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NEW PLAZA CINEMA INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 364905957 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A31 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · newplazacinema.org
revenue
$377K
expenses
$348K
net assets
$112K
employees
7
volunteers
250
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

NEW PLAZA CINEMA IS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY OF FILM LOVERS, DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THOUGHT-PROVOKING ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION, AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS THROUGH CAREFULLY CURATED CULTURAL FILM EXPERIENCES. WE STRIVE TO BE A SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL DESTINATION, COMMITTED TO PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE ART OF CINEMA IN UPPER MANHATTAN AND BEYOND. OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT THE TRADITION OF ART CINEMA REMAINS VIBRANT AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AUDIENCES, FOSTERING A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE POWER OF FILM TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE.

profile · synthesized from sources

New Plaza Cinema is a cultural nonprofit in Upper Manhattan dedicated to preserving and promoting art cinema through curated film screenings and live audience engagements. The organization hosts filmmaker Q&As, director appearances, and special events that foster community dialogue around independent and international films. It serves as a sustainable venue for thought-provoking cinematic experiences, reaching a growing audience with both in-person and virtual programming.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $84K
    EXPANDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND STRENGTHENING SUPPORT: BUILDING ON THE MOMENTUM OF 2023, NEW PLAZA CINEMA FURTHER EXPANDED ITS COMMUNITY PRESENCE AND AUDIENCE REACH THROUGHOUT 2024. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED 70 SPECIAL EVENTSINCLUDING FILMMAKER Q&AS, ACTOR AND DIRECTOR APPEARANCES, MEMBER GATHERINGS, AND CULTURAL DISCUSSIONSTHAT ENRICHED OUR PROGRAMMING AND DEEPENED AUDIENCE CONNECTIONS.TICKET SALES EXCEEDED 17,000 THIS YEAR, REFLECTING A STEADILY GROWING AND LOYAL FOLLOWING, AS WELL AS THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR OUR CURATED FILM EXPERIENCES. IN ADDITION, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS SURPASSED 130,000, DEMONSTRATING AN INSPIRING LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINING INDEPENDENT CINEMA IN UPPER MANHATTAN.TOGETHER, THESE ACHIEVEMENTS UNDERSCORE NEW PLAZA CINEMAS CONTINUING EVOLUTION AS A VIBRANT, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CULTURAL INSTITUTION DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING THE ART OF FILM AND FOSTERING MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT AMONG AUDIENCES.
  2. #2 $0
    BUILDING A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY: NEW PLAZA CINEMA HAS SUCCESSFULLY CULTIVATED A PASSIONATE AND LOYAL COMMUNITY OF 250 VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE FULLY ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION OF PRESERVING AND PROMOTING QUALITY CINEMATOGRAPHY. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WORK TIRELESSLY TO HELP US GROW, ATTRACT NEW AUDIENCES, AND ENHANCE THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF UPPER MANHATTAN. THEIR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HOSTING EVENTS, SUPPORTING OUR OPERATIONS, AND FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CINEMA AS AN ART FORM CONTINUES TO THRIVE. THE STRENGTH OF THIS VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE EFFORT BUT ALSO ENSURES THAT NEW PLAZA CINEMA REMAINS A SUSTAINABLE AND VIBRANT FORCE IN THE ARTS.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Curated Film Screenings
Regularly scheduled screenings of classic, independent, and international films, often accompanied by live introductions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, actors, and historians.
NYC Short Film Showcase
Bi-monthly program featuring short films by local New York City filmmakers, providing a platform for emerging talent and community-based storytelling.
Special Events & Q&As
Hosts filmmaker appearances, director retrospectives, and guest-led discussions to deepen audience engagement with cinematic art and cultural themes.
Virtual Screenings
Offers online film events that extend access beyond physical location, continuing a practice initiated during the pandemic to broaden reach.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Film Festival and Screening Programming 4 activities
    • Host recurring short film showcase events
      Organizes bi-monthly NYC Short Film Showcase events that feature curated short films and provide a platform for local filmmakers to present their work.
    • Host regular film screenings and curated film experiences
      Hosts weekly and weekend film screenings, including hold-over and encore showings, featuring classic, international, and award-winning films. Sold over 16,500 tickets annually based on IRS-990 data, with programming designed to engage cinéphiles and general audiences alike.
    • Host virtual film events to expand access
      Hosts virtual screenings and discussions to extend reach to remote audiences, with over 43 virtual events conducted as reported in IRS-990 filings.
    • Operate a summer film residency program at the Museum of Arts and Design
      Hosts a summer residency at the Museum of Arts and Design in Columbus Circle, featuring daily screenings over ten consecutive Saturdays, including sold-out events like Peter Asher: Everywhere Man attended by over one hundred patrons.
  • Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
    • Mobilize volunteers to support cinema operations
      Engages and coordinates a community of 250 volunteers who support the mission of preserving and promoting quality cinematography through event assistance and outreach.
  • Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
    • Organize post-screening discussions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers and experts
      Hosts post-screening events featuring Q&A sessions with directors, actors, producers, and film historians. These events include recurring sold-out sessions and special anniversary screenings, enhancing audience engagement and providing deeper context to the films.
  • Documentary Film Production 1 activity
    • Produce documentary films
      Produces, directs, and edits original documentary films, including Following Harry (premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2024), Sing Your Song (Oscar shortlisted, NAACP Image Award winner), and The Hidden Diary of Diahann Carroll (in production, co-directed with Suzanne Kay and executive produced by Serena and Venus Williams).
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$377K
Contributions & grants$130K35%
Program service revenue$243K64%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$348K
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$73K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$112K
Cash$112K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$112K
Liquid reserves3.9 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
GARY PALMUCCI GENERAL MGR/ 40 $30K
board members · 8
  • CLAUDINE BACHER — DIRECTOR
  • GUY MAX DELPHIN — DIRECTOR
  • JAMAL JOSEPH — DIRECTOR
  • MARIE-MONIQUE STECKEL — DIRECTOR
  • PAUL DOWNS — CHAIRMAN
  • RIC BURNS — DIRECTOR
  • SUSANNE SZABO ROSTOCK — DIRECTOR
  • WAYNE KABAK — DIRECTOR
relationships · 41

