Celebrating Our Community Partners: Highlights from 2024’s Events So Far
At the heart of The Nightlight is a steadfast mission to foster community connections in Akron and across Northeast Ohio through the transformative power of cinema.
Over the past decade, we’ve teamed up with over 100 local and regional organizations, hosting a range of events that have brought many thousands together through film.
In the past two years alone, we’ve built more connections than ever before:
Joining forces with local cultural institutions like the Akron Public Library, the Akron Art Museum, the Akron Civic Theatre, and Summit Metroparks,
Expanding our reach to young film lovers within Akron Public Schools,
And working with national projects like The Sojourner Truth Project and The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Science on Screen initiative.
Each unique community partnership has further fueled our mission to create meaningful cinematic experiences right here in Akron. From special screenings to educational programs, working with our community partners has played a vital role in making The Nightlight a vibrant cultural hub.
The Nightlight Turns 10: Looking Back at a Decade (Plus) of Cinematic Memories & Milestones
To celebrate a decade of key collaborations, we’re sharing a handful of partnerships in the past year that highlight our present impact — and give a glimpse of what’s to come with our Second Screen Expansion.
(An enormous thank-you to every single community partner we’d had over the years!)
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
HOUSE THREE THIRTY
In December 2023, we collaborated with House Three Thirty to present four free community screenings of family-friendly winter films in their cabaret.
SUMMIT METRO PARKS
In February 2024, we partnered with Summit Metro Parks to present the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, an environmentally-focused film festival — which we will be bringing back for a second time in 2025!
Jen M. Harvey, Chief of Philanthropy at Summit Metro Parks and the Summit Metro Parks Foundation:
“As The Nightlight celebrates its 10-year Anniversary, we’re reflecting on how they have brought the power of film — in such a warm, welcoming, and inviting way — to our community. We’re so glad to have begun a collaboration with The Nightlight for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. It’s been a truly synergistic partnership so far. We look forward to lots of success for The Nightlight in the future.”
AKRON CIVIC THEATER
Also in February 2024, we partnered with The Akron Civic Theatre to present Clueless on their big screen, accompanied by a 90s-themed dance party and pre-show snacks.
AKRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
In 2024, we became a community liaison at Hyre Community Learning Center (CLC), giving 8th graders project feedback, presenting a film in the theater for 7th graders to learn the ins and outs of running an arthouse cinema, and speaking with 6th graders about different careers within the arts.
McKenzie, Jenn, and Cory at Hyre CLC
AKRON PUBLIC LIBRARY
In April 2024, we brought acclaimed international pianist Chris Jarrett to Akron to perform alongside the film Battleship Potemkin, the iconic 1925 Soviet silent drama film, at the Akron Public Library.
Chris Jarrett, Jenn, and Anthony at the Akron Public Library
Then in May, we brought Butterfly In The Sky, the recent documentary about Reading Rainbow, to the library for a free community screening.
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
In April 2024, we also welcomed the University of Akron Ambassadors for a special free screening of the 2024 Oscar-nominated Short Films.
Daniel, Zippy, and Jenn at The Nightlight
Special Guest SILAS HITE
We wrapped April 2024 with composer Silas Hite joining us for multiple sold-out screenings of The Most Remote Restaurant in The World, followed by an insightful Q&A with the audience.
Silas Hite at The Nightlight for one of several sold-out screenings of the film, featuring his score, and Q&A
AKRON ART MUSEUM x THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
In May 2024, we continued our long-standing partnership with the Akron Art Museum and added The American Red Cross to present a screening of the iconic teen vampire film Twilight, complemented by a community blood drive.
Katelyn Evans, Manager, Public Engagement at The Akron Art Museum:
““The Nightlight started in the Museum’s auditorium as a fearless incubator project and has now transformed into an independent cinema right down the road. As modern and contemporary cultural sites, we have the most fulfilling missions of engaging our community with some of the best international visuals and their creators.
To partner is only natural. And to now be on the brink of a renovation and an expansion in Akron’s Historic Arts District, it’s thrilling to dream of what’s possible for us as we continue adding to this area’s legacy.
Cheers to this incredible place and team!””
THE 48-HOUR FILM PROJECT
Also in May 2024, the 48-Hour Film Project gathered at The Nightlight to connect filmmakers from Akron, Canton, and Cleveland during a meet and greet followed by screenings of previous 48-Hour Film Project short films.
