Bantam Cinema & Arts Center

Bantam Cinema & Arts Center Bantam Cinema & Arts Center is a non-profit theater and arts space located in Litchfield County Live acts occasionally performed on the theater's stage.

The Bantam Cinema was opened in 1929 as "The Rivoli" by Dominic Evangelisti. For its first year or so, the Cinema showed silent movies accompanied by a Wurlitzer organ. In the 1960's, the Cinema was owned by the Duvall family, who also owned the restaurant next door (now Wood's Pit BBQ). In 1968, the Duvall's sold the Cinema to Michael Mabry (former head of the Ford Foundation's Theater Communicat

ions Group and Intern Program) and his wife Patricia, an artist's agent. They remodeled the building inside and out, renamed it "Cinema IV Bantam" and began showing foreign, independent and classic films. Pat opened an art gallery, "The Images Gallery," in the lobby. Their projectionist, George Shaunessy, had been with the theater since it opened in 1929. In 1985, the Mabrys sold the Cinema to Jim Bohnen, a stage director (Hartford's TheatreWorks, Seattle's Repertory Theater, among others). Jim continued the Cinema as an art house and remodeled the lobby, adding the concession stand. In 1990, Jim sold the Cinema to Lisa Hedley, an entertainment lawyer. Lisa renamed it "Bantam Cinema" and modernized the projection equipment, as well as adding a second screen in 1997. Lisa started the "Meet-The-Film-Maker" series, in which writers, producers, directors and actors, including Arthur Miller, William Styron, Campbell Scott, Mia Farrow and Joan Rivers, appeared to discuss their films. On January 2, 2007 Lisa Hedley sold the Bantam Cinema to David Koch, Sidney Koch, and Elizabeth Merz. On November 12, 2020, after a temporary closure due to Covid-19, a group of local film enthusiasts joined forces to save the historic theater and turned it into a non-profit cinema and arts center slated to re-open September 2021.

08/28/2026

OPENING TONIGHT!

THE DOG STARS
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Set in a post-apocalyptic world in which a virus has wiped out most of humanity, with survivors being terrorized by roaming scavengers called “Reapers.” The protagonist is Hig, a pilot who survived the flu that killed everyone he knew, his wife included. He lives in the hangar of a small abandoned airport with his dog, his only neighbor a gun-toting ex-Marine. Hig sometimes heads off in his 1956 Cessna, where he can fish and pretend things are how they used to be. When a random transmission somehow beams through his radio, the voice ignites a hope deep inside him that a better life might exist if he flies a bit further. He risks it all. to chase a possible haven in Grand Junction.

Runtime: 1h 58m
Rated: R

Tickets are available at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

08/27/2026

🎭Tonight at the Cinema! 🎬

Step into a world of seduction, deception, and high-society scandal with National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses!
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BAFTA Award-winner Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) joins Aidan Turner (Rivals) in a striking new staging of Christopher Hampton’s celebrated adaptation of the classic novel, where among the glittering salons of the super-rich, one misstep can mean ruin. Marquise de Merteuil is a master in the art of survival. Alongside the magnetic Vicomte de Valmont, they turn seduction into strategy and weaponise desire. But when their alliance collapses into rivalry, the battle between them threatens to destroy everyone in their path. Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) directs this thrilling game of love, lies, and social warfare.

**Includes a 15 Minute Intermission**

Runtime: 3h

Tickets are available at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

08/22/2026

A massive shoutout to Susan from Why Not Farm and her feathered crew for taking our leftover popcorn off our hands! 🍿🐓

Did you know chickens are one of the closest living relatives to the T-Rex?Watching a flock of tiny, fluffy dinosaurs go wild over movie snacks is the exact kind of chaos we live for. 🦖🍿

Two quick reminders before you go:

🦖Catch the Show: This is officially the FINAL WEEK to see The End of Oak Street! If you haven’t seen it yet (or want to catch it one last time), get your tickets before the curtain comes down for good.

🐓Support Local: Make sure to visit Susan’s stand at the Bantam Farmer’s Market at White’s Field every Friday! Go say hi and snag some amazing farm-fresh goodies!

