Presenting the Best in Independent Films and Curated Events Right in the Heart of Patchogue Village
Let’s get BACK to the Movies at PlazaMac!
Did you know: The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is open for business! Congratulations, you’re hearing the news just in time to get in-the-know on all the best special events and independent film releases – now playing, and coming soon – @PlazaMAC.
This weekend, take a dinner date to Brickhouse Brewery, Perabell or The Tap Room, then look smart – and come on over to the Plaza MAC for some of the most well received and critically acclaimed films around, including: MOTHERING SUNDAY (Now Playing), EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE (Starts Friday 4/15 with a special event on Saturday 4/16 for a conversation and performance between shows at 7pm by Long Island’s own John Hampson of ninedays, writer of the hit song “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” which is featured prominently in the film!), THE DUKE (5/6), DOWNTON ABBEY (5/20) and THE AUTOMAT (Coming Soon). Past showings have included Oscar caliber movies like BELFAST, WEST SIDE STORY, BEING THE RICARDOS, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH and PARALLEL MOTHERS.
Please visit www.plazamac.org and find opportunities to enjoy a film festival with guest speakers and panels, like the MARITIME FILM FESTIVAL which presents CHARLOTTE (4/26, 7:30PM), DIGGERS (5/10, 730pm) and A WORLD WITHIN A WORLD (5/24, 730pm), or the upcoming LOVE WINS FILM FESTIVAL with screenings and events planned for 6/17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 30, 7/1, and 7/2. The latter film festival’s mission is to highlight subjects deserving attention by supporting Women’s Empowerment, LGBTQIA, and Diversity and Inclusion messages.
Curated Music and Comedy shows are being planned on Tuesdays (Blue Velvet Lounge Open Mic with Maxwell Peters) and Wednesdays (Comedy at Blue Velvet Lounge with Wilshire Comedy Group starting Wed May 11th featuring ALAN STREISFELD (M/C), DAVID WEISS, LES DEGEN, RICH WALKER and CLAUDIA BONAVITA), as well.
Under the leadership of Co-Founder and Executive Director Catherine Oberg, The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center has thrived as a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), community supported organization, bringing cultural and educational programming under one mission-driven roof, fiscally supported by a combination of admission and tuition, philanthropic funding, grants, business sponsorships, and community contributions.
The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is part of an international consortium, the Art House Convergence, which by 2017 consisted of over 500 delegates representing exhibitors, distributors, film festivals, and allied organizations.
THE STORY OF THE PLAZA CINEMA & MEDIA ARTS CENTER:
In the fall of 2010 a group of volunteers unassumingly began screening films once a month in Shand’s Loft at the BrickHouse Brewery and received an enthusiastic response. After nine months of “Monday Nights at The Movies” it was clear that the South shore community wanted its own Art House Cinema – Plaza MAC, Inc. was born. Encouraged by a $5,000 gift from filmmaker George Stoney, the founders moved into a bare bones 1,200 sq. ft. storefront at Artspace on Terry Street. With hammers and paint brushes in hand, the volunteers caught the attention of a local newspaper reporter and celebrity Isabella Rossellini. Inspired by what was happening, community members started sending unsolicited checks to The Plaza.
Within the first two years (2011-2013) of Plaza’s existence at Artspace, the community’s gifts made it possible to build a box office, folding chairs were replaced by comfortable reclining chairs, the Blue Velvet wine bar and concession stand replaced folding tables, walls replaced curtains, risers were modified, and the screening and sound equipment were up-graded to a state-of-the art digital cinema system with surround sound. By Midsummer 2016 two art deco marquees were installed and The Plaza celebrated with a memorable marquee lighting and ribbon cutting ceremony.