Jacob Burns Film Center

Pleasantville, NY > Pleasantville Groups & Organizations > Jacob Burns Film Center

address:364 Manville Road Pleasantville, NY 10570 phone:914-773-7663 fax:914-773-0762 website:Jacob Burns Film Center email:

Jacob Burns Film Center's Mission

The Jacob Burns Film Center is a nonprofit cultural arts center dedicated to: presenting the best of independent, documentary, and world cinema; promoting visual literacy; and making film a vibrant part of the community

History Of The Jacob Burns Film Center

The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) began in 1998 when a group of individuals interested in creating a cultural arts center in Westchester County purchased the old Rome Theater in Pleasantville, New York. The Rome Theater, a beautiful Spanish mission-style, historic landmark building, was built in 1925 as one of the first movie theaters in Westchester County. Opened during the golden age of cinema, the New York Times called it "The Show Place of Westchester County." It was an active cinema, showing films until 1987, when it closed its doors due to competition with neighboring multiplexes. The group, led by founder Stephen Apkon, secured the building and an adjacent lot, formed a nonprofit organization (originally known as The Friends of the Rome Theater), and began working to make the dream of a film center a reality.

Facade installation in the late 1940s

JBFC Ribbon Cutting, with (from left) Executive Director Steve Apkon, Glenn Close, Ang Lee, Paul Schrader, Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, Janet Maslin and director Francis Veber.

In 2000, a capital campaign was launched to raise $5 million to fund much of the project costs. Early on, the project received a donation of $1.5 million from the Jacob Burns Foundation, a Pleasantville-based nonprofit family foundation. It was in honor of that leadership gift that the proposed center received its new name. The name was announced and construction began in April, 2000.

Since the JBFC opened its doors to the public in June, 2001, the Westchester community and those from surrounding areas have enjoyed thousands of films from around the world. The Film Center is committed not only to presenting this wide array of films but also to hosting a range of related experiences, including art exhibitions, book signings, live performances, and a wealth of after-screening interviews and discussions with filmmakers, scholars, critics, and authors. In addition to our extensive film programming offerings, JBFC designed and has provided outstanding film and visual literacy education programs for teachers and students of all ages through curriculum-based programs, after-school enrichment, curriculum-enhancing film programming, and film production experiences.