuses on Ohio’s source of water and what’s being done to protect it for future generations.  This one-time special preview will benefit the Little Miami Watershed Network - Sunday, March 24 at 5pm. Tickets are $15 each.  This screening is generously funded by by Xylem.

THE PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year – whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, SUP, action and lifestyle – in more than 120 cities and towns across Canada, United States and around the world. This year's edition is once again sponsored by Massie Creek Paddlers and Tomfoolery Outdoors!  One Night Only - Thursday, March 28 at 7:30.  Tickets are $12.50 each.

Mark your calendars for a special screening of the documentary WHO KILLED GANDHI? on Wednesday, April 3 at 7:30.  We will be presenting this one-time special screening in partnership with The Dayton International Peace Museum's "Season For NonViolence."  Tickets will go on sale this weekend for $8 each.

Cinematographer and Dayton native Collin Brazie is coming back to town with a brand new horror film - BLACKOUT. This new movie will screen one time on Friday, April 5 at 10:00pm, and tickets are $12.50 each. "Charley’s secret is he thinks he’s a werewolf. He can’t remember the things he’s done but the papers report random acts of violence taking place at night in this small upstate hamlet. Now the whole town must rally to find out what is tearing it apart: mistrust, fear, or a monster that comes out at night." Brazie will be in attendance, and we'll host a special Q&A after the screening.

"When the Rwandan genocide broke out in 1994, one American chose to stay in the country and risk everything in hope of saving a few lives.
I'M NOT LEAVING tells the story of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi through the eyes of the Wilkens family. This 40-minute documentary will be followed by a discussion including a local resident who has traveled to Rwanda with Carl Wilkens.
This Global Views event is sponsored by the Dayton Council on World Affairs, a non-profit organization that provides residents of the Miami Valley direct contact with key international figures and networking with Dayton’s growing international community.  We host discussions of critical issues and raise intercultural awareness through our programs that focus on providing insight into international political, economic, business and cultural trends." (taken from press notes) This one-time-only screening will take place Sunday, April 7 at 5:00pm.  Tickets are $5 each. To learn more about The Dayton Council on World Affairs, visit this LINK.

Thank you for all of your support!
Hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

THE TASTE OF THINGS (PG-13) 2 Hrs 15 Min
Wed (Mar 6): 2:30
Thu (Mar 7): 7:10
FINAL DAY - March 7

OSCAR SHORTS: LIVE ACTION (NR – essentially “R”) 2 Hrs 20 Min
Wed (Mar 6): No Screening
Thu (Mar 7): 2:30
FINAL DAY - March 7

OSCAR SHORTS: ANIMATION (NR – essentially “R”) 1 Hr 20 Min
Wed & Thu (Mar 6 & 7): 5:20
FINAL DAY - March 7

PERFECT DAYS (PG) 2 Hrs 3 Min
Wed & Thu (Mar 6 & 7): 3:30, 7:15
Fri, Sat, Sun (Mar 8-10): 4:30
Mon & Tue (Mar 11 & 12): 3:30
Wednesday (Mar 13): 7:00
FINAL DAY - March 13

PAINTING THE MODERN GARDEN: MONET TO MATISSE
(NR) 1 Hr 30 Min
Wed (Mar 6): 7:00 - screening only

ORIGIN (PG-13) 2 Hrs 29 Min (includes Q&A)
Fri, Sat, Sun (Mar 8-10): 1:15, 7:15
Mon & Tue (Mar 11 & 12): 7:15
Wed & Thu (Mar 13 & 14): 2:50

IO CAPITANO (NR) 2 Hrs 1 Min
Fri & Sat (Mar 8 & 9): 12:15, 5:00
Sunday (Mar 10): 12:15
Mon & Tue (Mar 11 & 12): 5:10
Wed & Thu (Mar 13 & 14): 2:40

THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Fri & Sat (Mar 8 & 9): 2:45, 7:30
Sunday (Mar 10): 2:45
Mon & Tue (Mar 11 & 12): 7:40
Wed & Thu (Mar 13 & 14): 5:10

HOLLYWOOD'S BIG NIGHT - Our FREE Party!
Doors Open at 6:00, Show Starts at 7:00

MY SO-CALLED HIGH SCHOOL RANK (NR) 1 Hr 41 + discussion
Wednesday (Mar 13): 7:30

ONE LIFE (PG) 1 Hr 50 Min
Thursday (Mar 14): 6:00 

THE ROOM (R) 1 Hr 39 Min + pre-show fun
Thursday (Mar 14): 7:30

BIG SHARK (NR) 1 Hr 44 Min
Thursday (Mar 14): 10:00