Summer Films at WHBPAC

The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHBPAC) is offering a lineup of internationally acclaimed films as part of its “Rose and Don Ciampa World Cinema Series,” offered every Tuesday and Wednesday from now through August.

Known for “Tuesday Night Movies With Andrew,” Andrew Botsford of Quogue will once again introduce each film followed by a discussion with guest commentators and an informal audience discussion. Botsford is most recently a visiting professor and communications consultant for Stony Brook Southampton, and was previously the Arts and Living editor of The Southampton Press. Tickets to all film screenings are $13 plus fees.

Set to enthrall audiences with an eclectic mix of cinematic masterpieces, the series, which kicked off on July 10 with the dark comedy “Millie Lies Low,” showcases a wide range of cinematic gems and offers a unique opportunity to experience the rich diversity of global storytelling on the big screen. A highlight to the summer movie series will be “Bollywood in the Hamptons,” a fundraiser celebrating the rich history and tradition of Indian cinema with a festive cocktail party and Bollywood film screening hosted by Madhu Powar Garg and Raj Garg on August 27.

The World Cinema Series promises an unforgettable journey through cultures and perspectives from around the world. Each film has been carefully selected to entertain, enlighten, and transport viewers to different corners of the globe by WHBPAC director of sales, Allison Frost.

“We are thrilled to present this year’s summer film series, curated because they represent diverse voices and perspectives worldwide,” said Frost. “Every year, we explore various themes, and this year our films include stories of masculinity, Indigenous rights, women’s health, poverty, and the future of humanity. Each film is beautifully and lovingly made, thought-provoking, and relevant to current social issues.”

The films being screened represent some of the very best in world cinema, and selected screenings will also feature renowned guest speakers, including former United States Poet Laureate (2001-2003) Billy Collins and Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, historian and executive director of the Eastville Community Historical Society. Each screening will be a feast for the senses, transporting moviegoers to far-off lands and immersing them in extraordinary stories.

“We are excited to present this exceptional lineup of world cinema,” said Heather Draskin, marketing director at the WHBPAC. “These films offer a unique window into different cultures, highlighting the universal power of storytelling. Through this series, we aim to foster cultural exchange, promote understanding, and celebrate the diversity of our community.”

Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is at 76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach. For details on the series, visit whbpac.org or call 631-288-1500.

World Cinema Schedule:

July 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. – “Biosphere” (English, 1 hour 47 minutes, Not Rated) directed by Mel Eslyn. In the not-too-distant future, the last two men on Earth must adapt and evolve to save humanity. Starring Mark Duplass and Sterling K. Brown. Special Guest: Billy Collins, poet laureate of the United States (2001-2003).

July 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. – “Lakota Nation vs. United States” (English, 1 hour 58 minutes, Not Rated) directed by Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli. This film chronicles the Lakota Indians’ century-long quest to reclaim the Black Hills, sacred land that was stolen in violation of treaty agreements. A searing, timely portrait of resistance, the film explores the ways America has ignored its debt to Indigenous communities, and ponders what might be done today to repair the wrongs of the past.

August 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. – “The League” (English, 1 hour 47 minutes, Not Rated) directed by Sam Pollard. This documentary celebrates the dynamic journey of Negro League baseball’s triumphs and challenges through the first half of the 20th century, told through archival footage and never-before-seen interviews with players like Satchel Paige and Buck O’Neil — whose early careers paved the way for the Jackie Robinson era — as well as celebrated Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron who started out in the Negro Leagues. Special Guest: Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, Historian and Executive Director of Eastville Community Historical Society.

August 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. – “Asteroid City” (English, 1 hour 44 minutes, PG-13) directed by Wes Anderson. The new film from Anderson stars Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Hanks. The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events. Featuring an ensemble cast including Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan and Jeff Goldblum.

August 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. – “Between Two Worlds” (French/English/German, 1 hour 46 minutes, Not Rated) directed by Emmanuel Carrère. Famed author Marianne Winckler (Juliette Binoche) goes undercover to investigate the exploitation of the working class in Northern France. She eventually lands a job as a cleaner on the cross-channel ferry and develops close connections with the other cleaning women, many of whom have extremely limited resources and income opportunities. As she learns more about the plight of these workers, Marianne struggles with her deception toward them and tries to rationalize that it’s for the greater good.

August 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. – “Our Body” (French/English/Spanish, 2 hours 48 minutes, Not Rated) directed by Claire Simon. In this film, veteran documentarian Simon observes the everyday operations of the gynecological ward in a public hospital in Paris. In the process, she questions what it means to live in a woman’s body, filming the diversity, singularity and beauty of patients in all stages of life. We see cancer screenings and fertility appointments, a teenager dealing with an unwanted pregnancy, a trans woman considering the beginnings of menopause. Through these encounters and many more, the specific fears, desires and struggles of these individuals become the health challenges we all face, even the filmmaker herself.

August 27 – “Bollywood in the Hamptons,” an afternoon fundraiser hosted by Madhu Powar Garg and Raj Garg to celebrate the rich cinematic history of Bollywood. 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at a private residence with a sumptuous spread of Indian delicacies, followed by a 6 p.m. Bollywood film screening at the theater. Tickets $13 to $100.

August 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. – “Before, Now & Then” (Indonesian, 1 hour 43 minutes, Not Rated) directed by Kamila Andini. Set amid the political violence of late-1960s Indonesia, the film follows Nana, the beautiful wife of a wealthy plantation owner whose inner life remains with her deceased first husband, murdered in the civil war a decade prior. A survivor, Nana values her safety and material comforts, but carries out a haunted existence, dreaming of her lost love. Forced to confront her husband’s blatant infidelity, Nana makes an unusual connection with his younger mistress, Ino. The two women, sharing their secrets and desires, discover a newfound freedom and intimacy withheld from them both by the strictures of patriarchal society.