Rialto to celebrate centennial by screening Be Downtown Film Festival

July 5,2016

Before the Rialto Center for the Arts was a cultural hub and performance venue owned by Georgia State University, it was a movie theater.

100 years after opening in Downtown Atlanta in 1916 , the Rialto is gearing up to celebrate its centennial and 20 years with the university.

Their 2016-2017 season will not begin until the fall, but the venue will pay homage to its roots in July with a two-day movie festival.

Taking place on July 22 and 23, the “Be Downtown Film Festival” is the result of a partnership with the Rialto and the Atlanta Film Festival (which celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year).

From “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" to “Space Jam,” the festival will offer attendees a chance to revisit their favorite films, a few of which played at the Rialto when it was a movie theater.

While all of the films will offer a look into the past, one of them will look at a more recent piece of Atlanta history.

Before a screening of horror movie “Night of the Living Dead,” the Rialto will tap into the zombie phenomenon by hosting a pre-party on Forsyth Street, a block that is featured on season one of "The Walking Dead." Makeup artists will be on hand and attendees will be able to take photos with zombies characters.

After the movie, the party will continue on Poplar Street.

Here is the full lineup for the “Be Downtown Film Festival”:

July 22

7:30 p.m. – “Shaft” (1971) (35 mm film)

10 p.m. – “Enter the Dragon” (1973) (shown in cinemascope)

July 23

12:30 p.m. – Disney’s “Aladdin” (1992) (audience sing-along encouraged)

3 p.m. – “Space Jam” (1996) (35 mm film)

5:30 p.m. – “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” (1967) (director’s cut)

10 p.m. – “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) (35 mm) (pre-movie festivities at 8:30 p.m. on Forsyth St. and after show event on Poplar St.)

All movies are $9 for adults and $5 for children. Additional fees apply for online purchases. 

Tickets can be purchased here or by contacting the Rialto box office at 404-413-9849.