Bigger, Better and More Badass: Somerville Theatre to Host 70mm and Widescreen Film Festival

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If you were one of the thousands of people who indulged in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight at the Somerville Theatre, you’re in for another treat. The beloved Davis Square institution will host its first-ever festival of 70mm and widescreen 35mm films on September 16th through the 25th

Why is 70mm such a big deal, you ask? The format is twice the size of 35mm film and allows for an image that is higher in resolution with crisper details and much, much brighter colors. It’s extremely expensive to make films in 70mm format and not every theatre in the country is outfitted to play them. The Somerville Theatre just happens to be one of the last remaining theaters in the country where 70mm film rules.

Among the films to be screened in 70mm include Lawrence of Arabia, the 1982 film Tron, Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar as well as the 1968 stunner, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Some of the 35mm widescreen films on the list include The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur. The festival is packed with gems that ought to be seen in their original 70mm release format, but if you only have time to see one film, make it Walt Disney’s 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty—this is one of the rarest opportunities you’ll get to see this film in at its colorful glory.

For more information or a complete listing of films, visit somervilletheatre.com