SCIENCE ON SCREEN
Between March and June, we presented three events for our 2024 Science on Screen series, an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Our Science on Screen events included:
A March screening of Snakes on a Plane, with University of Akron professor Dr. Henry Astley presenting how snakes perform amazing feats without feet.
A May visit from Jennifer Bazar, from the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology, who took our audience through the history of the Stanford Prison Experiment after a film screening.
A June visit from Tony Pankuch, Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology, who presented a lecture on the history of LGBTQ+ psychology after a screening of But I’m A Cheerleader.
THE GROUNDHOG SHOW
In June, we presented Orlando, My Political Biography, for the fourth annual Groundhog Show within Courtyard by Marriott Downtown’s theater space.
MINORITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH GROUP
The Nightlight partnered with Minority Behavioral Health Group to host free screenings of Crooklyn on Juneteenth, 2024, in addition to screening their powerful films More Life and My Life in 2023 and 2024.
Dr. Ciara Dennis-Morgan, Chief Clinical and Wellness Officer at Minority Behavioral Health:
“A WHOLE DECADE! We are so thrilled to celebrate The Nightlight’s 10th Anniversary! Early on, John and I went on a memorable SWEET date years ago at The Nightlight and almost a decade later it is still one of our favorite places to be.
For us, The Nightlight is within monumental memories, especially over this past year. I will never forget the day we met with Jenn to discuss the possibility of showing More Life and My Life, she welcomed us in, in true Jenn fashion, got me a cup of coffee and was so kind and willing in her approach to partnership. We all know how it is to explore collaboration but it’s special to be met with genuinely kind energy. Jenn is open, warm, affirming, creative and has been in every interaction we have had. We see her energy demonstrated in the theatre space, the team and when meeting people that refer to their “good friend Jenn.”
We believe it’s important to be mindful where you invite your guests; family and friends because you want them to be treated with respect and kindness, which has been the experience at The Nightlight. We do not take The Nightlight team for granted and have deep appreciation for every interaction. We love walking in to hear good music, having fresh popcorn with flavors for days to choose from, and a new/favorite drink or snack is always a treat. While the idea of just going to see a movie is great, it’s more than that: it is an arthouse, a gathering space, and a necessity.
We appreciate the space to experience and digest art while feeling a range of emotions that spark meaningful conversation. We celebrate The Nightlight, our arthouse cinema, for creating a space where we can gather to be exposed to independent films, classics, and a range of offerings that are from time to time paired with other unique community partners. We find comfort, joy, and ease in collaborating with The Nightlight.
As they celebrate a decade, we wish The Nightlight every good thing they have given and more. We hope for a beautiful expansion with peace and abundance washing all over them.
Thanks for being here, The Nightlight!”
CITY OF AKRON
This summer, we’re partnering with the City of Akron to present a series of free, family-friendly throwback films from the 1980s and ‘90s at Lock 3.
📌 Don’t miss our remaining Lock 3 outdoor shows!
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN JULY (Thursday, 7/25)
JURASSIC PARK (Thursday, 8/8)
PURPLE RAIN (Thursday, 8/22)
OPEN TONE MUSIC x RUBBER CITY JAZZY & BLUES FEST
This September will mark the third year we have partnered with Open Tone Music to present a free film in Downtown Akron for the community during the annual Rubber City Jazz and Blues Fest.
Rubber City Jazz and Blues Fest’s screening of The Wiz, 2023
Chris Anderson, Founder and Executive Director of Open Tone Music:
“We love The Nightlight!
For the past several years, The Nightlight and their staff have been partnering with us for our Open Tone Music Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival. We’ve partnered with The Nightlight to host panel discussions, festival committee meetings, and one of our favorites was partnering with The Nightlight to have movie night during our festival weekend.
Our festival attendees really enjoyed having the movie and thought it was a wonderful collaboration.”
THE SOJOURNER TRUTH PROJECT
The Nightlight was proud to partner with The Sojourner Truth Project as the official host of Sojourner Truth: Our History.
“While the idea of just going to see a movie is great, The Nightlight is more than that: it is an arthouse, a gathering space, and a necessity . . . a space to experience and digest art while feeling a range of emotions that spark meaningful conversation.”
Community-Centered Cinema, Since 2014.
The Nightlight is all about making the arthouse cinema experience accessible, inclusive, and exceptional. We’re incredibly thankful for everyone in our community whose involvement not only means the world to us, but is helping keep the spirit of independent film alive in Akron.