Barrymore Film Center

What Barrymore Film Center does

The Barrymore Film Center (BFC) is a nonprofit cultural institution operating a 21,500-square-foot facility at 153 Main Street in Fort Lee, New Jersey, comprising a 260-seat repertory movie theater and a 2,500-square-foot film museum. The center, which opened on October 21, 2022, following a $16 million municipal investment by the Borough of Fort Lee, is operated by the nonprofit Friends of the Barrymore Film Center and is led by Executive Director Nina Larson. Its programming honors Fort Lee's historical role as the birthplace of the American film industry and the legacy of the Barrymore acting dynasty through rotating museum exhibits (including collections of 70+ classic film posters and exhibits on Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and the Barrymore family) and curated film screenings.

The center's core technical asset is a multi-format projection system combining 4K digital, 35mm, and 70mm projectors, complemented by an orchestra pit accommodating up to 20 musicians and a three-keyboard theater organ — hardware that enables authentic live-accompanied silent film screenings and positions the venue as one of the few remaining repertory houses capable of presenting celluloid formats. Programming is diversified across film festivals (notably co-presenting NYAFF screenings with Film at Lincoln Center), Korean and Japanese cultural programming, filmmaker Q&As, live performances, and sensory-friendly screenings supported by assistive listening, closed captioning, and audio description services.

The business model combines transaction-based revenue (ticket sales at $15 adult / $12 senior-child, concessions, gift cards), recurring revenue (annual memberships, with 600+ members across NJ, CA, FL, Canada, and the UK as of opening), professional services (event rentals for premieres, shoots, and private functions), and educational program fees spanning an After-School Creative Media Lab for grades 3-12, Adult Film & Media Learning courses, the Film & Media Workforce Academy, and Summer Media Workshops. Customer segments include cinephiles, arts patrons, students, festival attendees, and private event renters, with the venue supported in part by an NJ Division of Travel and Tourism grant and anchored by partnerships with cultural organizations including the Fort Lee Film Commission, New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Korean Cultural Center NY, and Japan Foundation.

Name

Barrymore Film Center

Legal name

Barrymore Film Center

Website

https://barrymorefilmcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Barrymore Film Center is a Fort Lee, NJ nonprofit operating a 260-seat repertory theater and film museum that screens classic, foreign, and festival films on 4K/35mm/70mm, and runs year-round educational programs for youth and adults.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Repertory Cinema and Film Museum

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF), Community & Cultural Screenings (Museums, Cultural Centers) (MPADAKAH), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Repertory film screenings
• Film museum exhibits
• Cinema education programs
• Classic film presentations
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: General admission ticket sales for film screenings. Adults $15, Seniors 65+ $12, Children under 10 $12. Special pricing for live events and enhanced screenings.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership providing benefits including early access to tickets, member-only events, and 10% discount on education programs. Over 600 members as of 2022 opening.
3. Event Rentals: Venue rental for private events including premieres, shoots, and special occasions. The facility serves as a blank canvas for various event types.
4. Gift Cards: Refillable gift cards available for purchase at the box office or online, usable for tickets, concessions, special events, and merchandise.
5. Concessions: Food and beverage sales during screenings and events.
6. Educational Programs: After-School Creative Media Lab for grades 3-12, Adult Film & Media Learning courses, and Film & Media Workforce Academy providing career-focused training. Special pricing of 10% off for BFC Members and Multi-Class Youth registrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Barrymore Film Center is a nonprofit repertory cinema and film museum in Fort Lee, NJ, operating a 260-seat theater with multi-format projection (4K digital, 35mm, 70mm) and a 2,500-square-foot museum celebrating Fort Lee's role as the birthplace of the American film industry. It sells admission to curated film screenings, museum visits, educational programs for youth and adults, private event rentals, gift cards, and concessions.

Product overview

The Barrymore Film Center is a single unified cultural institution combining a 260-seat repertory movie theater and museum in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The center serves as both a cinema and educational facility, offering film screenings, museum exhibits on film history, and educational programs. The core product is the theater and museum experience, supplemented by educational programs including After-School Creative Media Lab, Adult Film & Media Learning courses, and the Film & Media Workforce Academy. Additional offerings include event venue rental, gift cards, rotating film poster exhibits, and sensory-friendly screenings. The center honors Fort Lee's role as the birthplace of the American film industry and celebrates the Barrymore acting family's legacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Barrymore Film Center Theater A 260-seat repertory film theater featuring 4K digital projection, 35mm and 70mm analog film capabilities, a 20-by-40-foot curved screen, an orchestra pit for live musical accompaniment, and a three-keyboard theater organ. Screens classic films, foreign films, new works by emerging filmmakers, and hosts film festivals for individual patrons and arts audiences.
• Film Museum A 2,500-square-foot museum showcasing exhibits on Fort Lee's film history, the Barrymore acting family, and classic film memorabilia, including rotating exhibits such as 'The Barrymores: The Royal Family of Fort Lee' and 'Power Couple: Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in Hollywood.' Designed for museum visitors, school groups, and cultural tourists.
• After-School Creative Media Lab Hands-on educational programs for students in grades 3-12 exploring filmmaking, acting, editing, podcasting, screenwriting, animation, and digital storytelling. Aimed at parents enrolling K-12 students in after-school creative media training.
• Adult Film & Media Learning Educational courses for adults covering film appreciation, cinema history, media literacy, critical analysis, and contemporary media topics. Aimed at adult continuing-education learners seeking deeper engagement with film as a cultural medium.
• Film & Media Workforce Academy Career-focused training and professional development program designed to prepare participants for careers in film, television, and digital media, with potential certificates of completion. Targeted at aspiring film and media professionals.
• Event Venue Rental

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 members joined Friends of the Barrymore within first year of opening
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New York Asian Film FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2023NYAFF co-presents its 22nd edition with special weekend screenings (July 21-23, 2023) at the Barrymore Film Center, bringing 60+ Asian film titles to Fort Lee. The partnership aligns the center with prestigious international film programming and positions it as a regional destination for cinephiles.
• Film at Lincoln CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2023NYAFF co-presents with Film at Lincoln Center, with a special weekend of screenings at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee. This partnership brings Lincoln Center-caliber programming to the regional venue.
• Korean Cultural Center New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Supported the South Korean lineup at NYAFF screenings, providing cultural programming support for Korean film presentations at the center.
• Japan FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Supported the Japanese lineup at NYAFF screenings, providing cultural programming support for Japanese film presentations at the center.
• New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and TourismminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism for promotional activities.
• Fort Lee Film CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fort Lee Film Commission, led by Tom Meyers, was instrumental in conceiving and developing the Barrymore Film Center. The commission continues to work with the center on preserving and promoting Fort Lee's film heritage, historical research, and documentary projects.
• New Jersey Festival OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformed live for the screening of 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1925), utilizing the center's orchestra pit for silent film accompaniment with live orchestral music and soprano performance.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barrymore-film-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barrymore Film Center