2022 Film Series

The Athens Cultural Center launched its inaugural Second Saturdays Outdoor Film Series in 2022, presenting free community film screenings from May through September at Athens Riverfront Park. Set against the backdrop of the Hudson River, the series paired thoughtfully selected films with live music, special guests, and community partnerships, creating memorable evenings that celebrated cinema, conversation, and the shared experience of gathering outdoors. 

  • Harold and Maude

    May 14, 2022

    Screening at 8:30pm

    The inaugural Second Saturdays Outdoor Film Series opened with Hal Ashby's beloved 1971 cult classic Harold and Maude. The unforgettable story of an unlikely friendship and love affair, paired with Cat Stevens' iconic soundtrack, set the tone for a season of films that celebrated creativity, connection, and community.

  • Thirsty

    June 12, 2022

    Screening at 8:30pm

    In celebration of Pride Month, ACC presented Thirsty, a musical coming-of-age film inspired by the life of renowned Cher impersonator Thirsty Burlington. Fighting obstacles along the way, what he really wants is self-acceptance.

    Visitors were encouraged to begin the evening with Spectrum, ACC's exhibition featuring Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ artists, before gathering for the film.

  • A Trip to the Moon

    July 9, 2022

    Hosted by Denny Daniel with 16mm projection

    Featuring a Live Score by Jef Brown at the Athens Cultural Center, 24 Second Street

    Screenings at 2pm & 3:30pm

    Presented as part of the Athens Street Festival, this special program celebrated the magic of early cinema with Georges Méliès' groundbreaking 1902 silent film A Trip to the Moon. The event featured a live musical score by Kingston musician Jef Brown, 16mm projection by Denny Daniel of the Museum of Interesting Things, and a display of historic optical devices including zoetropes, kinetoscopes, and camera obscuras.

  • Summer of Soul

    August 13, 2022

    DJ set by LunarMoss at 6:30pm
    Q&A with Producer Joseph Patel at 8pm
    Screening at 8:30pm

    ACC presented Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's Academy Award-winning documentary Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), a powerful film celebrating the music, history, and cultural legacy of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.

    The evening invited audiences to experience the festival's extraordinary live performances while exploring its enduring impact on Black history, culture, and fashion. The program opened with a DJ set by LunarMoss and featured a pre-screening conversation with Academy Award-winning producer Joseph Patel, who shared insights into the making of the acclaimed documentary, recipient of the 2022 Oscar for Best Documentary as well as numerous BAFTA, Sundance, Critics Choice, and Independent Spirit awards.

  • I Dream Too Much

    September 10, 2022

    Screening at 8:30pm

    ACC concluded its inaugural Second Saturdays Outdoor Film Series with I Dream Too Much, a heartwarming independent film written and directed by local filmmaker Katie Cokinos and set in upstate New York. The story follows a recent college graduate who finds herself caring for her reclusive great-aunt, whose long-hidden romantic past inspires both women to embrace new possibilities.

    Featuring performances by Eden Brolin, Diane Ladd, Danielle Brooks, and Christina Rouner, the film explores family, love, and self-discovery across three generations while celebrating the landscapes and creative spirit of upstate New York.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and administered in Columbia County by the Greene County Council on the Arts dba CREATE Council for the Arts.