Moscow’s famous Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre combines the best of both words with special viewings of international and local films, as well as box office hits.
Jamie Hill, a manager at the Kennworthy said their films are selected meticulously to help cater to their audiences and do not follow the conventional movie release calendar.
“Many of the weekend films are chosen by the theater’s film committee, a selection of community members,” Hill said.
These films are picked based on suggestions from the community, what will fit the demographic of the Palouse and include independent films. Part of the Kenworthy’s mission is to “provide high quality arts and entertainment to the Palouse,” Hill said.
It’s not just another movie theater. The Kenworthy also rents out space in support of the community and the arts.
“eighty-five percent to 90 percent of our events are rentals and other organizations wanting to use our venue for their events,” Hill said.
The variety in events parallels the diversity and dynamic demographic of the Palouse.
A monthly event, Chinese Movie Night, is put on by the UI Confucius Institute.
“The films are chosen by faculty members of the South China University of Technology,” said Dusty Fleener, the Confucius Institute’s administrative coordinator. “The films are chosen at the beginning of each school year and selected based upon thematic events, themes they think American audiences will enjoy, and appropriateness for time of year.”
Many of the selections are those faculty members really enjoy and want to share with the Moscow population. Each film is presented in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles as a way to help movie-goers unfamiliar with the language, Hill said. An introduction will take place before each showing by Jian Jian Yang, a professor from the South China University. This month’s selection is “Ocean Heaven,” a 2010 film directed by Xue Xiaolu which stars Jet Li.
Jan. 15, the theatre presents Palouse Writers Resist Hate, Hill said. This event was brought to the Kenworthy by an organization of writers from the Palouse. This event showcases the authors reading from their work and works of contemporary and historical authors. There will be featured readings from Kim Barnes, contemporary American author and writer of “In the Wilderness,” Alexandra Teague, assistant creative writing professor at UI and author of “Mortal Geography,” Sayantani Dasgupta, author of the essay collection “Fire Girl,” Jeff Jones, author of “Love Give Us One Death: Bonnie and Clyde in the Last Days” and more.
Sponsored by the UUCP Environmental Justice Task Force and the Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition (PESC), “Before the Flood” a Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary that focuses on climate change and how to take action to prevent premature extinction of endangered species. The PESC is a local group who work with other environmental organizations on matters relating to climate change and threats to the environment, and puts on events at the theater several times a year.
The International Film Series presents “In Order of Disappearance” Jan. 17. This is another monthly film series suggested by community members and coincides with the university’s school year. Each film is selected by the theater’s film committee by requests from the community and films that have received a lot of American press.
“We take suggestions from the community on what they would like to see,” Hill said.
Presented by the UI Outdoor Program, the annual Backcountry Film Festival will take place Jan. 25. Among this year’s film selection is “Snowschool,” a film created by UI Alumn Scott Rulander.
“This festival has brought success for our university and Moscow as a whole,” said Elise Clausen, coordinator for the UI Outdoor Program. “Proceeds from the festival go to the Wallowa Avalanche Center.”
Sophia Dunlap can be reached at [email protected]