BIG LENS - 2026
STUDENT SHOWCASE

SOLD OUT! THE BIG LENS STUDENT SHOWCASE highlights the bold, fearless creativity of emerging filmmakers at Wright State’s Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures. This dynamic collection of new work spans genres from post-apocalyptic experimental to romantic comedy, offering a wide range of inventive storytelling. BIG LENS invites you to take a front-row seat to the next wave of cinematic voices shaping the future of film. 
Thursday, April 30 at 7:30.  Tickets are $12.50 each.
Please note: some films contain adult content and flashing lights.

THU, APR 30 | 7:30

Ohio Goes to the Movies:
CAROL

SAVE THE DATE! As part of the statewide initiative "Ohio Goes to the Movies," we are thrilled to present a FREE screening of one of the best reviewed films to ever be shot in Ohio!
On Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30, we will present CAROL followed by a discussion with several Ohioans who worked on the film!
Free tickets are available in our lobby now during our traditional operating hours  (limit 2 per person). 

This just in!!  In addition to many people who worked behind the scenes on this incredible film, we will also welcome one of the film's stars (who grew up in Ohio) - Cory Michael Smith.  Cory has been in several films we've played at THE NEON - from MAY DECEMBER to SATURDAY NIGHT to SENTIMENTAL VALUE (he is also well known for playing "The Riddler" on TV's GOTHAM).

Please note: We can not take reservations/place holds over the phone for this free screening.

WED, MAY 6 | 7:30

NEON Nostalgia Nights:
THE WAY WE WERE

For our next installment of NEON Nostalgia Nights, we're paying tribute to Robert Redford with the classic film THE WAY WE WERE.
Thursday, May 7!
"Opposites attract when, during their college days, Katie Morosky (Barbra Streisand), a politically active Jew, meets Hubbell Gardiner (Robert Redford), a feckless WASP. Years later, in the wake of World War II, they meet again and, despite their obvious differences, marry. Hubbell wants to be a screenwriter, so the two move to California...but as the Hollywood blacklist looms, Katie's activism threatens her husband's reputation."
Before the movie, join us on our patio (starting at 6:30) for live music and cocktails...then enjoy vintage trailers on the big screen before the movie starts at 7:30.  Tickets, just $12.50 each, are on sale now!

Special thanks to our sponsor - Brian Sharp of SharpGroup Berkshire Hathaway Professional Home Realty.

THU, MAY 7 | 7:30

Daybreak presents:
NO ADDRESS

(Inspired by true events, NO ADDRESS follows the harrowing journey of Lauren, a young woman pushed onto the streets and forced to survive against all odds. Alongside a makeshift family of outcasts — each with their own haunting story of struggle and loss — Lauren discovers that home is not just a place, but the people who refuse to let you fall.
Join us at THE NEON for an evening exploring the systemic causes of homelessness.
The evening will begin at 6:00 PM with a networking reception on THE NEON’s patio. This is an opportunity to meet the staff of Daybreak and connect with others in our community who are working to end homelessness.
The film will begin at 7:30 PM and will be followed by a panel discussion featuring former Daybreak clients who have overcome housing barriers and are now working toward long-term stability and self-sufficiency." (press notes)

WED, MAY 13 | 7:30

STIVERS SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS DIGITAL CINEMA:
THE SHOWCASE

"Get ready for an evening of cinematic creativity from Stivers School for the Arts!  Join us for a one-night-only special event showcasing short films from our talented Digital Cinema students. These aspiring filmmakers will entertain you with their unique stories and stunning visuals. After the screening, stick around to meet the creative minds behind the magic—our passionate student directors, writers, and cinematographers. This is your chance to support the next generation of auteurs while enjoying a night of fresh, original entertainment. Don’t miss out—grab your tickets now for this exclusive peek into the future of film! Tickets are $5 each. Thu, May 14 at 7:30pm."

THU, MAY 14 | 7:30

REBEL WITH A CLAUSE

"One fall day, Ellen Jovin set up a folding table on a Manhattan sidewalk with a homemade sign that said 'Grammar Table.' Right away, passersby began excitedly asking questions, telling stories, and filing complaints. What happened next is the stuff of grammar legend. Ellen and her filmmaker husband, Brandt Johnson, took the table on the road, visiting all 50 states as Brandt shot the grammar action. But this story transcends grammar. It’s the story of an epic quest in a divided time to bring us all closer together."
Starting an hour before the film, come hang out with Ellen at the Grammar Table! She will answer grammar questions, resolve family grammar disputes, and take complaints. After the screening, stick around for a Q&A with Brandt and Ellen, followed by a book signing of Ellen’s national bestseller.
Tickets are $20 each - available now!

