In 1956, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara and a band of Castro-led Cuban exiles mobilize an army to topple the regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.

An English pianist living in Rome witnesses the brutal murder of his psychic neighbor. With the help of a tenacious young reporter, he tries to discover the killer using very unconventional methods. The two are soon drawn into a shocking web of dementia and violence.

An anxious law school dropout (Matthew Shear) stumbles into a job babysitting his psychiatrist's three granddaughters and falls for the girls' mother (Amanda Peet), an actress in a rocky marriage. A smart, New York-set romantic comedy co-starring Alessandro Nivola, Judd Hirsch, Bob Balaban, Andrea Martin, Zosia Mamet, and Holland Taylor. Winner of the SXSW Narrative Feature Audience Award.

The New Italian Cinema Showcase is underwritten by the Ulster County Italian American Foundation in collaboration with Bard College, Vassar and Marist.   A writer ends up for a crazy and unexpected act in prison, where she meets with some young inmates. Once out the writer and the other women maintain their friendship, an authentic bond that no one else will be able to understand.

In this singular event, Ocean Vuong will discuss the heart-wrenching documentary about the labor struggle between a coal miners' strike and the corporation's violent pushback, which lasted a full year. Winner of the 1977 Academy Award and ranked 24 in Sight and Sound's greatest documentaries of all time, this film doesn't hold back from the grit and reality of labor crimes, as well as Appalachian life. (dir. Barbara Kopple, 1976, USA, 103 min.) "The stars of the film are the men and women of Harlan County, portrayed here not as patronized mountain folks but as human beings." — Variety

Live From Upstate Discounted ticket for members + Saugerties (12477) residents (with ID) Join Upstate Films in welcoming Ian Flanigan home to Saugerties. A night of storytelling and unreleased songs on an intimate stage in his hometown, by the musician praised by Blake Shelton as a “once-in-a-lifetime vocalist.” Flanigan has since built a career rooted in authenticity, heart, and relentless touring. Originally from Saugerties, NY, Ian began touring independently at just 17 years old, carving his path across the country as a grassroots performer. He’s played renowned stages including Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival,Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, and Austin City Limits, steadily building a loyal fan base through raw talent and genuine connection. He has shared the stage with Blake Shelton, Parker McCollum, Trace Adkins, Larry Fleet, Bob Schneider, and many more—bringing his commanding presence and heartfelt storytelling to venues and festivals across the country. Whether solo or backed by a full band, Flanigan’s live show is both intimate and unforgettable. Ian Flanigan is a nationally touring singer-songwriter known for his soulful, gravel-toned baritone and standout performances on NBC’s The Voice, where he finished as a Top 3 finalist on Team Blake.  The Live From Upstate series is generously underwritten by the Ettinger Foundation. Upstate Films programs are made possible by Arts Mid Hudson.

Vahid, an unassuming mechanic, has a chance encounter with Eghbal, a man he strongly suspects to be his former sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, Vahid gathers several former prisoners, all abused by that same captor, to try and confirm Eghbal's identity. As the bickering group drives around Tehran with the captive, they must confront how far to take matters into their own hands with their presumed tormentor. From master filmmaker Jafar Panahi comes a searing moral thriller that engages with complex ideas about the uncertainty of the truth and the choice between revenge and mercy, as Panahi turns his personal dissonance into a profound and galvanizing work of art.

This electric documentary captures Joe Cocker’s frenetic 1970 tour, featuring a soul-gospel sound led by Leon Russell. The film captures an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at a massive, chaotic, and talented musical collective. It is widely considered one of the best concert films of its era

The New Italian Cinema Showcase oping film, underwritten by the Ulster County Italian American Foundation in collaboration with Bard College, Vassar and Marist.  For the band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient grave goods and archaeological wonders, the Chimera means redemption from work and the dream of easy wealth. For Arthur, the Chimera looks like the woman he lost, Beniamina. To find her, Arthur challenges the invisible, searches everywhere, goes inside the earth – in search of the door to the afterlife of which myths speak.

La Salsa Vive is a vibrant cinematic exploration of Afro-Antillean music’s history, tracing its roots from New York’s lively streets to Cali, Colombia, now the global salsa capital. (dir. Juan Carvajal, Colombia, 2025, 101 min.)

