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Gateway to partner with Wexner Center for film space

Posted on | November 18, 2009 | 2,005 views |

Campus Partners and the Wexner Center for the Arts have formed a partnership that will significantly expand the range and quality of film offerings within the entire region.

Scheduled to debut in early January, the Gateway Film Center will augment its current programming of the best of mainstream film with significantly increased programming of award-winning independent, international and cutting-edge titles — by devoting two of its screens to Wexner Center-selected films on a continuous basis.

“We are excited by the new direction and the opportunities this will bring to the wonderful arts community in central Ohio,” said Doug Aschenbach, president of Campus Partners, the developer of South Campus Gateway. “The physical and programming changes will not only mean a reinvention of our products and services but will allow us to serve an even larger group of central Ohio moviegoers.”

“This novel partnership between the Wexner Center and Gateway Film Center is an ideal collaboration — one where each brings to the table its respective resources and expertise for the benefit of both,” said Sherri Geldin, director of the Wexner Center. “We’re delighted to join with Campus Partners to expand the cinematic repertoire for the campus community, our members and the filmgoing public alike.”

Campus Partners for Community Urban Redevelopment, a non-profit redevelopment corporation established by Ohio State in 1995, is the developer of South Campus Gateway and has spearheaded the neighborhood planning and revitalization efforts.

South Campus Gateway and the Gateway Film Center are an important strategic investment in the larger revitalization plan for the University District.

Campus Partners has tapped theater industry veteran Chris Hamel to serve as president of the Gateway Film Center. Hamel brings more than 20 years cinema experience, most recently serving as executive director of sales for Unique Screen Media, a Cinedigm company. Previously, Hamel has served as Columbus promotions director for Cinemark Theaters, director of operations for CAPA (Ohio, Palace and Southern theatres), vice president of operations for the Drexel Theatres Group and president and executive director of Movie Media.

“Our goal is to create a memorable experience for moviegoers that will add to the urban vitality that the University District has brought to the area,” said Hamel. “Our patrons can expect an experience unlike what they’d find at any other theater in the city, especially in the exciting and challenging titles the Wexner film/video program will bring to the programming mix.”

Wexner Center Film/Video Curator David Filipi has been with the center since 1994. He oversees 170 screenings each year in the Wexner’s landmark building at 15th and High, mixing acclaimed new films from festivals around the world, director’s retrospectives, restored classics and an active visiting director series with such luminaries as Milos Forman, Jim Jarmusch, Gus Van Sant and dozens of others.

“For 20 years, the Wexner Center’s film/video program has successfully mixed art-house titles with archival restorations, retrospectives and experimental fare,” Filipi said. “We’re thrilled that our partnership with the Gateway will provide us with two additional screens so we can give selected films a longer run than we’ve been able to do on our single screen here at the Wexner.”

The films programmed by the Wexner Center will fall under the “Wex@Gateway” tag. Wexner Center members will receive member rates for Wex@Gateway films at all times and for other Gateway films shown Sunday through Thursday.

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