WHAT DO YOU KNOW — A FEW TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR RECENT MEMBER/ AUDIENCE SURVEY, December 2022.

Last Autumn we asked you to tell us how we’re doing as a non-profit cultural organization, and we thank you for your thoughts and aspirations. Below are a few takeaways from the survey — click here for a complete slide show report.

In our recent survey, 95% of you described the Film Center as being “valuable” to “extremely valuable” to your overall quality of life.

The primary reason you attend the Film Center (84% stated this), is that You look to us to curate films for their artistry, appeal, and/or message. On a personal level, MVFC patrons have profound experiences while being exposed to films outside the mainstream and new ideas and ways of thinking.

Even though the Film Center has seen a drop off in attendance over the last 2+ years due to COVID, overall we have continued to win over new and younger (under 45 years of age) audiences. Although a majority of you are over 65 years of age and long time attendees.

For the 63% (well above the average of 42% for all 2022 art house theaters) who are members, the decision is balanced between support of the mission and more transactional benefits.

The island benefits from MV Film Center through the spark of art and culture that is often mentioned as one of the best things about the community.

Thank you to all those that replied. If you didn’t then, but would still like to offer feedback, please send us your thoughts to info@mvfilmsociety.com

Updated in February 2021

Financial Results for 2020 (unaudited) – In 2020, due to COVID-19 resulting in venue closures and seating capacity restrictions, the Film Society loss 76% of its annual Earned Revenue. We were able to weather the 2020 pandemic partly because of our member/donor’s assistance, government grants (PPP), and pivoting to an online method of delivering films.   We are hopeful that by summer 2021 we will begin to see a return to normal earned revenue from operating the Film Center.

Summary of 2017 to 2019 audited Financials – revenue/expense distribution.

The Film Society has maintained a consistent budget of approx. $1 million over the last four years, generating over 80% of its budget each year from “earned” income – tickets, concessions, advertising, sponsorships, and memberships. Donations from individuals and grants make up the remainder of revenue.

Expenses are overwhelming spent on the film society’s mission of programming and education, with only a small percentage going to administration and fund-raising (about 20%).

However, the Film Society does not generate a large surplus of cash annually, thus making the society vulnerable to short term cash flow problems, resulting from potential changes in our business, equipment failure, or technology changes.

Our 20/20 Capital Campaign will prepare us for the next 20 years of operation with funding to purchase the film center building (thus reducing our annual real estate leasing costs) and the replacement of our significant investment digital projection equipment. Currently, our operating surplus does not generate sufficient annual surpluses to fund our equipment depreciation and allow for “full-cost” funding of the Film Society. We need your support to make this happen.

A Brief Narrative of Recent Film Society History

Since opening the Film Center in September of 2012, the Film Society annually has shown over 200 feature films to more than 60,000 patrons. The Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival (MVIFF) just completed its 15th year. Additionally, the Film Society produces five other festivals throughout the year, including the SPECTRUM Film Festival (LGBTQ+) in May, Nature as Inspiration Environmental Festival in May, FILMUSIC Festival in June, DOC Week in August, and our newest festival, WOMEN IN FILM in October.

UPDATE 2020 — Due to COVID-19 and significant changed in the movie distribution business, it made it impossible for the Film Society’s to continue its collaboration with the MV Theater Foundation, resulting in our organization operation of the Capawock and Strand Theaters. Please see the Hall Family for use of those theaters. 

Beginnings: A Nomadic Existence

In its first year (1999), the programming of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society consisted of a weekly summer’s night screening of a classic film, using 16mm projectors, at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury. By 2002 our programming had grown to weekly programs at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, with supplemental screenings at venues across the Island, including the historic Tabernacle, Union Chapel, Vineyard Playhouse, Capawock Theatre, MV Hebrew Center, and outdoor screenings at the Featherstone Center for the Arts. Since these early nomadic years, the Film Society has grown from the dream of a handful of volunteers to a vibrant, year-round cultural organization with over 2000 members. After turning down the lights for the first film in 1999, we have shown over 900 feature-length and short films that otherwise would not have been shown and enjoyed on the Island. Even though the enormous number of films we have shown is an achievement in and of itself, Film Society’s greatest achievement is the annual Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival in September. In these so-called nomadic years the Film Society built an enthusiastic audience, however, it lacked an essential asset to the success it has been able to achieve today. In order to grow, the Film Society needed to find itself a permanent home.

The Film Society Finds its ‘Center’

Despite a steady expansion and growing success, the MVFS had one constant struggle— technical and artistic limitations imposed by less-than-perfect screening venues and the lack of a dedicated home in which our programming could expand even further. While the lovely Katharine Cornell Theatre was usually (but not always) available in the off-season, it still required us to temporarily set up a projector and sound system for each show. Even then it was not possible to project the highest quality image or to deliver stereo sound. This past model of ever-changing venues also prevented us from using DCI (Digital Cinema) equipment that would allow us to bring to the Island the latest ‘Art House’ films that open in limited release in major cities. In short, the lack of a permanent home deprived our viewers of the first-class experience they deserve and should expect.

