Hello Everyone!

This past weekend was fantastic - the best in the last 4+ months!  Many thanks to everyone who came out to support THELMA and THE BIKERIDERS.  Both films will stick around for another weekend.  That said, we open the new film from Yorgos Lanthimos - KINDS OF KINDNESS - next Wednesday...and we'll have to let go of THELMA for at least a couple days to make room for the new film!

I'm currently in Chicago at IND/EXP (short for "Independent Film Exhibition Conference") - a gathering of people who run cinemas (and film festivals) similar to THE NEON from across the country.  We're here to discuss best practices, talk about the state of the industry, meet with distributors and technicians, and network with one another in an effort to make sure that art house cinemas can survive and thrive.  I've run into several familiar faces (as well as formally met several people in person with whom I've only met virtually before), and I'm happy to say that THE NEON has a good & strong reputation.  One young man who used to work for Participant told me he knew of THE NEON because we had played AMERICAN FACTORY...and he had worked on that film's Oscar campaign.  I'm always happy to know that so many people equate Dayton to being the home of our friend - the late, great Julia Reichert.  (Be sure to read about our screening of JULIA'S STEPPING STONES further down in this newsletter.  It's a special screening on "Art House Theater Day.")

We'll soon have more details about our engagement of DANDELION - directed by WSU grad Nicole Riegel (she directed the wonderful film HOLLER back in 2020).  We're hoping to host Riegel for a special Q&A along with our engagement.

"Open Caption Mondays" are back!  On Monday, July 1, all screenings of THE BIKERIDERS and THELMA will be presented with Open Captions (aka - captions presented on the screen). 

Synopsis for KINDS OF KINDNESS: 3 different stories - with the same actors playing different characters.  From director Yorgos Lanthimos (director of THE LOBSTER, THE FAVOURITE and POOR THINGS) - with an incredible, all-star cast.  Jesse Plemons just won "Best Actor" for this film at the Cannes Film Festival.  "A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning and a woman's quest to locate an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide." This film is quite a ride...and I recently told some colleagues, "It's as though Michael Haneke and The Coen Brothers collaborated."

FAMILY SUMMER FILM FEST

Saturday, June 29 at 11:00am will be the fourth in our FAMILY SUMMER FILM FEST series! Each week, doors open at 10:30am, and tickets will be given on a first-come,  first-serve basis.  Events will start with Read-Along videos and continue  with programming from the PBS Kids library.  Children will leave each screening with  a free book and other materials to promote continued learning over the summer. Special thanks to this year's sponsors - Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz and FLOC (For Love Of Children). 
This Saturday is RAINBOW FAMILIES DAY - a reminder that this series welcomes all kinds of families to THE NEON - featuring episodes of CLIFFORD and WORK IT OUT WOMBATS and a hands-on activity on our patio following the screening! 

THE 24th ANNUAL DAYTON JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

"The Dayton Jewish International Film Festival offers outstanding world cinema that promotes awareness, appreciation and pride to the diversity of the Jewish people and to the community at large. Our goal is to educate and entertain through evocative, narrative and documentary films that portray the Jewish experience from historic to current global perspectives." (from official site) Click the link to see all of this year's selections. All tickets/passes must be purchased through the festival's official site.

This year's festival is about to wrap up.  Tickets are still available for all screenings.

ELVIS DAY

A supporter of THE NEON and big Elvis fan is bringing 2 classic Elvis films to town...and admission is just a donation (as big or small as you can afford) to Brigid's Path.  On Tuesday, July 9 at 5:15, we'll screen the concert documentary ELVIS - THAT'S THE WAY IT IS!  And at  7:20, we'll screen the comedic musical VIVA LAS VEGAS! All donations for these screenings go to Brigid's Path - a newborn recovery center in Dayton that specializes in the care of babies born substance-exposed, and also offers support services for their families. Tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis - starting 45 minutes before each screening.

Tue, July 9 | 5:15 & 7:20

WHO'S BAD IN ANJAHLAI'S LIFE - 3 Episodes

Anjahlai Harrison is bringing the community a preview of the first three episodes of her locally produced reality show WHO'S BAD IN ANJAHLAI'S LIFE. "As the 11 cast members compete against each other in a series of challenges and performances, tensions run high and emotions flare. With each episode we discover who will falter under pressure. Cast members will have every opportunity to emerge impressive but they’ll have to influence a cocky panel of judges and push themselves to their limits and showcase their talent in order to be crowned season 1 champion." Special, one-time screening. Tickets are $20 each.

