The Coolidge Corner Theatre, an independent, nonprofit cinema in Brookline, partnered with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to select the recipients of its annual Science on Screen grant program.
The Science on Screen grant awards up to $9,000 to 40 theaters nationwide. Each theater can provide a Science on Screen experience: a screening experience that pairs expert-led discussion of scientific topics with a featured screening or documentary.
The Coolidge Corner Theatre started its Science on Screen program in 2005 by pairing movies with local experts to take advantage of Boston's many science experts. Around 12 years ago, the Coolidge received a major grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation that helped it produce its own programming as well as support programming for other theaters nationwide.
With the pilot grant, the Coolidge initially did shows at eight theaters, according to Beth Gilligan, the deputy director at the Coolidge. From there, the grant program has continued to grow and the Coolidge has since awarded over $2.75 million in grants to 131 film and science-focused organizations in 45 states, plus Washington D.C.
“I think many art houses get support from local businesses, but to have a grant like this supports programmatic creativity and the sort of community grassroots outreach that art houses do so well,” said Gilligan.
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The 41 theaters around the country were selected from a total applicant pool of 80. The selection process was done by a review committee of eight to nine Coolidge staff members, with an additional six to seven scientists and people from the outside world giving grant reviews, Gilligan said.
“We hope to continue to grow our grantee network. I think there are theaters where science education is not necessarily being prioritized or funded and to continue to showcase these perspectives and show people that these scientists are doing great and important work,” Gilligan said.
The 2024−25 Science on Screen grantees include 10 first-time participants. The Science on Screen grantees are:
- Bridgeport Film Festival City Lights, Bridgeport, Conn.
- Dreamland, Tulsa, Okla.
- Penn Theatre, Plymouth, Mich.
- Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center, Sag Harbor, N.Y.
- San Juan Film Institute / Ouray International Film Festival, Ouray, Colo.
- Sidewalk Film Center, Birmingham, Ala.
- SNF Parkway Theatre, Baltimore, Md.
- Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Ky.
- Stray Cat Film Center, Kansas City, Mo.
- Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington, Vt.
Returning grantees to Science on Screen in 2024−25 are:
- Amherst Cinema, Amherst, Mass.
- Aspen Film, Aspen, Colo.
- Austin Film Society, Austin, Texas
- The Avalon Theatre, Washington, D.C.
- Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tenn.
- The Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, Bloomington, Ind.
- Cinema Arts Centre, Huntington, N.Y.
- Colonial Theatre, Bethlehem, N.H.
- Cornell Cinema, Ithaca, N.Y.
- County Theater, Doylestown, Penn.
- Enzian Theater, Maitland, Fla.
- Film Streams, Omaha, Neb.
- FilmScene, Iowa City, Iowa
- Frida Cinema, Santa Ana, Calif.
- The Gem Theater, Bethel, Me.
- Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, Ill.
- Heartland Film, Indianapolis, Ind.
- Sioux Falls State Theatre, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Images Cinema, Williamstown, Mass.
- Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, N.Y.
- Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, Moscow, Id.
- Martha’s Vineyard Film Society, Vineyard Haven, Mass.
- Media Arts Center San Diego, San Diego, Calif.
- Michigan Theater / Marquee Arts, Ann Arbor, Mich.
- Montclair Film, Montclair, N.J.
- New Orleans Film Society, New Orleans, La.
- New York International Children’s Film Festival, New York, N.Y.
- The Nightlight Cinema, Akron, Oh.
- Pickford Film Center, Bellingham, Wash.
- Ragtag Film Society, Columbia, Mo.
- Rooftop Films, Brooklyn, N.Y.