Live From Upstate The most lauded of Anger's Magick Lantern Cycle, Lucifer Rising is perhaps the most groundbreaking of his films, which go back to the late 1930’s and are cited as major influences for John Waters, David Lynch and others. This film, preceded by "Scorpio Rising," will be paired with a live soundtrack by Constant Smiles. (dir. Kenneth Anger, U.S./U.K./West Germany, 1972, 30 min.) Constant Smiles is a dynamic, ever-evolving musical collective led by songwriter Ben Jones, known for shifting sounds from ambient pop to indie folk, blending hazy textures with profound lyrics about humanity, intimacy, and growth, evolving from its 2009 Martha's Vineyard beginnings into a respected underground scene staple, especially after releasing acclaimed albums like Paragons and Moonflowers on Sacred Bones and Felte labels.

A Cuban man cycles through his repressed opinions and memories as the threat of foreign invasion intensifies and the rest of his family retreats to Miami.

Folk music has a long history of activism and protest. Centering on the “Folk Dream” — the 1960s ideal democratic utopia — this film is a collage of never-before-seen restored footage from the Newport Folk Festivals from 1963-1966. Featuring musicians Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, The Staple Singers and Bob Dylan right before he switched from acoustic and electric, taking a generation with him. (dir. Robert Gordan, USA, 2025, 100 min.) “A rapturous documentary — elegant and transporting, full of scratchy lyrical black-and-white images and performances that have a timeless power.” —Variety

Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as "The Filthiest Person Alive".

Edited by John Lennon’s own team, this concert film is from two live benefit shows in Madison Square Garden in 1972 — earning nearly 2 million dollars for children with disabilities and some of the last performances by Lennon. The original 16mm film was painstakingly updated, the audio remixed to Dolby Atmos and the film produced by Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s son. (dir. Simon Hilton, USA, 1972/2026, 84 min.) “Every frame was physically and digitally cleaned by hand from the original film negative.” —Sean Ono Lennon

Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.

A mysterious video has been linked to a number of deaths, and when an inquisitive journalist finds the tape and views it herself, she sets in motion a chain of events that puts her own life in danger.

From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers behind Everything Everywhere All at Once and Navalny; a father-to-be tries to figure out what is happening with all this AI insanity. The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist is a hand-made, eye-opening documentary about the most powerful technology humanity has ever created... and what’s at stake if we get it wrong.

Originally filmed in New York from 1983 to 1986, before relocating to the D.C. metro area at the invitation of filmmaker Jeff Krulik, the show featured a wide-ranging roster of independent punk, underground, and roots acts— including Butthole Surfers, Ben Vaughn, Half Japanese, Shockabilly, R. Stevie Moore, and a pre-hip hop Beastie Boys— performing before a live audience, interspersed with band interviews, skits, and off-the-cuff commentary from host Scott Lewis. Now, nearly 40 years later, the show’s legacy is closer to that of AMERICAN MOVIE than AMERICAN BANDSTAND, with its staunchly DIY aesthetic and alternative focus echoed in everything from future public access favorites like NEW YORK NOISE to major network programs like 120 MINUTES. A special in-person presentation and Q&A with Scott & Gary, featuring an exclusive, never-before-seen compilation of highlights from the show.

In the near future, a charismatic leader summons the street gangs of New York City in a bid to take it over. When he is killed, The Warriors are falsely blamed and now must fight their way home while every other gang is hunting them down.

Undeterred by armed soldiers, smooth-talking politicians, and riot police, journalist Amy Goodman has reported some of the most consequential stories of our time. Steal This Story, Please. is a gripping portrait of the trailblazer whose unwavering commitment to truth-telling spans three decades of turbulent history. From the front lines of global conflicts to the organized chaos of her daily news show Democracy Now!, Goodman broadcasts stories and voices routinely silenced by commercial media. Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin (Trouble the Water, The Janes) take us behind the scenes with the warm, wisecracking granddaughter of an Orthodox rabbi - raised in a tradition of asking hard questions - as she navigates a news landscape reshaped by technology, corporate consolidation, and political assaults on truth itself. Urgent, provocative and unexpectedly funny, Steal This Story, Please. is both a call to action and a celebration of resistance, posing the question: what happens to democracy when the press surrenders to power?