Tickets are available at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

08/21/2026

OPENING TONIGHT

TONY
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A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life.

Runtime: 1h 46m
Rated: R

Tickets are available at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

🎬🌧️ Our final Saturday Summer Programming film is approaching!Join us next Saturday, August 22 at 10:45 AM for Little Am...
08/15/2026

🎬🌧️ Our final Saturday Summer Programming film is approaching!

Join us next Saturday, August 22 at 10:45 AM for Little Amélie or the Character of Rain — the beautifully animated film that earned an Oscar nomination! ✨🏆

Don’t miss your last chance to enjoy our Saturday Summer Programming series on the big screen. Bring the family, grab some popcorn, and make this final summer screening one to remember! 🍿☀️

🎟️ Saturday, August 22 | 10:45 AM

Runtime: 1h 17m
Rated: PG

Tickets are available at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

08/14/2026

🦖OPENING TONIGHT🦖

THE END OF OAK STREET
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After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.

Runtime: 1h 40m

Tickets are available at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

08/13/2026

We are just ONE WEEK away from our Storyteller Series!

Join us on Thursday, August 20 at 7:00 PM for a special screening of Bountiful, a modern Western that follows retired gunfighter Tash Beckett, who finally finds a home in the town of Bountiful—until the past comes calling.

But the night doesn’t end when the credits roll! Stick around for an exclusive Q&A with filmmakers Paul and Patty Winters, joined by Al Singer, owner of Cowboy Al’s Wild West Museum in Litchfield. Hear behind-the-scenes stories, explore the world of Western filmmaking, and ask your own questions during this special conversation.

🎟️ Tickets are $25 and include both the film and the post-screening Q&A. Whether you’re a longtime Western fan or just looking for a unique night at the movies, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Tickets are available online at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

Meet Larry Milburn, Our New Executive Director! 🎬We’re thrilled to introduce Larry, the new Executive Director of the Ba...
08/13/2026

Meet Larry Milburn, Our New Executive Director! 🎬

We’re thrilled to introduce Larry, the new Executive Director of the Bantam Cinema & Arts Center!

Larry’s connection to the Bantam Cinema goes back long before his career. As a teenager, he sat in these very seats watching independent films that inspired his own journey as a storyteller. Today, we’re delighted to welcome him back — this time as part of the team helping lead BCAC into its next chapter.

Over the past 35 years, Larry has worn many creative hats as a filmmaker, podcaster, and yoga instructor. He brings a wealth of experience, creativity, and passion to BCAC, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him make the Cinema his new home.

Larry is looking forward to building on the incredible foundation already established here, connecting with our wonderful patrons, and dreaming up what’s next for the Bantam Cinema & Arts Center.

Lastly, he would like to thank the Board of Directors for their confidence, and to his family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who has encouraged him throughout this journey.

Please join us in welcoming Larry! We’re so excited for all that’s ahead. ❤️🎥

08/07/2026

OPENING TONIGHT!

ONE NIGHT ONLY
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Recently dumped Owen and hopeful romantic Allie might be the only two singles in the city looking for more than just a quick encounter. They both feel a spark when they meet, but a series of missteps and side quests complicate their night, keeping them apart. As they each race toward and away from each other across the city, they just might discover that the one thing they want most is closer than they think.

Runtime: 1h 42m

Tickets are available at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

🌿✨ Step into a tiny world filled with big adventure! ✨🌿Join us next Saturday, August 8, at 11:45 AM for a special screen...
08/01/2026

🌿✨ Step into a tiny world filled with big adventure! ✨🌿

Join us next Saturday, August 8, at 11:45 AM for a special screening of The Secret World of Arrietty! From the legendary Studio Ghibli comes a beautifully animated tale of courage, friendship, and the extraordinary lives hidden just beneath our feet.

Runtime: 1h 34m

Tickets are available at bantamcinema.org or at the box office!

Address

115 Bantam Lake Road
Bantam, CT
06750

Opening Hours

Wednesday 3:30pm - 9pm
Thursday 3:30pm - 9pm
Friday 6:30pm - 9pm
Saturday 1pm - 9pm
Sunday 1pm - 9pm

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