Sun, July 14 | 7:30

Cult Movie Night: FRANKENHOOKER

Victor Bonacore's "Cult Movie Night" returns in July with one of the most notoriously hilarious 90's films that Bill Murray once said "If you see one movie this year it should be FRANKENHOOKER." After making horror history with BASKET CASE and BRAIN DAMAGE, the incomparable Frank Henenlotter unleashed FRANKENHOOKER—the greatest transmutation of Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN that you’ll ever see...Feeling like a twisted mash-up between John Waters’s SERIAL MOM and Stuart Gordon’s RE-ANIMATOR.
Many critics compared last year's POOR THINGS to FRANKENHOOKER.  If you don't have a date, she'll will be yours!"
Cult Movie Night is complete with a vintage trailer reel and a sneak peak at the next Cult Movie Night. Tickets $13.

Thu, July 18 | 7:30

Art House Theater Day: JULIA'S STEPPING STONES + GROWING UP FEMALE

Join us on "Art House Theater Day" for a special screening honoring & remembering our old friend and filmmaking legend Julia Reichert. "Julia grew up a working-class girl in the 1960s, before the Women’s Liberation movement. She went on to become a pioneering Oscar & Emmy winning documentary filmmaker. Julia passed away in December 2022, but before her death, she recorded the story of how she became a filmmaker. Her partner in film and love, Steven Bognar, spent 2023 crafting Julia’s story into a film, which premiered in April at the Full Frame Film Festival - JULIA'S STEPPING STONES.  This short is paired with GROWING UP FEMALE - the very first film of the modern women's movement. Produced in 1971, it caused controversy and exhilaration."  We were honored to have hosted Julia's 50 YEARS IN FILM retrospective in 2021 & 2022 - with Julia attending several of the screenings.  We're delighted to know that what she presented in the Fall of 2021 has been captured and turned into a film. Tickets to this event are $12.50 each - available now!

Thu, July 25 | 7:30

Red Carpet Movie Event: THE UNBREAKABLE MARRIAGE, BOY MEETS GIRL & THE JOURNEY TO FOREVER

Tisha Griffith and Bertha Davis are bringing 3 new films to THE NEON. "Join us for an unforgettable celebration of the magic of cinema at the premieres of BOY MEETS GIRL - a thought-provoking short film of two people from different worlds and THE UNBREAKABLE MARRIAGE - an inspiring full-length feature from the award winning writer Tisha Griffith, followed by her documentary short, THE JOURNEY TO FOREVER. Come experience the glamour of the red carpet as we kick off the festivities with light bites, drinks, and exclusive swag. Then, settle in for an evening of cinematic excellence as we showcase three films that are sure to captivate with their compelling narratives and powerhouse performances. Tickets are $25 each in advane, $30 day of show."

Sun, July 28 | 5:30PM

SAVE THE DATES....

Changes are in store for our "Date Night Series"...and I think you'll love the next selection - slated for Thursday, Aug. 8 (title announcement coming soon).  And on Sunday, Aug. 18, we'll have the next Exhibition On Screen documentary about CEZANNE.  More details about both of these events will be available in next week's newsletter.

We truly appreciate all of your support!
Hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

THE BIKERIDES (R) 1 Hr 56
Wed & Thur (June 26 & 27): 2:30, 5:00, 7:30
Fri, Sat, Sun (June 28-30): 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30
Mon-Thu (July 1-4): 2:30, 5:00, 7:30

THELMA (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Wednesday (June 26): 3:00, 5:10, 7:20
Thursday (June 27): 3:00, 5:10
Fri & Sat (June 28 & 29): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20
Sunday (June 30): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10
Monday & Tuesday (July 1 & 2): 3:00, 5:10, 7:20
Wed & Thu (July 3 & 4): No Screenings!

DAYTON JEWISH FILM FEST
STELLA: A LIFE (NR) 2 Hrs 1 Min – Thur, June 27: 7:15
MY NEIGHBOR ADOLD (NR) 1 Hr 36 Min - Sun, June 30: 7:15

FAMILY SUMMER FILM FEST
RAINBOW FAMILIES DAY
Sat (June 29) - 11:00am

KINDS OF KINDNESS (R) 2 Hr 44 Min
Wed & Thu (July 3 & 4): 3:30, 7:00