Screenwriter And Director Paul Schrader Attending Hamptons “First Reformed” Screening

The Sag Harbor Cinema is hosting a special screening of First Reformed with the film’s screenwriter and director Paul Schrader on Sunday, January 20 at Guild Hall in East Hampton. Schrader, who just earned a Best Original Screenplay win for the film at the Critics Choice Awards, will participate in a Q&A with Cinema programming head Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan following the viewing.

“Having legendary screenwriter/director Paul Schrader join us for the screening of First Reformed is just thrilling for the new Cinema,” April Gornik, Head of the Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center Board, reflected. “We’ve had such extraordinary participation in this effort and we’re very grateful to have Paul there particularly, as his film has garnered such universal pre-awards acclaim.”

The screening marks the launch of Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center’s new winter series Present Tense, which will encompass a unique array of new releases, classics, documentaries and rarely-seen subversive comedies.

First Reformed stars Ethan Hawke as Reverend Ernst Toller, the pastor of a small church in upstate New York whose life is dramatically altered after a parishioner asks for guidance.

“First Reformed asks us to take another look at what we think we know about politics, religion and other things we like to argue about, and asks nothing more than our quiet attention,” noted A.O. Scott of The New York Times, while Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post raved, “This mesmerizing drama of a pastor’s crisis of faith feels like the movie Paul Schrader was put on this planet to make.”

First Reformed, which was released last year, has earned 62 award nominations – with 40 wins, and has a 93 percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In addition to First Reformed, Schrader also penned Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and numerous other films.

The First Reformed screening will start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street in East Hampton. For more information, visit www.sagharborcinema.org.

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