SUN, MAY 17 | 3:00

3rd Annual DAYTON BLACK WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL

The theme for year three of the DAYTON BLACK WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL is "Black women educating through film," a reflection of the ways our stories teach, heal, and preserve culture across generations.  This year's festival includes three screenings at THE NEON plus a Friday late afternoon workshop at Dayton Metro Library: West Branch.
Join us for our Opening Night Shorts Program, featuring a curated selection of films from Black women filmmakers across the country - THU, MAY 21 at 7:30. (A patio party kick-off will start things off at 6:30.)
On SAT, MAY 23 at NOON, celebrate the 35th anniversary of A POWERFUL THANG alongside a special screening of Julie Dash’s THE DIARY OF AN AFRICAN NUN, brought together for a powerful tribute to Dayton’s own BarbaraO and legendary filmmaker Zeinabu Irene Davis, who will be joining us as a special guest.
The festival will close on SUN, MAY 24 at 3:00 with a 30th anniversary screening of Cheryl Dunye’s THE WATERMELON WOMAN, a film that boldly redefined narrative, authorship, and the archive for Black and queer cinema. As one of the first feature films directed by a Black lesbian filmmaker, its impact continues to resonate across generations.
(Click individual showtimes to learn more and buy tickets for each screening. Click HERE to visit the festival's official site.)

Women Rebel Voices Tour: THE 9 LIVES OF BARBARA DANE + Khrys Blank

Join us for THE 9 LIVES OF BARBARA DANE + Live music on May 28. Director Maureen Gosling will be in attendance along with a special pre-screening musical performance from Khrys Blank (starting at 6:30 on our patio). 
"For decades, Barbara Dane lent her stellar singing voice to social-justice movements in the Bay Area and beyond, garnering an impressive FBI file along the way. Deeply respected by fellow luminaries in folk, blues and jazz, Dane built a far-reaching legacy with music, activism, and love. As Maureen Gosling’s celebratory portrait reveals, early solidarity with those suffering racial and economic injustice sparked Dane’s passion to use her talent to sustain marginalized people. Bonnie Raitt, Jane Fonda and other notables attest to Dane’s unique way of shaping and being shaped by tumultuous social revolutions from the 1950s on..." (filmmaker's synopsis)
Thursday, May 28.  Music starts on the patio at 6:30...film starts at 7:30. Tickets are $16.50 each.

THU, MAY 28 | 6:30 - Live Music!
Followed by  documentary at 7:30

SEEDS

Winner of the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, we're excited to bring SEEDS back to our big screen - with special guest Brittany Shyne - a graduate of WSU's Motion Picture Department.
"SEEDS is a portrait of centennial farmers in the geographical south. Using lyrical black and white imagery, this meditative film examines the decline of generational black farmers and the significance of owning land."
Saturday, May 30 at Noon.  Tickets are $12.50 each.

SAT, MAY 30 | NOON

ENCORE!
BILLY PRESTON:THAT'S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT

We had a wonderfully successful screening of this fantastic documentary a couple weeks ago, and we're now hearing from several people who were sorry to have missed it...so we're bringing it back for a special encore!
"Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a Grammy-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance."
Tickets are $12.50 each.

SUN, MAY 31 | 3:00

1-800-ON-HER-OWN

Join us for a special one-time screening of 1-800-ON-HER-OWN - presented in conjunction with University of Dayton's Feminist Theory and Music Conference. 
"Ani DiFranco was an unmistakable talent that shook the ‘90s alternative music scene. In this vulnerable look at her life today, she struggles to balance artistry with the demands of family."
Tickets are $12.50 each - available now.  More details coming soon!

THU, JUNE 4 | 7:30

STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!

"Fiercely independent journalist Amy Goodman has spent three decades holding the powerful to account, reporting from war zones and the Democracy Now! newsroom. In Steal This Story, Please!, Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin craft a riveting portrait of journalism’s power – and peril – in an era of corporate control and political attacks on truth." After the screening, we'll be joined by director Carl Deal via Zoom for a special Q&A. Join us for this one-time screening on Sunday, June 7 at 3:00. Tickets are $12.50 each.

SUN, JUNE 7 | 3:00