SHELBURNE FALLS — Potholes Pictures will kick off its fall/winter movie season this weekend with a fundraising screening of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” to support New England Public Media.
The documentary from Morgan Neville explores the life and legacy of Fred Rogers, the host of the popular children’s television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Shelburne Falls Theater at Memorial Hall, located at 51 Bridge St.
Tickets are $6 at the door, with proceeds supporting New England Public Media. NEPM President Matt Abramovitz plans to attend the event to share information about how federal funding cuts have impacted public media.
“With the loss of federal funding, NEPM now depends entirely on the generosity of our western Massachusetts community to keep public media thriving,” Abramovitz said in a statement. “Like Mr. Rogers reminded us, it’s the people who care that make a neighborhood — and thanks to our neighbors, we’re still here, telling the stories that matter. We’re deeply grateful to Pothole Pictures for sharing ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ and inviting NEPM to be a part of its opening weekend.”
Jim Kessler, president of the Memorial Hall Association that organizes Potholes Pictures programming, said the association is happy to support NEPM, and the film was chosen to kick off the season because it feels “appropriate and timely.”
“One of the really moving moments in the documentary is when Fred Rogers goes before Congress to speak about funding cuts and the importance of funding public media, and children’s programming like his,” Kessler said. “It was just inspiring to see.”
Prior to both screenings, attendees can enjoy live music and entertainment from local performers at 7 p.m. On Friday, Americana band 133 Skeele will perform, and on Saturday, children’s storyteller Davis Bates will share stories and songs.
Bates said the showing will be a “special event” for Pothole Pictures, as it is the first movie screening being held since the theater was closed for renovations. The historic theater reopened last weekend, and welcomed residents to take a look at the new Emerson-style seating, repaired flooring and refurbished ceiling tiles.
“It makes it a great place to sit and watch a movie,” Kessler said of the new seating. “We hope people come out to Pothole Pictures and enjoy a film.”
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” will be the first of nine movies shown in this season of Pothole Pictures. Other films scheduled are:
- “Far Out: Life On & After the Commune” — Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15.
- “The Kid” — Saturday, Nov. 29.
- “It’s a Wonderful Life” — Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20.
- “Across the Universe” — Friday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Jan. 10.
- “WALL-E” — Friday, Jan. 30, and Saturday, Jan. 31.
- “Monsoon Wedding” — Friday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 21.
- “The Killing” — Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28.
- “Waiting for Guffman” — Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.
Kessler said selecting the movies for each season is always an enjoyable challenge. He and other volunteers gather to present their ideas and debate which titles should be featured. He added that volunteers have already begun discussing what should be shown in the spring/summer season of Pothole Pictures.
“Almost always, a movie someone loves is a movie someone hates,” Kessler joked. “We talk it out and are always able to come up with about eight films that everyone is OK with, and put together a good season.”
For more information, visit shelburnefallsmemorialhall.org/pothole-pictures.