The indie exhibition scene is under pressure as audiences crave independent cinema, yet the economics for arthouse venues, filmmakers, and distributors remain challenging. A new regional alliance in New York aims to bolster indie screening by coordinating efforts across venues and partners.
Art House New York, founded by Lesli Klainberg, former head of Film at Lincoln Center, launches with the support of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment as a founding partner. The initiative will kick off with a Spring 2026 audience-development campaign designed to bring New Yorkers back to independent cinema.
What AHNY aims to do
AHNY will prioritize audience development, research, and strategic initiatives to connect audiences with art houses, filmmakers, and the broader industry. Klainberg says the future of film is built on community, and AHNY seeks to attract a younger cinephile audience while broadening collaboration among theaters.
Leadership and vision
Klainberg recruited Allason Leitz of Third Industry Strategies to help shape the plan and serve as its director. The group frames local cinemas as “third spaces” that unite people and nurture a sense of belonging, particularly for newcomers to a city or neighborhood. Leitz emphasizes creating opportunities for audiences to engage with both films and the industry.
Local context and support
NYC’s indie-scene remains uneven, with only three of five boroughs regularly hosting indie cinemas and many venues concentrated south of Manhattan’s 14th Street. City officials say AHNY could serve as a model for reviving accessible, citywide indie programming.
Pat Swinney Kaufman, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, lauds Klainberg and Leitz as visionaries and envisions expanded film culture across all five boroughs through the alliance.
Advisory council
The council features leaders from institutions including the Maysles Documentary Center, Facets & the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals, Art House Convergence, BAM, and representatives connected to Paris Theatre and Netflix’s L.A. venues, among others.
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