Shes leaving her position this summerwith Deputy Director Sonya Chung taking the reins July 1.
Its been at its current location on West Houston Street since 1989.
Shell be at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.
Karen CooperHenny Garfunkel; Peter Aaron - OTTO
DEADLINE:Theres so much doom and gloom around the future ofarthousefilm.
So, hows business?
COOOPER:Financially we are pretty solid.
I know this sounds a bit naive perhaps although how can you be naive after half of a century?
but I am [thrilled] about what we have on screen.EO, which is doing fantastic.
By a Polish filmmaker [Jerzy Skolomowski] from the point of view of a donkey.
A documentary about Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb [Turn Every Page].
I put it together and titled it James Baldwin Abroad.
Also,No Bears, by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who is current imprisoned.
And Bruce Goldstein [Repertory Artistic Director] has given us a new release of Bernardo BertoluccisThe Conformist.
And thats a brilliant film.
Every one of these films is doing remarkable business.
That said, I couldnt have given you that answer a month ago.
DEADLINE:Somethings changed?
COOPER:Its volatile.
And streaming has really planted them on their couches.
Covid took a tremendous toll.
Those are big, big financial realities.
People got very used to staying home and streaming.
But its picked up.
And we are seeing a mix of old and young people among audiences, especially for repertory.
In fact, we are seeing a lot of young people coming to see the documentaries about James Baldwin.
He is an iconic figure.
In terms of being racially aware, I dont think you cant not know his name.
DEADLINE:Would you say the New York City arthouse market is unique?
Especially with LA having lost a few key theaters.
Maybe because you have to drive everywhere.
New York has a big, diverse cosmopolitan audience.
Films that dont do so well elsewhere can find their way to an audience in New York.
We have great audiences.
DEADLINE:After five decades, why the decision to step down now?
COOPER:In truth, I am a great planner.
You have to be a great planner to work with indie films.
So Ive actually been thinking about this for about 20 years.
Since the early 2000s, when [Sonya Chung] was working at Film Forum as director of development.
[Chung left after five years to write and teach.]
Then she came back in 2018, to attend film festivals abroad and making recommendations.
[She was named Deputy Director in 2020.]
Its been many years in the making.
I wanted to bring someone in who is incredibly competent, and who knows the culture of Film Forum.
