Our Cinematheque:
Fostering Community Through Film
About:
Our Cinematheque series, which originated at Terraza 7, is crucial for artists and the community because it aligns with the mission of Terraza 7 and Acoustic Memories to foster intercultural dialogue, inclusion, and political participation through art. Terraza 7, as a cultural center in the diverse neighborhood of Queens, provides a space where social issues such as migration, racism, and inequality can be explored, thereby promoting greater understanding and empathy among attendees. Now, the Cinematheque has expanded to other music venues, public libraries, and parks throughout Queens, bringing this important dialogue to a wider audience.
Who is it for?
Our Cinematheque provides a platform for students and emerging filmmakers to present short films that address relevant social issues, reinforcing its commitment to a progressive community model and offering a space where diverse voices can be heard and valued. By focusing on human rights and social justice themes, the series enriches the cultural and social fabric, fostering understanding and solidarity within the community across a variety of spaces.
In summary, Our Cinematheque complements the objectives of Terraza 7 and Acoustic Memories by promoting a space for critical reflection and community participation through film and conversation, contributing to the strengthening of an inclusive and conscious community, not only at Terraza 7 but throughout Queens.
Our Cinematheque Programming
Our Cinematheque operates through two complementary platforms:
1. WEEKLY CINEMATHEQUE A year-round weekly film program organized through thematic curatorial series. Each day of the week explores a different dimension of cinema as a tool for cultural reflection, artistic experimentation, and community dialogue. Monday — Voices of Migration Films exploring the causes, experiences, and consequences of migration, including documentaries and narrative cinema addressing displacement, borders, exile, labor migration, and diaspora communities. Tuesday — Emerging Voices Short films by students and emerging filmmakers from New York's film schools and independent creators, offering a platform for new cinematic voices and experimentation. Wednesday — Documentary & Public Memory Documentary films focused on historical, political, and social education, exploring themes such as colonialism, civil rights movements, labor struggles, environmental justice, and global conflicts. Thursday — Cinema of Nations Rotating film cycles dedicated to cinema from countries experiencing social transformation or crisis, including Iranian, Ukrainian, Venezuelan, Cuban, Palestinian, and other national cinemas. Friday — Independent World Cinema International independent films outside mainstream commercial distribution, highlighting contemporary global filmmakers and diverse cultural perspectives. Saturday — Cinema & Music Films exploring the relationship between music, culture, and performance, including jazz documentaries, flamenco films, Afro-diasporic music cinema, concert films, and musical biographies. Sunday — Art Cinema Experimental cinema, auteur film, video art, and poetic visual narratives exploring cinema as an artistic language and philosophical form.
2. CINE-MIGRANTE FILM FESTIVAL New York's Festival of Migrant Cinema An annual week-long festival celebrating cinema by and about migrant communities. CINE-MIGRANTE brings together filmmakers, scholars, and audiences to explore migration, displacement, and diaspora through film, conversation, and cultural exchange. Hosted across Queens—in theaters, libraries, parks, and community spaces—the festival asserts that migrant stories are essential, not niche, and that cinema is a powerful tool for building understanding, solidarity, and collective futures.