It’s our birthday! On June 21, the Jacob Burns Film Center will be seven years old. We are so grateful to everyone who has helped us: our sponsors and supporters, the Pleasantville community (who overwhelmed us with membership purchases the first day they went on sale in May 2001), volunteers, donors, and members. We also thank our Reel Partners, the local businesses that offer special discounts to JBFC members. We couldn’t even dream of doing what we do—and what we plan for the future— if it weren’t for all of you.

As a token of our thanks, we’re offering free Anniversary Screenings to all members in June. Check your mailbox for an invitation. A special nod of appreciation goes to Club Fit, which sponsors this program and has been among our staunchest supporters from day one.

We present the best of world and independent cinema every single day, often with a remarkable guest who brings that extra something to the event. In May and June alone our programming includes three popular annual series: "Dance on Camera" (Opening Night with New York City Ballet former principal dancer Jock Soto), "Out at the Movies" (the Oscar-winning Freeheld kicks off this selection of LGBT movies), and "Classic Italian Cinema" (with an array of masterpieces and an Opening Night festa of Italian food and wine).

We’re excited to be extending our community online through Facebook (add us to your friend list) and YouTube . We’re particularly thrilled about having our own channel on YouTube since this makes it possible for the whole world to see our student-made films, some of which are getting public recognition already.

Two examples: A team of high school students from our documentary program "Unscripted" — Emily Lubin (Horace Greeley High School), Holly Krakowski (Pleasantville High School), and Jonathan Bedard (Valhalla High School)— recently won Thirteen/WNET’s "The War" multimedia contest. Their film, A Beautiful Destiny, chronicles the WWII experiences of Pleasantville resident Angelo Nonna. You can watch it right now on our YouTube channel.

Another JBFC film, The New Haircut, made by "Animation: Minds in Motion" fourth graders from Casimir Pulaski School in Yonkers, was selected for Australia’s largest international film festival for kids, Little Big Shots. It will be shown in 20 venues across that country—including the famous Sydney Opera House—starting this summer. We couldn’t be prouder. And that alone is the best birthday gift we could ever receive.

See you at the movies!

Steve Apkon
Executive Director