Sag Harbor Cinema Earth Day Programming Celebrates Ocean Sustainability, April 21st

SAG HARBOR CINEMA EARTH DAY PROGRAMMING

CELEBRATES OCEAN SUSTAINABILITY

AND THE LIVES OF FISHING COMMUNITIES  

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In collaboration with Back to the Bays and The New York Public Library. 

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Sag Harbor Cinema will screen Anne Belle’s 1976 film short film Baymen– Our Waters are Dying, recently restored by the New York Public Library, together with Greek filmmaker Leon Loisios’ Fishermen and Fishing (1961). The screenings will take place on April 21 at 1:30pm and will be followed by a presentation by the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays initiative, with a special focus on the Sag Harbor Stewardship Site. 

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“This program combines a rewarding cinematic experience – the screening of two rare archival short documentaries about marine communities on the East End and on a Greek Island – with the opportunity to directly engage with an ongoing effort to preserve the well being of our waters, its flora and fauna,” says SHC’s Artistic Director Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan. “It will make for a thought provoking afternoon.” 

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Baymen– Our Waters Are Dying portrays the life of clam diggers in eastern Long Island and the growing concerns over water pollution and commercial fishing. It will be screened in 16mm, marking the first time the Cinema uses its 16mm projector. 

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“Baymen– Our Waters are Dying is a work of immeasurable value, both as an historical record of 1976 and as a tool for community engagement and education,” says Elena Rossi-Snook, Film Collection Specialist, The New York Public Library. “For Long Islanders in 2024 to be able to see and hear and learn directly from those who were in this area, working these waters, caring about this same community is the reason the Library collects and preserves this kind of film.” 

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Leon Loisios’ Fishermen and Fishing (1961) will also screen as part of the program, a short documentary about the communal life of fishermen of the Molyvos community on the island of Lesbos, Greece in the early 60s. Shot in beautiful black and white that echoes Italian neorealism, the film is narrated by the acclaimed Greek director Stavros Tornes (Karkalou, 1984; Balamos, 1982). For this screening, SHC thanks The Association of European Cinematheques and The Greek Film Archive.

The two films complement each other, as they both reflect life in small fishing communities. Although each of the films are over 50 years old, the topics of ocean habitat sustainability and the livelihood of small fishing communities are prescient. The two short documentaries will be followed by a presentation from the Back to the Bays initiative. 

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“In a time when we regularly witness the realities of our changing planet, it is important to show people that through science, education and stewardship, we can help ensure the East End remains the beautiful and bountiful place we all love,” says Kate Rossi-Snook, Back to the Bays Aquaculture Coordinator.

“We are excited to establish Sag Harbor in our network of Stewardship Sites, enabling us to get the public involved in improving the health of our bays alongside our team of experts in carefully planned long-term restoration efforts,“ adds Kim Barbour, Back to the Bays Director. 

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Also, as part of the weekly Kids and Families series, SHC will screen the marine adventure film Life of Pi (Ang Lee, 2012) in 3D on Saturday and Sunday at 11am.

Tickets for the program will be available on the cinema’s website, sagharborcinema.org.

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Sag Harbor Cinema

As a not-for-profit 501(c)3, community-based organization, Sag Harbor Cinema is dedicated to presenting the past, present and future of the Movies and to preserving and educating about films, filmmaking, and the film-going experience in its three state-of-the-art theaters. The Cinema engages its audiences and the community year-round through dialogue, discovery, and appreciation of the moving image – from blockbusters to student shorts and everything in between. Revitalized and reimagined through unprecedented community efforts to rebuild the iconic Main Street structure after a fire nearly destroyed it in 2016, SHC continues a long historic tradition of entertainment in the heart of Sag Harbor Village. SHC Members enjoy discounts on tickets and merchandise and have access to our member-only rooftop lounge, The Green Room. 

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Back to the Bays

Back to the Bays is an initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Marine Program. As an environmental non-profit, their mission is to increase stakeholder engagement in their water quality protection initiatives, habitat improvement projects, shellfish research and restoration, and youth and community education experiences. Sag Harbor is the newest addition to their network of Stewardship Sites, through which they work with restaurants, marinas, schools, community groups, local businesses, municipalities, and private donors to establish long-term receiving areas for their marine restoration efforts while creating opportunities for the community to learn – do – enjoy + give back to our bays.