iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Thanks to Blue Fox Entertainment and everyone who helped bring festival favorite "Big Girls Don't Cry" to The Picture House last night to kick off another season of Film Club -- a quiet, and quietly devastating, look at peer pressure, consent, and the high-stakes melodrama of being 14. Opens Friday

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

“There’s a fella, got a million acres. Guards ever’place to keep folks out. Rides aroun’ in a bullet-proof car…Fat, sof’ fella with little mean eyes an’ a mouth like a ass-hole…If he needs a million acres to feel rich, seems to me he feels awful poor inside.” – Steinbeck, "The Grapes of Wrath," 1939

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Circe, as depicted on a 5th-century BCE vase. But, yes, tell me again how everyone in Ancient Greece was pale and blonde.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

RIP, Dulce. A tearstained farewell at my FB page.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Sumer is icumen in! A festive day to father figures everywhere!

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

And that's a wrap on another season of Film Club at The Pelham Picture House, with "Couples Weekend," "Forge," "Burt," "Carolina Caroline," "The Birthday Party" and "Peter Asher: Everywhere Man." Special thanks to the studios, filmmakers and audiences who made it all possible. See you in the Fall!

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Thanks to all who helped bring "The Birthday Party" to The Picture House last night, and got director Miguel Angel Jimenez to Zoom in for a chat. A dark drama with Willem Dafoe superb as a domineering father who's a lot of Onassis, a little of Prospero, and completely in control. Opens August 14.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

If it sometimes feels like there's only one movie a year made with a female lead over 60 -- and it's usually Meryl Streep -- you're not far off. And even Meryl would argue, That's not good. www.njarts.net/178569

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Thanks to Magnolia Pictures and everyone who helped bring "Carolina Caroline" to the Picture House last night (and getting director Adam Carter Rehmeier to Zoom in). A wild road movie that starts like "Paper Moon" and slowly slips into "Bonnie and Clyde" territory. See it in theaters June 5

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Thank to Falco, Utopia Films and all who brought "Forge" to the Pelham Picture House last night, a stylish film from Jing Ai Ng about high-risk con jobs (including the ones we play on ourselves). Opening soon in select theaters; catch it in LA at the Nuart tomorrow or at NY's Quad on May 22.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

A programming note: I'm coming to the Garden State to host a screening of this heartfelt story of an immigrant trying hard to navigate our heartless asylum process. Q and A afterward with the filmmakers. Saturday, May 16 — Wayne Cinemark Willowbrook Mall 7:00 PM Screening + Q&A

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Thanks to Vertical Entertainment, Prodigy PR and everyone who helped bring "Couples Weekend" -- and director Nora Kirkpatrick -- to the Pelham Picture House for the opening night of this season's Film Club. An amusingly dark (or darkly amusing?) relationship story with a super cast. Opens Friday.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Birthday boy Lon Chaney Sr. here to remind you that it's April Fool's Day, and to be suspicious of anything you read on the internet. But you already are, aren't you?

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

And that's it for the Winter season of Film Club, featuring The President's Cake, Midwinter Recess, Dreams, Late Shift, I Swear and Tow. Thanks to all the studios and filmmakers who shared their movies (and time!) and the folks at the Pelham Picture House who make it all happen. See you in May!

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Thanks to Roadside Attractions and everyone who helped bring "Tow" (and director Stephanie Laing) to The Picture House last night. Great performances -- including another stand-out one from Rose Byrne -- in a story about the unhoused, the unseen, and the underdog who fought back. Opens today!

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Thanks to @sonyclassics.bsky.social and all who helped bring "I Swear" (and a Zoom interview with director Kirk Jones) to The Picture House last night. A BAFTA award-winner with a "My Left Foot" feel, thanks to its working-class details and a fine performance from Robert Aramayo. Opens in April.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Thanks to Music Box Films, Hook Publicity, and everyone who helped bring the terrific "Late Shift" -- and director Petra Volpe! -- to the Picture House last night. A great, scalpel-sharp drama -- think "The Pitt" without the gore --about a valiant nurse in a broken system. Opens March 20.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Thanks to Greenwich Entertainment and all who helped bring "Dreams" to the The Picture House last night (and director Michel Franco in for a Zoom). A dark, stark, and sometimes shocking tale of exploitation and obsession, with an excellent Jessica Chastain and ABT star Isaac Hernandez. Opens Friday.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Why is it so hard for Hollywood to make a classic, old-fashioned love story anymore? Audiences, mostly. www.njarts.net/seen-through...

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Hoping you spend a safe and happy Friday the 13th with someone you love!

