INTERNATIONAL HOUSE PHILADELPHIA – ANNUAL REPORT 2013
MEMBER REFLECTIONS
“Godard nailed it once and for all: at the cinema, you the screen; in front of the television, you lower them. role of the shutter. Out of the two hours you spend in you spend one of them in the dark. It’s this nocturnal with us, that fixes our memory of a film in a different same film seen on television or on a monitor.” -Chris Marker As a long-time member of International House, I have enjoyed a wide variety of great films, from Hollywood and foreign classics to the avant-garde and documentaries. One of my most memorable filmviewing experiences occurred in 2012 when a retrospective of films by Jordan Belson (1926 – 2011) was screened in IHP's Ibrahim Theater. Belson, who was equal parts filmmaker and magician, dedicated his life to creating visionary films that were painstakingly created using secretive photographic techniques. I was overwhelmed by the fantastic beauty and power of the strange worlds that he created. The full glory of Belson’s sorcery could only be achieved by raising one’s eyes to a large screen and giving in to his hypnotic spell. Belson’s films, along with the creations of countless other motion picture visionaries, rely on the other half of the equation to unlock their beauty: a high-quality theater, the canvas where their works can be displayed properly and respectfully. Thankfully, we have a terrific venue in IHP, the finest in Philadelphia, where patrons can view these films and discuss them with filmmakers, curators, and visiting scholars. The theater landscape has changed significantly in the past five years. International House is now the only permanent venue in Philadelphia with film projection facilities. In addition, the theater is equipped with a cutting-edge digital projector and high-fidelity audio. This variety of technology gives International House the unique ability to screen films in their original release format, whether 35mm or 16mm film, or one of many digital video formats. In addition, a large number of the films screened at IHP are unavailable via DVD/Blu-Ray or streaming services. I am very appreciative of the staff, facilities, and programming at International House. The success of these programs can perhaps be best measured by the fine community of people that continues to grow and learn together as a result. Paul Lewis is a long-time member of IHP, an employee of the University of Pennsylvania, and a resident of Philadelphia. raise your eyes to Then there is the a movie theater, portion that stays way than the
“As a long-time member of International House, I have enjoyed a wide variety of great films, from Hollywood and foreign classics to the avant-garde and documentaries.”