named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Dinner and a Movie
Collaborative promotion with The Parish restaurant offering a $25 pre-movie menu and reserved seating for select screenings
Fourth Fridays Comedy Series
Seasonal stand-up comedy series featuring emerging talent from NYC and beyond, hosted monthly at the theatre
Movies Every Week
Weekly screenings of independent and arthouse films on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights, often accompanied by filmmaker Q&As, live music, and community discussions
SUMMER SHORTS FILM FEST
Annual festival showcasing over 35 short films across multiple genres and themes, including special programming blocks for New York-based filmmakers and educators
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 4 activities
- Host post-screening discussions with filmmakers and film expertsHosts weekly film screenings that include Q&As, musical performances, and post-screening discussions with visiting filmmakers, documentary subjects, and film historians.
- Host special one-off eventsOrganizes special one-off events in addition to regular film programming and recurring series.
- Host weekly arthouse film screeningsOperates a European-style Cinema Arts Venue in New York, hosting weekly arthouse film screenings on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30PM, featuring high-caliber independent films not widely available to the public.
- Organize the annual SUMMER SHORTS FILM FESTHosts the annual SUMMER SHORTS FILM FEST, screening over 35 short films across six curated blocks, including a New York-focused program featuring state-based filmmakers, and showcasing short-form cinema in the Hudson Valley.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Host live comedy series featuring emerging comediansProduces the recurring Fourth Fridays Comedy Series, featuring emerging stand-up comedians from New York City and other regions in a live performance format.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Provide subsidized theatre access for local studentsOffers over 8,000 local students annual access to theatre programming at a reduced price of five dollars per ticket.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Serve alcoholic beverages in venue spacesServes beer, wine, and cider for consumption in multiple venue areas including the patio, lounge, lobby, and theatre.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$85K
Contributions & grants$51K60%
Program service revenue$34K40%
Investment income$120%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$113K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$55K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.16M
Cash$9K
Investments$0
Liabilities$100
Net assets$1.16M
Liquid reserves0.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -23.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JONATHAN KANDEL | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 20 | $20K |
board members · 3
- OLEN WOOD — DIRECTOR
- WALT HEENAN — DIRECTOR
- WENDY LIPSTEIN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 4
Who they work with
- METRO-NORTH Partner — Public transit partner providing train service to Poughkeepsie, supporting access to DENIZEN Theatre.
- STRATEGIC PARTNERS Partner — Local businesses in the Hudson Valley that provide annual financial support to cover operating expenses.
- THE PARISH Partner — Collaborates to offer a "Dinner and a Movie" promotion, combining a pre-theater meal at THE PARISH with a film screening at DENIZEN Theatre.
- TRAILWAYS Partner — Public transit partner providing bus service to New Paltz for visitors to DENIZEN Theatre.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Curated Cultural Programming Modelmethodology: curated_programmingBy offering selectively curated cinema and arts programming, the organization increases access to meaningful cultural experiences and builds community engagement, because intentional curation fosters deeper audience connection and distinguishes the venue as a cultural hub.
- Storytelling for Social Changemethodology: storytelling-for-social-changeBy using narrative and performance, the organization inspires audiences to engage with social issues and motivates collective action toward positive change, because stories create emotional resonance and foster empathy more effectively than data alone.