Who they work with

  • Abbe Harris Partner — Staff colleague moderating Q&A events at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Annette Insdorf Partner — Film historian and author who introduced a screening at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Brian Vincent Partner — Make Me Famous filmmaker and James Dean documentary producer participating in a screening event at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Brooke Adams Partner — Film and stage actress who hosted a screening at New Plaza Cinema.
  • CUNY Government — Local academic institution whose events temporarily affected screening schedules.
  • Dan Cahill Partner — Film historian participating in programming at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Dan Cahill Partner — Film historian who co-hosts screenings and provides expert commentary.
  • Dan Cahill Partner — Film historian who leads pre- and post-screening discussions for the Big Screen Classics series.
  • Eran Riklis Partner — Director who participated in a post-screening Q&A at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Facebook Partner — Platform used for outreach and engagement with audiences.
  • Foster Hirsch Partner — 50s Hollywood historian participating in a screening event for Rebel Without a Cause at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Greenwich Pictures Partner — Distributor and supplier of the film Peter Asher: Everywhere Man.
  • Heather Spore Partner — Make Me Famous filmmaker and James Dean documentary producer participating in a screening event at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Instagram Partner — Platform used for outreach and engagement with audiences.
  • Julia Newman Partner — Director of Still a Revolutionary: Albert Einstein, participating in a screening event at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Julie Garfield Partner — Guest participant and daughter of actor John Garfield, contributing to special events at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Julie Garfield Partner — Longtime friend of New Plaza Cinema who participated in an after-screening discussion of "The Breaking Point."
  • Matthew Shear Partner — Actor, writer, and director who participated in multiple Q&A sessions following screenings of his film.
  • Matthew Shear Partner — Writer, director, and star of "Fantasy Life" who participated in a post-screening Q&A at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Max Alvarez Partner — Film historian participating in programming at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Max Alvarez Partner — Film historian who leads pre- and post-screening discussions for the Big Screen Classics series.
  • Michael Jacobsohn Partner — Curator and impresario of the bi-monthly NYC Short Film Showcase hosted at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Museum of Art and Design Partner — Hosts New Plaza Cinema's summer residency and screenings.
  • Museum of Arts and Design Partner — Co-locates film screenings at the Museum of Arts and Design venue.
  • Museum of Arts and Design Partner — Hosts New Plaza Cinema's summer residency in its basement-level theater.
  • Museum of Arts and Design Partner — Hosts New Plaza Cinema's summer residency screenings at its Columbus Circle location.
  • New Plaza Cinema Partner — Organization hosting film talk back events
  • Nicca Ray Partner — Daughter of director Nicholas Ray, participating in a screening event for Rebel Without a Cause at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Nicole Betancourt Partner — Director of The Unfixing, participating in a screening event at New Plaza Cinema.
  • Pamela Hogan Partner — Director participating in Q&A following screening of her documentary at New Plaza Cinema.
+ 11 more
strategies · 4

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.

  • Audience-Responsive Curation
    methodology: audience-responsive_programming
    By using audience demand, attendance patterns, and feedback to shape programming decisions—including screening times and encore presentations—we increase accessibility and relevance, because iterative responsiveness sustains long-term engagement in a local cultural ecosystem.
  • Community-Engaged Film Programming
    methodology: community-engaged_cinema
    By designing film programs in response to community interests and using screenings as forums for dialogue, we foster deeper audience investment and sustained cultural participation, because shared conversation strengthens civic connection to the arts.
  • Contextual Enrichment Model
    methodology: contextual_enrichment_through_guest_participation
    By integrating scholarly and personal context into film screenings—through historians, filmmakers, and family members—we deepen audience understanding and emotional resonance, because layered narratives increase engagement and retention of cultural meaning.
  • Thematic and Cultural Moment Curation
    methodology: thematic_curation
    By aligning film programs with current events, holidays, or historical reflection periods, we draw audience interest and provoke meaningful discourse, because cultural resonance increases relevance and attendance for under-the-radar institutions.