In 2012 we were able to establish just that, a permanent home for the MVFS. Our new home, the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, enabled us to purchase not only a permanent DCI projector to install within the Marilyn Meyerhoff Theatre, but also to install surround-sound in a comfortable climate-controlled environment with stadium seating. Most importantly, perhaps, we’ve been able to show several different movies each week, with multiple screenings of the most popular movies. We have also expanded our current outreach efforts with other Island non-profit agencies, as well as schools and local filmmakers, by programming specialty films and events for them.

This opportunity was, in many ways, thanks to Sam Dunn, the architect, and developer of the Tisbury Marketplace. He contacted the Film Society in June 2011 with an offer to lease long-term (20 years with a buyout option) a building his company would design and build specifically for the Film Society. Located on the last remaining commercial lot at the Tisbury Marketplace in Vineyard Haven, the builders Carpentry & Co., working with Mr. Dunn, were able to build the entire center in just four months! We were operational by the time of the opening night of the 2012 MV International Film Festival rolled around. Do you remember which film was the first to play at the Film Center? SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN.

The Tisbury Marketplace is a vibrant, mixed-use commercial center, with restaurants, offices, and retail tenants. This affords film-goers a lot of on-site parking in the evening and is an easy walk to downtown Vineyard Haven and the Steamship Authority, making it is easily accessible from all of the towns on the Vineyard via public transportation. In short, the Film Society had found its ‘Center.’

Our vision was to establish the Film Center to screen “first-run” independent films, documentaries, and foreign language films; all while reinstating our retrospective classic film night (just like the one we ran out of the Grange Hall in West Tisbury back in 1999). The Film Society has continued to collaborate with other Island non-profits to screen films that have special applicability to Martha’s Vineyard, such as the arts, music, education, farming, social services, and the environment. The Film Center is flexible enough to provide space (it has a stage) for speakers, panels, and Q&A after our screenings. We also have a comfortable lobby area with “adult-friendly” concessions for pre-show and post-show relaxation and discussion. Truly, then, the Film Society has found a place more than worthy to house Island audiences and further fulfill the organization’s mission.

Founder/Executive Director: Richard Paradise

We would also like to recognize some of the other theaters and community spaces that have housed MV Film Society programming in its first 13 years of existence:

The Film Society has, from time to time, screened special film offerings at the historic Capawock Theatre, such as several screenings to sell-out crowds of the locally produced MOW CREW. The Capawock was also used each year for the MV International Film Festival. Built in 1913, the Capawock is the oldest continually operating movie theatre in the state of Massachusetts. It is located prominently on Main Street in the center of the village of Vineyard Haven.

The MV Film Society screened films year-round from 2002 to 2012 at the historic Katharine Cornell Theatre on Spring Street, Vineyard Haven (one block up from Main Street). Built in the 1800s, it was restored in 1970 with a generous donation from the Peter Cornell Trust. The theatre seats 125 and is able to employ two 16mm or digital projections.

The Union Chapel was home to our 2011 and 2012 Tuesday night summer film series. Union Chapel was established in 1870 (located at 55 Narragansett Avenue, Oak Bluffs). Built as a non-sectarian place of worship in 1870, Union Chapel’s unique octagonal design rises into a soaring open cupola with amber diamond-pane glass windows casting warm and beautiful light. Historically known for its excellent acoustics, Union Chapel has long been a favorite venue for concerts, recitals, political meetings, speakers and wedding ceremonies. The Trust acquired the Chapel from the Oak Bluffs Christian Union in 2002.

The Summer Film Series at the historic Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs ran from 2006 to 2010. The Tabernacle is located within the MV Camp Meeting Grounds (Cottage City). There are several access points from Circuit Avenue downtown, and from Duke Country Road. In 2008, The Tabernacle was the sight of the Island’s largest audience screening of a film — when more than 1000 individuals attended the premiere of Victoria Campbell’s HOUSE OF BONES at the Tabernacle.

Our Outdoor Film series ran from 2004 to 2006 at the Featherstone Center for the Arts, Barnes Road, in Oak Bluffs. Patrons watched mostly sci-fi classics while sitting on beach chairs or blankets and eating snacks. A fun evening of outdoor- movie-watching under the stars.

The MV Film Society returned to Featherstone in the summer of 2020 to screen films outdoors as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the temporary closing of the Film Center.

The Grange Hall in West Tisbury was our very first home, where, during the summers from 1999-2006, we ran the Movie Museum, a 12 week series of classic films on Thursday nights. Employing 16mm projectors and film, this is where it all started!