OGT Spotlight
OGT Community Recommends: AN UNEXPECTED LOVE


ABOUT GERARDO

OGT Community Recommends: THE BIRDS

ABOUT CHRISTINE

OGT Community Recommends: CASABLANCA




OGT Community Recommends: OTHER MUSIC


- Smithereens (dir. Susan Seidelman, 1982)
- Basquiat (dir. Julian Schnabel, 1996)
- High Fidelity (dir. Stephen Frears, 2000)
- Rent (dir. Chris Columbus, 2005)
- Inside Llewyn Davis (dir. Joel and Ethan Coen, 2013)
A Message from Friends of Greenbelt Theatre: Black Lives Matter
We, the Friends of Greenbelt Theatre, believe in the power of film to generate understanding and empathy, community and—most importantly—conversation. We believe film is a powerful tool: one that can help us look at our past to understand our current context, one that can illuminate the everyday abuses of racism, and one that can educate our community on the ways we can move forward toward a better, more equitable future.
As we stand and strongly say to our community that Black Lives Matter, we do it using the tool we always use to create conversation and community: film. What follows is FGT’s recommended viewing list. We have shown many of these films at our cinema, and we will continue to showcase films by Black creators.
This selection is by no means comprehensive, but we offer it as a place to start for those in our community looking to educate themselves and listen to Black voices in film.
First, we have partnered with Magnolia Pictures to re-release three documentaries: I Am Not Your Negro, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, and Whose Streets?. These films are available not for rent, but for purchase so you can watch, review, and learn for as long as you like. Second, Warner Brothers has made the film Just Mercy free through Amazon Video. We showed this at the theater, and recommend you take advantage of this free opportunity to view the film (whether for the first time or for a refresh viewing).-
13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
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Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 (Goran Olsson) — Currently FREE on Amazon Video
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Crime and Punishment (Stephen Maing) — Hulu
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King In The Wilderness (Peter Kunhardt) — Kanopy (free with library card) and HBO (various platforms)
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The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (Stanley Nelson Jr.) — Amazon Prime and Hoopla (free with library card)
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What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire (Roberto Minervi) — Kanopy (free with library card)
Narrative Films/TV Shows
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American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
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Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — available to rent
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Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
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Do The Right Thing (Spike Lee) — available to rent
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Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Roku (free with ads)
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Get Out (Jordan Peele) - available to rent
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If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
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Insecure (Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore) — HBO
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Mudbound (Dee Rees) — Netflix
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See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
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Talk to Me (Kasi Lemmons) — Starz
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The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Cinemax, Direct TV or rent through Fandango
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When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

“Only one is a wanderer. Two together are going somewhere.”



OGT Closure due to COVID-19
Dear members and patrons,
Since the Friends of Greenbelt Theatre reopened the Old Greenbelt Theatre on May 1, 2015, we have prided ourselves on never going a day without showing a movie. We’ve been there through snow days, every Federal holiday, a major renovation, and all the quiet normal days in between. It’s not some sort of stunt to keep a streak going, it’s because we love what we do and are committed to being here as a resource for the community.
Today we will close our doors for the first time for the same reasons: we take our role in the community seriously and cannot run the risk of being a site of transmission.
Starting today (Friday, March 13), the Old Greenbelt Theatre will be closed. We will work closely with the City of Greenbelt to monitor the situation and decide on a reopening date. All special events - where possible - will be rescheduled. And, of course, if you have bought tickets for an event that is now postponed, we will honor those tickets at the future show. If you've already purchased a ticket for an event, you will receive an email.
However, we also know that at a time like this community connection remains as important as ever. We are working on plans to continue our programming in a way that will allow you to still participate with film and film education from the safety and comfort of your home. Please keep an eye out for our weekly Tuesday email for instructions on how to participate. We’ll have a little something for everyone, and we hope it makes these days of stress and anxiety easier to cope with and just a bit brighter.
During our closure, we will also be working on a plan for reopening safely, as the landscape of movie-going may change for a while even after we can open our doors again.
This will be a difficult time for us as a staff - as Executive Director I am responsible for a staff of 10 - and for that reason closing the theater was not an easy decision to make, but it is clearly the right one at this time. As I said in the beginning, we love what we do, and that has not changed. Keep an eye out for virtual programming coming from us soon. We hope to break the tedium of self-isolation and continue to serve as a valued community resource.
Thank you for your understanding and support. We hope you all stay safe and well. We look forward to seeing you at the movies before too long.
Take Care, Caitlin
Caitlin McGrath Executive Director Friends of Greenbelt TheatreTOP HAT: “Every Once in a While I Suddenly Find Myself Dancing”



