“Sacred Houses Series”
This month, we would like to pay homage to Upstate Films in Rhinebeck, New York, as we continue to celebrate and honor notable movie theaters around the globe.
Upstate Films was founded in 1972 in Rhinebeck, New York, by Steve and DeDe Leiber and Susan Goldman. The theater is located in a historic building in the heart of Rhinebeck, a township in Duchess County about one hundred miles north of New York City. Initially starting as a single-screen cinema, it expanded to become a two-screen theater. It has played an essential role in showcasing independent and art-house films to the local community. The Cinema’s mission was to offer an alternative to mainstream Cinema, showcasing sought-after indie features and documentaries, and films rarely screened in semi-rural areas. The theater has become a cultural hub for film enthusiasts in the Hudson Valley region.
Throughout the years, numerous renowned filmmakers have showcased their work at the theater, including Jonathan Demme, John Sayles, Todd Haynes, Errol Morris, Jim Jarmusch, and Debra Granik.
In 1999, they added a second small theater at the Rhinebeck location to help survive competition from multiplexes. In 2010, they leased the single-screen Cinema on Tinker Street in Woodstock, saving it from demolition and expanding their reach into the Catskills region. They have also kept up with the times technologically, upgrading from 16 to 35mm projection, switching from mono to stereo sound, adding video capability, and in 2013 transitioning to a fully digital cinema to adhere to new industry standards.
Upstate Films is both an economic anchor and a cultural magnet and celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2022.
I have a personal connection, too, as I have visited the Cinema on many occasions and donated when possible, even though I have not had the pleasure of personally visiting for a decade.
Check them out here, and if you are ever in the Hudson Valley in Upstate New York, pay them a visit.
If you think a theater deserves recognition in our “Sacred Houses” series, kindly contact us with details of its name, location, and significance to either you or your community. We’re enthusiastic about backing local theaters and feel they should be celebrated alongside the more renowned historic venues.
The Other Cinema 
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