Hosted by Aaron Strand (Behind the Slate Podcast, writer/director of Withdrawal), this unfiltered panel skips the corporate PR talk and puts everyday moviegoers in the spotlight. Join us for an engaging, audience-led conversation about the modern viewer experience, the magic of the dark room, and why communal cinema still matters.

 

What does cinema mean to us in an era of algorithms, endless streaming menus, and scroll paralysis?

Hosted by Atlanta filmmaker Aaron Strand (host of the Behind the Slate Podcast and writer/director of Withdrawal), this panel skips the corporate PR talk and industry jargon to hand the mic back to the people who keep movie culture alive: the audience.

Join us for a engaging, unfiltered conversation live on stage featuring everyday film fans, students, and cinema lovers. From what we miss about the traditional dark room to why local film festivals matter now more than ever, this panel offers an honest look at the modern viewer experience. Equal parts love letter to the big screen and live sounding board for cinema fans, it’s a chat about why we still show up.