Membership FAQ
We provide the following answers to frequently asked questions about membership below. For additional helpful information, please refer to our Online Ticketing FAQ. If you don’t find the answer you need, call us at 914.773.7663, ext. 6 or email us at membership@burnsfilmcenter.org.
How do I receive the member price on tickets?
What is the Reel Partners discount program for JBFC members?
What benefits of Membership do I receive at the Media Arts Lab?
How can I prevent being shut out from sold-out screenings?
What if I lose my membership card?
How do I receive special member announcements and invitations?
How do I learn about complimentary ticket offers for members?
How do I learn about your most up-to-date schedule changes that don’t appear in your printed calendar?
If I do not want to receive JBFC email, how do I request no email?
If I renew early, do I lose the time remaining on my membership?
What are Donor Screenings and Filmmaker Events?
What are Anniversary Screenings?
How do I receive the member price on tickets?
Become a member to receive a membership card and ID number for member benefits. Show your membership card when purchasing tickets at the Box Office or save your membership ID number to your ticket purchasing account when purchasing tickets online. Join online now!
What is the Reel Partners discount program for JBFC members?
Reel Partners is our vendor discount program for members. Members receive special savings at participating businesses by showing their membership cards. Annually in January or shortly after joining, you will receive a booklet with a full listing of participating businesses. This listing is also available on our Reel Partners page and on display at our theater.
What benefits of Membership do I receive at the Media Arts Lab?
All members are eligible for waived registration fees for classes at the Media Arts Lab. Members at the Family membership level and above are also entitled to a 10% class discount. The Media Arts Lab is part of the JBFC campus and is located just down the street from the theater at 405 Manville Road. Courses in all facets of filmmaking and film appreciation are available to kids and adults. For more information on our Media Arts Lab courses, please visit Education.
How can I prevent being shut out from sold-out screenings?
We recommend that you purchase tickets online in advance to be assured a seat, particularly for weekend evening screenings and special events. Set up an online username and password so that it's quick and easy to purchase tickets online. Access our Online Ticketing FAQ for helpful tips. You can also purchase your tickets in advance at the Box Office for any scheduled screening. We cannot take ticket reservations by phone. Although our one-time special events do sell out quickly, many of our screenings do not sell out until shortly before showtime.
What if I lose my membership card?
If you lose your membership card and need a replacement, contact Membership or stop by the Theater. There is an administrative fee of $5 to issue a new card.
How do I receive special member announcements and invitations?
Many of our special announcements and complimentary ticket offers for members go out via email. Make sure we have your current email address on record in our membership database (this is separate from your weekly e-bulletin registration). If you are not sure whether we have your email address on record, please email us at membership@burnsfilmcenter.org.
How do I learn about complimentary ticket offers for members?
Periodically we make complimentary tickets available to our members for selected screenings. We can only make these offers via email. Please be sure that we have your email address.
How do I learn about your most up-to-date schedule changes that don’t appear in your printed calendar?
We update our schedule with new programs every week. Register for the free weekly JBFC E-Bulletin, which comes out every Thursday with the weekly schedule, details on new films, and last-minute schedule changes. Special e-bulletins periodically announce late-breaking news. You can also check newspaper listings, our website, and our Info-Line (747-5555) for the most current information.
If I do not want to receive JBFC email, how do I request no email?
Please contact Membership at membership@burnsfilmcenter.org or 914.773.7663, ext. 6 to confirm that you do not wish to receive emails regarding your membership. You may also select "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of any JBFC E-bulletin that you receive from us if you no longer wish to receive the weekly e-bulletin. Please note that if you discontinue emails from membership you will miss out on some benefits of membership including periodic complimentary ticket offers and special announcements. If you unsubscribe to the weekly JBFC E-bulletin, you will also no longer receive announcements regarding weekly updates to our programming calendar and newly confirmed special events.
If I renew early, do I lose the time remaining on my membership?
No. When you renew early, your membership extends from its current expiration date forward. We appreciate your early renewal as it saves us the cost of additional mailings and ensures your continuing support. Renew now!
I have given you my current email address and still don’t receive your weekly e-bulletins or special announcements. What can I do?
Be sure that your Internet service provider is not blocking messages from us as spam. To help ensure that this does not happen, add these three addresses to your email Address Book, Contacts or Safe List:
membership@burnsfilmcenter.org for member news, promotions, invitations, and renewal information
specialevents@burnsfilmcenter.org for membership private event invitations and complimentary ticket offers
ebulletin@burnsfilmcenter.org for weekly e-bulletins
I prefer to receive information on your programming from your weekly e-bulletin and website. Can I opt-out of your printed calendar?
Yes! This helps us cut down on our administrative costs so that more of your membership dollars go into our programming. Please email us at membership@burnsfilmcenter.org and we’ll adjust your membership record. If you change your mind, you can always “re-subscribe.”
What is Priority Purchase?
Priority Purchase is a benefit that we extend to members at the Film Buff level and above. Members at these levels periodically receive opportunities to purchase tickets before they go on sale to other members and the general public. Typically, Priority Purchase events sell out very quickly, during the Priority period. It is best to purchase immediately, online if possible. Upgrade for this benefit now! Past Priority Purchase opportunities have included:
- The Journal News Film Club – priority subscription two times per year
- An Evening with Jeremy Irons
- Is Anybody There? with filmmaker John Crowley, actor Bill Milner, and actor Michael Caine
- Tribute to Paul Newman with actor Alec Baldwin
- An Evening with Debra Winger
- Nixon with director Oliver Stone
- Helvetica – opening night for Frameworks film series with Q&A, reception and performance art
- The Good German with director Steven Soderbergh
- A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
- Akeelah & the Bee with Angela Bassett
- Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman with co-producer/co-director renowned performer Judy Collins
- Girl with a Pearl Earring and Q&A with Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson
What are Donor Screenings and Filmmaker Events?
Donor Screenings (DS) are private members-only events offered as a benefit to members at the Film Buff level and above. Filmmaker Events (FE) are offered for free to members at the Film Enthusiast level and above. Invitations are sent by email or mail throughout the year. Upgrade for this benefit now!
Past events have included:
- Yonkers Joe with director Robert Celestino and actor Chazz Palminteri - FE
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – preview - DS
- Appaloosa – preview - DS
- Vicki Christina Barcelona – preview - DS
- Encounters at the End of the World with filmmaker Werner Herzog - FE
- Then She Found Me – preview - DS
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly with filmmaker Julian Schnabel - FE
- Lars and the Real Girl with actor Ryan Gosling and director Craig Gillespie - FE
- Gone Baby Gone – preview - DS
- Across the Universe with director Julie Taymor and music producer Elliot Goldenthal - FE
- Infamous with director Doug McGrath - FE
- Confessions of a Dangerous Mind with director/actor George Clooney and Sam Rockwell - FE
- The Maldonado Miracle with director Salma Hayek - FE
What are Anniversary Screenings?
Anniversary Screenings are scheduled every June in celebration of the Film Center's anniversary (the Center opened its doors June 21, 2001). All members receive invitations by mail to attend one free Anniversary Screening. Prize raffles are offered at every screening! Anniversary Screenings 2009 are sponsored by Club Fit.