Close Up is our new quarterly place to show you behind the scenes and share exciting news about what is happening at the theater.

Thanks to support from dedicated film lovers like you, we are on the way to making vital upgrades to our historic building and to our outdated projection equipment.

Your gifts to our theater are already at work — the water damage above the women’s restroom door has been repaired, booth equipment is being ordered, and the aging lobby carpet is soon to be replaced. Your contributions allow us to preserve our 1928 building, while maintaining its historic charm and original integrity. We are working with a design team from Voith and McTavish Architects to help us select a new rug and provide suggestions for ways to brighten and freshen up the inner lobby. We are getting closer to a plan and expect that we will begin work later this summer.

The Road AheadUpon completing improvements to our lobby and upgrading essential digital cinema equipment, we will raise funds to replace the projectors themselves. We will share more info on this project soon. We stand by our mission of bringing you a curated blend of films, while maintaining the highest possible presentation standards.

Thank you for making these upgrades possible through your generous support of our nonprofit theater. We look forward to completing projects underway, and to the exciting improvements on the horizon!

Our 6th Annual 35mm Film Festival returns April 17th - 19th. Cinephiles won’t want to miss this special three-day event that celebrates experiencing classic movies the way they were meant to be seen – on beautiful 35mm film! We will be showcasing nine great films including Billy Wilder’s Sabrina and the silent responsible for igniting the gangster genre Underworld performed with a live original score from renowned accompanist Ben Model.

TCM Host Alicia Malone will join us in person, as this year’s honoree of the Lou DiCrescenzo Cinematic Arts Award.

Tickets to the individual screenings are now available at the box office or on our website.

🔗 Check out this year's lineup and get your tickets today »

We are thrilled to announce that Andrew J. Douglas, Ph.D., has joined our team at Renew Theaters as our Senior Director of Education. Andrew will be bringing his experience as the former Deputy Director and Founding Director of Education at Bryn Mawr Film Institute to help us grow our in-theater Educational programs.

We asked Andrew a few questions to help our members get to know him:

What’s the movie that made you fall in love with cinema?
Coming of moviegoing age in the late 1970s/early '80s, there are a lot of titles that played a part in that, but if I had to narrow it down to one, it would be the earliest one I remember seeing in a theater--the old movie house in my small hometown that was razed not many years later — SUPERMAN (1978). The poster promised, "You'll believe a man can fly," and when I walked out of that theater, I did.

What’s been one of the most rewarding moments in your career so far?
I guess I'd have to say it was being in my previous theater for the first several on-site classes after COVID and hearing the warm greetings and kind appreciation from the dozens of new students who discovered our education program via the free, online learning opportunities we provided during the mandated closure. It clearly meant a lot to them that we created and sustained that virtual film community for all those months, and that means a lot to me.

What excites you most about your role with Renew?
There are two main things: One is joining this outstanding team that does so much tremendous work bringing the best of cinema, old and new, to these wonderful communities that are committed to the vitality of their hometown cinemas. The other is being able to bring more film education to new audiences who are eager to learn.

What’s an underseen film you wish more people would discover?
Well, if I'm picking one, I guess it would be the 1937 screwball comedy THE AWFUL TRUTH starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant and directed by Leo McCarey. While I'm not sure one can call a movie that had two of the bigger stars of its era and was nominated for six Oscars "underseen," it isn't nearly as well known today as a movie like IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), but it's just as smart, funny, and relevant.

If you could have dinner with any filmmaker (past or present), who would it be?
Boy, that's a tough one. I mean, Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles come immediately to mind, but so much has been written and said about them that I am not sure I would learn anything new. Maybe Billy Wilder. A lot has been written about him, too, but he was so witty, so worldly, and such a raconteur that hearing his thoughts on cinema (and the world) since his passing in 2002 should make for a really good time.

We’re excited for the curiosity, dialogue, and discovery Andrew will bring to our theaters in the future. Be sure to say hello when you see him at the theaters!

Our upcoming Cinema Studies Seminars invite audiences to look closer and engage more deeply with the films we love. Film is more than entertainment — it’s art, history, and social commentary — best experienced together.

Facilitated by our Senior Education Director, Andrew Douglas, along with guest local professors, these seminars invite audiences to explore the context and cultural impact of some of your favorite films.

12 Angry Men – Thursday, May 21
Do the Right Thing – Wednesday, June 3
Sullivan's Travels (35mm) – Wednesday, June 17
Dog Day Afternoon – Thursday, July 30
Strangers on a Train – Thursday, August 6
Scarface – Wednesday, August 19
Taxi Driver – Thursday, August 27

Whether you’re a lifelong film enthusiast or simply curious to explore movies on a deeper level, our Educational Seminars offer an engaging, welcoming environment to connect, learn, and see film in a whole new light. In a time when so much viewing happens in isolation, our communal discussions will create space for shared discovery.

🔗 Registration is now open »

This summer, young filmmakers can dive into the art of storytelling with our first Ambler Theater 2026 Film Camps!

Elements of Film (June 15–19) welcomes rising 5th–7th graders to explore story, sound, and camera technique through hands-on activities, short film viewings, and mini film projects.

Intro to Filmmaking (June 22–26) is for rising 6th–8th graders and builds on these skills with DSLR cameras, advanced editing software, and team-based productions, culminating in a short film showcased to families. Campers returning from last year are particularly encouraged to consider Intro to Filmmaking. Both camps can be attended together this summer by rising 6th and 7th graders.

Scholarships and offsite programs in Trenton are supported by donations—help us inspire the next generation of storytellers.

🔗 Register, donate & learn more »

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Hollywood Awards Party fundraiser this year! This special evening brings our community together to celebrate cinema’s biggest night while raising vital funds to support our nonprofit theater.

It was especially exciting to witness several historic first-time wins together on the big screen — including Director Paul Thomas Anderson, Actor Michael B. Jordan, and a groundbreaking victory for Sinners cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who became the first woman ever to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography. Moments like these are exactly why we love coming together as a community to celebrate and witness how powerful film can be.

A special thank you to our event sponsors — whose generous support helped make the evening possible. We’re also incredibly grateful to the local restaurants that provided the delicious food, adding to the festive atmosphere and making the night feel like a true celebration.

Events like this one remind us that our theaters are more than just places to watch films—they’re places where our community comes together to celebrate. We hope to see you again for next year’s Hollywood Awards Party—confirmed on March 14th, 2027!

🔗 Full photo gallery from this year's party »

Interested in sponsoring our largest event of the year? Contact Shannon Quinty at squinty@renewtheaters.org for more information!

Are we showing one of your favorite movies on the big screen? Support the Ambler Theater and bring your favorites to the big screen through our Underwriting Program!

Individuals, businesses, and organizations can help cover the costs of a film, special event, or an entire series—like the 35mm Film Festival or Hollywood Summer Nights — while showing support for our nonprofit community theater.

Underwriters receive four tickets to the event, are recognized on screen and online, and have the opportunity to introduce a screening in person. Single-film underwriting starts at $400, with custom options for series sponsorship or special ticket underwriting.

🔗 Start making an impact today »