Only In Theaters
January 27 - 29, 2023
A heartfelt ode to the Los Angeles-based Laemmle Theatres arthouse chain, a family business for over 84 years with ties to the origin of Hollywood, which elevated the art of cinema and several generations of filmmakers.
FREE MEMBER SCREENING WITH Q&A
January 27 | 7:30 PM
The 7:30pm screening on January 27 will be followed by a live Q&A with subject Greg Laemmle. And as a special 'thank you' for supporting independent cinema all year round, this screening will be free to SIFF members. Keep an eye on your inbox for an exclusive invitation. Not a member? Join today!
Through terrible lows and auspicious highs, movies have always been there for us, which may be something we take for granted. Only In Theaters is a love letter in the form of a documentary, presenting the astonishing legacy of the Laemmle family and their work to keep cinema alive for filmmakers and filmgoers alike. Actor/director Raphael Sbarge recounts the Laemmle company’s history, the passion and resilience of the family business, and its indisputable influence on American cinema culture. The beloved Los Angeles art-house chain survived wars and economic crises, near-sales and box-office flops, but when the coronavirus pandemic shut down all movie theaters for an unprecedented year and a half, Greg Laemmle and his family had to confront what was really at stake. Featuring interviews with the remaining Laemmle family members, including 105-year-old Alyse Laemmle, as well as major players who unabashedly love the chain, like Nicole Holofcener and Leonard Maltin, Only In Theaters is a fervent reflection on the history of art-house cinema, a testament to the power of moviegoing, a reminder of the importance of family, and a cautious hope for the future of film.
— Emalie Soderback
- Director: Raphael Sbarge
- Principal Cast: Greg Laemmle, Ava DuVernay, Cameron Crowe, James Ivory
- Premiere Status: Seattle
- Country: USA
- Year: 2022
- Running Time: 93 min.
- Producer: Thomas Cassetta, Neil Friedman, Mark Myers, Freida Orange, Gary Rubin, Raphael Sbarge, Michael M. Thomas
- Cinematographers: Matthew Kubas
- Editors: Rick Pratt
- Music: Isabelle Engman, Gerardo Garcia Jr.
- Website: Official Film Website
- Filmography: Watts Action (2021), LA Foodways (2019)
- Language: English
- Format: DCP