Block Cinema is dedicated to encounter, exchange, and learning through the art of the moving image.
The Block Museum is home to one of the region’s most innovative cinemas. Through its quarterly screening series “Block Cinema,” the museum explores the global past and present, showcasing film and other time-based media across genres, from classic to experimental.
This free, in-house cinema is dedicated to providing Northwestern, the North Shore, and Chicago a quality venue for film and to highlighting the diversity of voices and practices in the media arts field. Post-screening discussions with a filmmaker or scholar, are a staple of the program, providing a unique opportunity for audiences to gain valuable context about the works and offering unique insights into the creative process. In keeping with the Museum’s commitment to presenting art across time, culture, and media, media art is a staple of the Block Museum’s exhibition program.
Always free and open to all
Upcoming Screenings
Universal Particulars: Signal to Noise - Documentary Media MFA Showcase
Universal Particulars: The Tethered - Documentary Media MFA Showcase
Current Film Series
Science on Screen: Inner and Outer Space
Presented in conjunction with the exhibition The Heart’s Knowledge: Science and Empathy in the Art of Dario Robleto, this series explores representations of the inner workings of the human body and the celestial mechanics of the cosmos throughout the history of cinema. Across our Winter and Spring calendars, Block Cinema will present a range of screenings, from cult classics to silent treasures and contemporary blockbusters, that resonate with the key themes of Dario Robleto’s artwork.
Shirikiana Aina and Haile Gerima
In partnership with the MFA in Documentary Media at Northwestern, Block Cinema is thrilled to welcome trailblazing filmmakers Shirikiana Aina and Haile Gerima for a two-day celebration of their contributions to non-fiction cinema.
