ITHACA, N.Y. – The State Theatre of Ithaca will host a free screening of the 2002 Academy Award-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine this Thursday, March 1st at 7:00 p.m. Bowling for Columbine was one of the first films to explore gun violence in America, examining the issue through the events leading up to and following the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School, which left 13 dead. The staff of the State Theatre, with the support of the organization’s Board of Directors, believes that it is an important and relevant time to show this film.
In 2017, Director Michael Moore and the Tribeca Film Festival hosted a retrospective screening of Bowling for Columbine in New York City. Moore noted that what is most striking about watching Bowling for Columbine today is how little has changed. “We could release this film again this Friday, sadly, and it’d probably be every bit as relevant,” Moore said before the screening.
The March 1st screening of Bowling for Columbine at The State Theatre of Ithaca is a free event and is not sponsored by any business or individual. The State Theatre hopes that this thought-provoking film will help to continue additional conversations about an important current topic.
State Theatre of Ithaca Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that owns and operates Tompkins County’s last remaining historic theatre. Their mission is to enhance the cultural life of Ithaca and the Finger Lakes by preserving, operating and promoting the historic State Theatre as an active venue for national, international and community performances and programming. Over 50,000 people will attend events there during the 2017-2018 season.