Film At Lincoln Center, Inc.

What Film At Lincoln Center, Inc. does

Film at Lincoln Center, Inc. (FLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1969 and headquartered at Lincoln Center in New York City. It operates two dedicated cinema venues — the Walter Reade Theater (268 seats) at 165 W 65th Street and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center (three smaller auditoriums totaling ~300 seats plus event space) at 144 W 65th Street — equipped to present 70mm, 35mm, and 4K digital projection. FLC's core product is year-round curated theatrical programming, organized around a portfolio of flagship festivals including the New York Film Festival (annual since 1963), New Directors/New Films (with MoMA), Scary Movies, specialty 70mm series, and restoration premieres, alongside Film Comment magazine (quarterly digital, archive since 1962) as a wholly-owned editorial sub-brand. The mix includes new-release theatrical runs, retrospectives, filmmaker Q&As, restoration screenings, and curatorial video (FLC Luminaries). FLC also partners with the Metropolitan Opera on The Met: Live in HD broadcasts, extending its venue into adjacent performing arts.

The organization serves four customer segments: general film enthusiasts (single ticket purchasers), members (annual subscriptions $75–$500 with pre-sale and discount benefits), patrons and major donors ($1,000+ with concierge services), and corporate/event sponsors (Rolex as Official Partner, American Airlines as Official Airline, The New York Times as Benefactor Partner, Piper-Heidsieck, Dolby, Mubi, and media partners). Revenue mechanics span transactional ticket sales ($13–$19 per ticket with discounts for students/seniors/members; $15–$20 for 70mm), recurring membership subscriptions, tax-deductible donations and patron contributions, corporate sponsorships, government arts funding (NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, New York State Council on the Arts), theater rentals, and special-event auctions. Audience acquisition runs through a nine-channel social presence (X, Instagram, YouTube, Discord, Letterboxd, Bluesky, Reddit, Facebook, TikTok), the filmlinc.org website, the Film Comment platform, email newsletters, and earned media in Variety, Deadline, IndieWire, and The Hollywood Reporter. Governance is via a board of directors; the organization has no parent company and no acquisitions, funding rounds, or M&A activity in the source material.

Name

Film At Lincoln Center, Inc.

Legal name

Film at Lincoln Center, Inc.

Website

https://filmlinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Film at Lincoln Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that operates two cinema theaters at Lincoln Center in New York, presenting year-round curated film programs, the annual New York Film Festival, restoration screenings, specialty festivals, and Film Comment magazine to film enthusiasts, members, patrons, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Exhibition and Festival Programming

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL), Private Screenings & Venue Rentals (Corporate, Parties) (MPADAKAJ)

Keywords

• Art house film exhibition
• Film festival programming
• Nonprofit cinema screenings
• Film magazine publishing
• Film restoration services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Programs: Annual membership tiers (Innovator $75, Contributor $150, Friend $250, Angel $500) providing ticket discounts, pre-sale access, exclusive events, and Film Club access. Member support is a key revenue and engagement stream.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatrical screenings at Walter Reade Theater and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center. Standard ticket prices range from $13-$19 depending on membership status and screening type.
3. Patron Program: Supporter to Premiere Circle Patron levels at $1,000+ providing top-tier benefits including concierge ticketing, preview event invitations, and early festival access. Donations are tax-deductible.
4. Fundraiser Events: Special event fundraising including the Marilyn Monroe Centennial Auction featuring art, memorabilia, trips, and NYFF experiences with proceeds supporting FLC's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Film at Lincoln Center is a nonprofit film exhibition organization that operates two dedicated cinema venues (Walter Reade Theater and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center) at Lincoln Center in New York, presenting year-round curated theatrical screenings, premier festivals (New York Film Festival, New Directors/New Films, Scary Movies), restored classic film presentations, and 70mm film series. The organization publishes Film Comment magazine and runs tiered membership, patron, and corporate sponsorship programs that fund programming, restorations, and filmmaker education.

Product overview

Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) is a nonprofit organization operating two dedicated cinema venues—the Walter Reade Theater (268 seats) and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center (multiple theaters totaling 300+ seats)—on New York's Upper West Side. The organization presents a unified portfolio of film exhibition products centered on its flagship New York Film Festival (annual since 1963), the year-round new release and restoration programming, and specialty festivals including Scary Movies (horror), New Directors/New Films, and 70mm film series. Supporting offerings include Film Comment magazine (a quarterly digital publication with archive), FLC Membership program (with tiered benefits), FLC Luminaries video series, theater rentals, and special events such as the Marilyn Monroe Centennial Auction. The Met: Live in HD partnership brings opera broadcasts to FLC screens. The portfolio functions as a platform-plus-events model: core venue access combined with seasonal festivals, membership subscriptions, and one-time programming events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Film Comment: Quarterly digital magazine featuring independent film journalism, reviews, interviews, and festival coverage, along with a complete archive of articles published since 1962.
• New York Film Festival (NYFF)
• New Directors/New Films
• Scary Movies
• FLC Luminaries
• New Wave