ASK CAITLIN: How do you pick the movies?
- The multiplexes are usually part of a major company that has hundreds of screens all over the country, so not only can they promise to keep the film as long as the studio wants, they’re doing it hundreds of times around the country.
- We can’t possibly promise to keep a film for as long as the studios want in order to book it opening weekend.
Hollywood & the Academy Achieve Record Diversity – Yet #OscarsSoWhite Remains Relevant As Ever

1917: Review by a WWI Historian
Nicole Hudgins is an associate professor of history at the University of Baltimore (UB), and the author of two books on the history of photography: Hold Still, Madame: Wartime Gender and the Photography of Women during the Great War, and The Gender of Photography: How Masculine and Feminine Values Shaped the Values of Nineteenth Century Photography. She has lived in Greenbelt for fourteen years, and adores the Old Greenbelt Theatre. Follow Nicole on Instagram at drnhudgins.
The Old Greenbelt Theatre goes Beyond the Screen!
- Become a member. Becoming a member helps show us that you believe in the value of a nonprofit, arthouse cinema.
- Donate to our Beyond the Screen Initiative. While we've raised the funds to begin construction next door, we need additional support to begin building our educational programming.
- Spread the word. This spring, we will be sending volunteers to fairs and festivals all over Prince George’s County to educate the larger community about OGT's many offerings. This will require a lot of folks excited about our mission. Fill out our volunteer application here.
- Tell us what classes you're interested in! Complete this three-question form to help us design our fall sample course offerings in The Lab.


Little Women: A Review
Twentieth Century: “They are the only true actors we have left.”

A Holiday Card from O. G. Theatre
Dear Friend,
We’ve come to the season where we sit down and take stock of the year. And wowie, what a year I’ve had! Not to brag or anything, but I’m looking fabulous.

O.G. Theatre
Special Representative
Friends of Greenbelt Theatre

O. G. Theatre is an historic, arthouse cinema, born and raised in Greenbelt, Maryland. They enjoy watching movies with friends and eating freshly-popped popcorn. Their favorite films are Little Miss Broadway (1938) and The Wizard of Oz (1939). They got involved with the Friends of Greenbelt Theatre in 2015 and has admired FGT's work ever since. O. G. has no plans to retire anytime in the near future; they love what they do just too darn much.
GATe Curtain Call: Parasite Review
OGT’s Caitlin McGrath honored on Beltway Plaza Wall of Fame
The Apartment: Shut Up and Deal!


“The Old Ladies Get 12” in October’s Monday Matinee


My Weird, Wonderful Experience at the Toronto International Film Festival
30 movies in 8 days.
This was the goal before I left - knowing that I could average four a day, with two more on the final morning before I dashed to the airport. To pull this off requires a lot of planning, hustling in and out of venues, and a long list of alternates, in case the carefully orchestrated first, second or third plan goes awry.

- A Hidden Life
- Varda By Agnes
- The Lighthouse
- Radioactive
- Pain and Glory
- I Am Woman
- Dads
- Just Mercy
- Hope Gap
- Cunningham
- The Capote Tapes
- How to Build a Girl
- Hustlers
- Collective
- Tammy’s Always Dying
- Jojo Rabbit
- Knives Out
- Ordinary Love
- The Truth
- Ford v. Ferrari
- The Laundromat
- This is Not a Movie
- Guest of Honour
- Bad Education
- Harriet
- Waves
- Burnt Orange Heresy
- Lucy in the Sky
- Motherless Brooklyn
- Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
NEW PRODUCT: OGT now carries J. Elise Tea



Jezebel Unites Two Classic Hollywood Greats



OGT VIP Volunteer: Christine Wells!

Now, get to know Christine!
Q: Why do you volunteer for OGT? A: I've always appreciated having OGT close by to see indie films not shown in the commercial theaters (my alternatives are theaters in DC and Annapolis). I love an actual 'Big Screen' as opposed to the smaller screens in the multiplex, and I love that it does not cost an arm and a leg to see a film. I volunteer to keep these things going. Q: What do you like best about volunteering? A: I enjoy talking with the patrons, and potential patrons. I lean toward the shy side...this helps bring me out of my shell. Q: What is your favorite recent movie screened at OGT? A: My two favorite recent movies screened at OGT are Can You Ever Forgive Me? and A Star Is Born. Could you be our next star volunteer? Sign up here to volunteer with us!Monday Matinee Preview: The Lady Eve (1941)