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

‪ Thanks to Focus Features and everyone who helped bring "Midwinter Break" to The Picture House last night (and thanks to director Polly Findlay for Zooming in for a Q-and-A). A marvelous film about doubt, faith and tiny miracles, with Ciaran Hinds and the goddess Lesley Manville. Opens Feb 20.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Another season of Film Club at The Picture House, and thanks to everyone at Sony Pictures Classics and Falco who helped us start off with "The President's Cake," a delicate, carefully observed neorealist drama that, while wholly original, may remind you of Jafar Panahi's classic "The White Balloon"

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

“What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn’t earn enough money to buy a hamburger and a cup of coffee?” -- MLK Jr

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

The pay is nothing, the deadlines are tough, and the readership isn't more than about 300 people -- but boy, do NYFCC members love writing about our winners. Read my appreciation of Amy Madigan -- and everyone else's essays -- on our site. www.nyfcc.com/category/ess...

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

And that's a wrap for the Fall season of Film Club at the Pelham Picture House, six weeks of screenings and Q and As that included a wide array of docs, indies and imports. Thanks to everyone who made it possible -- see you in a few months for more screenings and surprises.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Thanks to Bleecker Street, Cinetic Media, and everyone who helped bring Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding" -- and Oscar-winning producer Dan Janvey -- to The Picture House last night for a screening and terrific Q-and-A. A small, lovely film about staying put while moving on, opening Friday.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Thanks to everyone who helped bring ON THE END, and filmmaker Ari Selinger, to the Picture House last night for a great screening and q-and-a about this beautifully acted little indie that's part romance, part underdog drama. Time for some smart distributor or streamer to snap it up!

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Suddenly realizing I'll never be able to hear "Warm Leatherette" again without feeling a little sick.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Thanks to all who helped bring "If You See Something" -- and filmmakers Oday Rasheed and Jess Jacobs -- to The Picture House last night. A story of trust, doubt, love and refuge, it opens Friday at the Quad Cinema and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in New York, in other major cities soon.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Even as we're deluged with made-to-order "facts" and deep-fake images, people like Lynsey Addario literally risk their lives to capture the truth. Thanks to NatGeo for bringing "Love + War" to the The Picture House last night for Film Club. In theaters Oct 29; on multiple platforms Nov 6.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Thanks to everyone who helped bring "Vindication Swim" (and filmmakers Elliott and Simon Hasler) to the Pelham Picture House last night to preview their picture and share the story of a remarkable athlete (and their own filmmaking adventure). Opens Friday at the Quad.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

"You know, this used to be a helluva good country. I can't understand what's gone wrong with it."

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

The only good thing about knee surgery is that it allowed me to splurge on a Barnabas Collins wolf’s head cane. (My wife, perhaps wisely, dissuaded me from getting a sword cane like George Macready’s in ‘Gilda.’ Maybe when they do the other leg.)

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Alfred Hitchcock August 13, 1899 - April 29, 1980 "Students should be taught to visualize. That's the one thing missing in all this. The one thing that the student has to learn is that there is a rectangle up there - a white rectangle in a theater - and it has to be filled."

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

My one big beautiful bill? Holden.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

“History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.” Happy Bloomsday!

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

And fade-out on another great, eclectic Film Club season in Pelham. Thanks to the studios, publicists and filmmakers that made it possible, everyone at The Picture House and Meridian Risk Management who made it work and our incredible members for their enthusiasm and loyalty. See you in the Fall!

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Thanks to @lionsgate.com and everyone who brought "Everything's Going To Be Great" to the Pelham Picture House last night, a bittersweet look at family and theatre with the always wonderful Allison Janney and Bryan Cranston (who seems to have held onto his fake mustache from "Trumbo"). Opens June 20

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Happy Billy Batts Day, to all who celebrate.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

I'm sure they've been "improved" since, but here's what the Brits were using 50 years ago, when my grandfather picked one up off a Belfast street

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Lots of talk about "less-than-lethal" weapons today; often that means rubber bullets. Here's one my grandfather picked up off a Belfast street some 50 years ago. British soldiers were told to shoot at the sidewalk, so they'd bounce. Instead, they aimed at people's heads.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Thanks to @nationalgeographic.bsky.social and everyone who helped bring "Sally" (and, via Zoom, director Cristina Costantini) to The Picture House last night. A terrific film about a pioneering woman, in space and on earth, whom no amount of censored history can erase.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Thanks to @musicboxfilms.com and everyone who helped bring "Ghost Trails" (and its director, Jonathan Millet, via Zoom) to The Pelham Picture House last night. A slow-burn thriller about war crimes, justice, memory and revenge -- and all their messy intersections. Opens Friday.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Thanks to Hook Publicity @sonyclassics.bsky.social and everyone who helped bring "Jane Austen Wrecked My Life" to The Picture House (and got its director, and star, to join us for a Zoom). A charmingly wry French rom-com that that opens this month at a variety of theaters, including ours.

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Stephen Whitty @stephenwhitty.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Thanks to everyone at @42west.bsky.social who helped bring "Lilly" to the The Picture House's Film Club last night. A never-more-topical drama of workplace sexism and inequity, delivered beautifully by Patricia Clarkson. (Thanks, too, to director Rachel Feldman for zooming in for great q-and-a.)

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