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Rachel Jacobson learned the value of “art sharing” from her father, the late David Jacobson: “He created this vibrancy around art sharing within our family. He was so excited about music and film and literature.”
Now, as founder and executive director of Film Streams, Jacobson, along with her “extraordinarily dedicated” staff and hundreds of volunteers, is engaged in art sharing with the entire community – specifically the art of film.
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“Everyone is passionate about film here,” Jacobson says.
A 501(c)3 nonprofit, Film Streams oversees two cinemas: the Ruth Sokolof Theater, a two-screen venue that opened in 2007 in north downtown Omaha within the Saddle Creek Records complex, and the historic Dundee Theater, Omaha’s longest surviving neighborhood cinema and a favorite of her father’s growing up.
“It’s a different experience coming to one of our venues versus a traditional multiplex,” Jacobson says. “The films we play make you think or say something provocative about the world or show you a completely different lifestyle and way of existing.”
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From left to right: Diana Martinez, Education Director, Ira Madison, Cultural Critic and Karin Campbell, Phil Willson Curator of Contemporary Art
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Committed to sharing the art of film with as many as possible, Film Streams regularly partners with other nonprofits and community groups, and offers year-round film-education opportunities.
“We’re welcoming thousands of kids to the theater each year.”
“Our education director, Diana Martinez, is leading discussions around classic films, foreign films and documentaries, and these kids are having these great experiences through that.”
Dan McCarthy playing a live score to a 1933 Japanese film called I WAS BORN BUT…
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Jacobson says Film Streams thrives because of its guests, including 3,600+ donating member households; front-of-the-house volunteers; Community Development and Education Committee members; and “phenomenally engaged” Board. Oscar-winning filmmaker and Omaha native Alexander Payne agreed to serve before the theater was even built.
“At the time, I was a 26-year-old with some drawings of this little theater I wanted to open. He said, ‘I’ll do whatever I can to help you.’ I said, ‘Donate some money, join our board and curate our first film series.” And he was like, ‘Okay. Okay. Okay.’ He did all of that.”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
We’re only as boring as you are.
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Celebrating their 30th anniversary season, The Bluebarn Theatre distinguishes itself as the only professional adult community theatre in Omaha.
Locally-owned – Aksarben Cinema
“We love living in Omaha and competing here with other theatres. Omaha is at its best – and movie-going is at its best – when every theatre is competing to make the experience as good as it can be.” – Bill Barstow, co-owner, Aksarben Cinema
Omaha’s Film Scene – Is Rolling.
Omaha native Timothy Christian dabbles in fantasy – a necessary part of the job for a busy, genre-spanning movie producer. But he’s serious about the potential reality of making Nebraska and Omaha true players in the film industry.
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Omaha Film Festival (OFF) will mark 15 years of elevating our community, filmmakers and the arts when it opens its next run on March 3, 2020.
Ragtime – Young Actress Pieper Roeder
Opening on May 31, Director Kimberly Hickman and her cast of 37 volunteer actors have tirelessly been preparing to bring Ragtime to life at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Set in New York in the early 20th century, the plot explores the serious issues of class struggles between immigrants and suburbanites while touching on themes of family, immigration, and integration.
Beyond the Masterworks
Over the last 88 years, Joslyn Art Museum has vaulted well beyond mere “attraction,” establishing itself as a priceless piece in our region’s eclectic arts and cultural array.
