Free State Festival organizers have launched the Free State Film Society, a new, year-round membership program for movie lovers, they announced in a news release Tuesday night.
A yearlong membership to the film society is $40. Organizers hope it will help those who join feel connected to their movie-going community.
Members will receive free admission to the first event, a screening of “Fries! The Movie” on Sept. 27, discounts on screenings throughout the year, and early access to Free State Festival tickets.
Organizers also announced that Free State Festival’s Act Two is now set for April 14-17, 2022, and filmmaker John Waters — whose visit to Lawrence has been delayed since the 2020 festival was canceled — will headline.
The outdoor screening, coming up Monday, Sept. 27 at the Cider Gallery Courtyard, starts at 7 p.m. with music by Nick Carswell to set the stage for the 7:30 showing of the 84-minute, “fresh-from-the-fryer” documentary.
“No other food bridges borders, languages, and tastes more than the humble but delicious fried potato,” according to the organizers’ release. “Taking the audience on a joyous and mouth-watering journey around the world, best-selling authors Malcolm Gladwell and Chrissy Teigen join an international cast of characters to better understand the globe’s obsession with the french fry with humor and reverence.”
Tickets are free for those who join the film society and $10 for nonmembers. Attendees can “supersize” their experience by preordering fries from Lawrence Beer Co. and a champagne taster for $10.
Attendees ages 12 and up need to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status or a negative COVID test (a PCR test less than 72 hours old from the event start time or an antigen test taken within six hours of the start time) at the door. In the event of rain, the event will move indoors and masks will be required.
The next film will be a scary movie in October at the Masonic Temple at 10th and Massachusetts streets.
Join the film society and/or get tickets to the “Fries! The Movie” event at this link. Learn more about both at this link.
