Leading the way from the upstairs office space of Ruth Sokolof Theater, through the back stairwell and down into the main lobby, Film Streams’ General Manager of Marketing and Communications Marie Schuett’s eyes shone with passion. As the smell of freshly popped popcorn wafted through the air, we moved from the lobby into the 160-seat Mary Theater. It was clear Schuett was right at home.

While she launched into an explanation of the theater’s history, I began to get a sense of just how important Film Streams’ mission is to the Omaha community and the realm of independent film as a whole.

“The organization is dedicated to using film to elevate the cultural landscape of Omaha and Council Bluffs, so we bring in film that maybe not everybody has heard of,” Schuett said. “What’s great about Film Streams is that our mission isn’t just geared toward showcasing movies but [also to] offering programming that facilitates discussion about them as an art form.”

One such program is Reel Talk Pro, which was introduced in 2022 as a way for audiences to engage with industry-leading filmmakers.

With soft jazz music from the theater’s surround sound speakers playing the soundtrack to our conversation, Schuett told me of the many storied directors that stood where we were standing, showed their films, explained their work and answered any questions their dedicated Omaha audience might have had.

“In October, we welcomed Shu Lea Cheang, who is an incredible director and artist,” Schuett said. “It was really exciting to introduce our audiences to her work and be able to discuss the making of the movie immediately after the screening. She and two other young filmmakers were touring the country in honor of her movie’s 30th anniversary, and she brought her own 35-millimeter reel with her to every arthouse she visited, including ours.”

The mention of a 35-millimeter reel steered us back upstairs to the projection room, where we were greeted by the melancholic hum of movie-making machinery and head projectionist Kevin Rooney, who filled me in on the details of the space.

“It’s about the same setup for both houses: each house has a 45 [millimeter reel] and a digital projector but the same sound system and everything,” Rooney explained. “At Dundee, we have a 16-millimeter projector as well.”

While the size and scale of the projectors that surrounded us could astound spectators by their appearance alone, Schuett highlighted how this technology, which many in the movie industry view as dated, is so important.

“It’s a very specialized portion of the industry; projectionists have to be trained on how to handle that film,” Schuett said. “It’s kind of a dying art, but we are really dedicated to showing these films in the way that we started, in a way that’s a big part of our history.”

As the world of film constantly evolves, Film Streams’ interwoven existence within cinema’s past and present gives it a unique ability to share new twists on the classic movie-going experience. My tour concluded in Schuett’s office, and once we sat down, I asked the big question: what exciting things are coming up at Film Streams?

Schuett had exciting news, indeed. She took me through a quick virtual walkthrough of Film Streams’ website, where I read about the upcoming Dundee Hundee, “a year-long celebration honoring the Dundee Theater’s incredible 100-year history!”

A centennial celebration can’t be complete without a live orchestra, so that’s exactly what Film Streams has planned. Today, the Anvil Orchestra will play a live accompaniment as the Dundee Theater location shows Metropolis (1927). Film Streams also offers year-round discounted $9 tickets to students.