Bloomington, Indiana – Fifteen years ago, Indiana University Cinema opened its doors with an ambitious goal: to create a space where film could be experienced as art, conversation, and community. Since then, the cinema has quietly grown into one of the country’s most respected arthouse venues, and this January, it is marking that journey with a season designed to reflect both its past and its future.
Over the last decade and a half, IU Cinema has distributed more than 366,000 tickets across roughly 3,500 programs. Its screen has hosted thousands of films from around the globe, welcomed filmmakers, scholars, and artists, and built a reputation that extends far beyond Bloomington. To celebrate the milestone, the cinema’s spring season begins with a 15th-anniversary birthday bash on Jan. 13.
The opening-night celebration is designed to lean into mystery and fun. A secret screening will anchor the evening, inviting audiences to test their film knowledge through a Golden Ticket contest. Attendees can submit guesses for the hidden title, and the first 15 people to correctly name the film will receive an IU Cinema Golden Ticket. The prize is as bold as the anniversary itself, granting free admission to any cinema screening for the next 15 years.
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The event will also include special guests, free popcorn, and a series of giveaways drawn directly from the personal libraries of filmmakers Peter Bogdanovich and Michael Uslan. For longtime fans, it is a chance to revisit the cinema’s playful spirit. For newcomers, it offers a memorable introduction to a venue that has long balanced accessibility with ambition.
Beyond the opening celebration, the anniversary season places a strong spotlight on Midwestern voices. The cinema will honor the region’s creative impact through “Hoosiers on Screen,” a four-film marathon featuring prominent actors from Indiana. The theme reflects IU Cinema’s ongoing interest in connecting global cinema with local roots.
That focus continues through visits from several influential Midwest creatives. Among them is writer and director Jennifer Reeder, whose work has been praised for its bold style and emotional depth. Once named by Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho as a filmmaker shaping the future of cinema, Reeder will appear as part of the Jorgensen Guest Filmmaker Series. Her visit includes an onstage conversation and screenings of her breakout feature “Knives and Skin,” paired with her short film “A Million Miles Away,” as well as the haunted-house thriller “Night’s End,” written by Brett Neveu and featuring a supporting role by Michael Shannon.
Shannon, an Academy Award-nominated actor with deep Midwestern ties, will be a central presence throughout the season. Alongside Neveu, he will visit IU Cinema for a screening of “Eric LaRue,” Shannon’s directorial effort. The event will feature a conversation between the two artists before the film and a question-and-answer session afterward.
Additional screenings highlight Shannon’s range as a performer, including Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water,” a 35mm presentation of “Take Shelter” followed by a Q&A with Shannon, and William Friedkin’s psychological horror film “Bug.” Together, the lineup offers audiences a rare opportunity to see one actor’s career through multiple creative lenses.
International cinema also remains a cornerstone of the program. The International Art House series, one of IU Cinema’s earliest offerings, returns with several standout titles. Among them is Edward Yang’s newly restored “Yi Yi,” often cited as one of the defining films of the 21st century, and Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague,” a tribute to the spirit of the French New Wave.
The popular Not-Quite Midnights series will make a high-energy return as well. This semester’s selections include “Bugonia,” the latest collaboration between filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and actor Emma Stone, and “Sinners,” a global hit and Oscar contender from Ryan Coogler that defied both genre expectations and box office trends. The series will also feature 35mm screenings of grindhouse cult classics “Ms. 45” and “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!”
The anniversary season is rounded out with a wide range of special programming. Highlights include a Feb. 5 open house for IU faculty and staff, complete with refreshments and a trailer reel previewing upcoming events; new 4K restorations of three Akira Kurosawa masterpieces starring Toshiro Mifune; and the continuation of IU Cinema’s Sunday marathons of season two of “Twin Peaks.”
Audiences will also have the chance to see one of 2025’s most discussed films, Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis,” paired with the Midwest premiere of its behind-the-scenes documentary “Megadoc.” Other tributes include “5X Robert Redford,” celebrating the actor and filmmaker’s enduring influence, and a special screening of “Beetlejuice” timed with IU Auditorium’s performances of “Beetlejuice: The Musical” in April.
As IU Cinema enters its next chapter, the anniversary season serves as both a celebration and a statement. It reflects 15 years of thoughtful programming while signaling a continued commitment to film as a shared cultural experience. For full details and film listings, audiences can visit the cinema’s website or follow @iucinema across social media platforms.