Products and services

• New York Film Festival (NYFF) Annual celebration of the most significant international films, playing a vital role in shaping film culture by championing bold works by celebrated auteurs and emerging voices; open to the general public and FLC members/pass holders.
• Walter Reade Theater 268-seat theater at 165 W 65th Street, New York, hosting film screenings, retrospectives, festival presentations, and galas with state-of-the-art projection (70mm, 35mm, 4K digital).
• Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center Multi-theater complex at 144 W 65th Street featuring Francesca Beale Theater (144 seats), Howard Gilman Theater (85 seats), Amphitheater (75 capacity), and Studio event space, hosting year-round screenings and events.
• Film Comment Magazine Quarterly digital magazine featuring cover features, reviews, in-depth interviews, festival reporting, podcasts, and a fully searchable archive of every issue since 1962.
• New Directors/New Films Annual festival presented in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art, showcasing emerging filmmakers and new voices in world cinema; open to the public and available to FLC members.
• Scary Movies Annual horror film festival showcasing the best in boundary-pushing horror and genre-bending cinema from around the globe, with filmmaker Q&As; ticketed event.
• The Met: Live in HD Partnership with the Metropolitan Opera presenting live opera broadcasts in high definition with surround sound at the Walter Reade Theater, running October 2026 through June 2027.
• Film Restorations Classic film restorations presented in new formats including 4K and 35mm, such as The Piano (1993) and Mikey and Nicky (1976).
• 70mm Film Series Special programming series featuring films presented entirely on 70mm format, showcasing classic and contemporary works in large-gauge imagery at premium ticket prices.
• FLC Luminaries Video series spotlighting talent at all levels of the filmmaking process, featuring in-depth conversations with directors about their work; available online.
• Theater Rentals Rental of Walter Reade Theater and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center spaces (including Frieda and Roy Furman Gallery event space and Studio) for private events, premieres, and corporate functions.
• The Lost Rider: A Chronicle of Hollywood Sacrifice Film series curated by Jordan Peele exploring themes of image-taking, child stardom, and Hollywood exploitation, examining cinema's origins through films like NOPE, King Kong, and The Wizard of Oz.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• RolexflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerRolex is the Official Partner and Exclusive Timepiece of Film at Lincoln Center. The partnership includes presenting the Opening Night of the New York Film Festival and supporting the Perpetual Arts Initiative, linking Rolex's commitment to global culture with FLC's film programming.
• American AirlinescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Airlines is the Official Airline of Film at Lincoln Center, providing travel support for festival operations and guest transportation.
• Piper-Heidsieck ChampagnecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Marilyn Monroe Centennial celebration featuring a special 35mm screening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, reception, and fundraiser auction. The partnership includes exclusive Piper-Heidsieck Marilyn Monroe commemorative bottles and experiences.
• The New York TimesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerThe New York Times serves as Benefactor Partner for the New York Film Festival, providing major media support and brand association with FLC's flagship event.
• NYC's Mayor's Office of Media and EntertainmentcoreOthersGovernment partner providing operational support and cultural funding for FLC's programming and festival operations in New York City.
• New York State Council on the ArtscoreOthersState arts council providing grant support with the Office of the Governor and New York State Legislature, supporting FLC's nonprofit mission and cultural programming.
• BritboxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContributing Partner for NYFF providing streaming platform visibility and promotional support for the festival.
• MubiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContributing Partner for NYFF providing streaming platform visibility and promotional support.
• VarietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner for NYFF providing entertainment industry press coverage and promotional visibility.
• IndieWireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner for NYFF providing film industry journalism and promotional coverage.
• The Hollywood ReporterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner for NYFF providing entertainment industry press coverage.
• The Film FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with shared mission of film preservation. Rolex has partnered with The Film Foundation for film history preservation, indirectly benefiting FLC's restoration programming.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Anthology Film Archives: NYC-based nonprofit cinema dedicated to the preservation, exhibition, and promotion of avant-garde, experimental, and independent cinema. Comparable curation mission and nonprofit exhibition model to FLC.
• IFC Center: Independent movie theater in Greenwich Village, NYC focused on arthouse, independent, and repertory cinema. Directly competes with FLC for the same cinephile and NYC cultural audience.
• Metrograph: New York-based independent cinema and film culture destination operating its own theater, restaurant, and bookshop. Closest direct competitor to FLC for repertory, new release, and curated screening audiences in NYC.
• American Cinematheque: Los Angeles-based nonprofit devoted to public film programming, retrospectives, and festivals at the Egyptian and Aero Theatres. The closest West Coast analog to FLC's nonprofit curated exhibition model.

Emerging players

• Sundance Institute: Nonprofit organization supporting independent filmmaking with the Sundance Film Festival, labs, and year-round programming. Comparable nonprofit arts mission and film festival brand, though more filmmaker-development focused.
• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): Major international film festival with year-round cinema programming and a parallel mission to FLC of showcasing world cinema. Comparable in festival prestige and curated exhibition, though bigger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• American Film Institute (AFI): National nonprofit preserving film heritage, with the AFI Fest and year-round programming. Comparable nonprofit film preservation and festival mission to FLC.
• Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): Major NYC performing arts institution that also programs film series alongside its core performing arts programming. Overlaps with FLC in curated film exhibitions and similar cultural-institution audience.
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - Department of Film: MoMA's film department presents year-round screenings and co-presents New Directors/New Films with FLC. Comparable curatorial mission and nonprofit museum-based film exhibition.

Regional players

• British Film Institute (BFI): UK-based national film charity operating theaters, festivals (BFI London Film Festival), and archival/exhibition programs. The leading international analog to FLC as a major nonprofit film exhibition institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FilmLinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@filmlinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/filmlinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/film-at-lincoln-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/filmlinc
• TikToktiktok.com/@filmlinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Film At Lincoln Center, Inc.