Greater Binghamton Office of Placemaking to host Binghamton Better Cities film festival

The Greater Binghamton Office of Placemaking is planning their next “Pop Up” in partnership with the Visit Binghamton Film Office, bringing the Better Cities Film Festival to Binghamton! Better Cities Film Fest was founded in 2013 by Joshua Paget as a means by which communities can come together to celebrate their city and prompt discussions on how to revitalize and improve their hometowns. Better Cities Film Festival travels around the world and collects, curates and presents the very best films on the theme of making better cities, towns, and neighborhoods, and features films created by both local and out of town artists. 

The Binghamton Better Cities Film Festival is planned for Saturday, April 29th from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM on State Street in Downtown Binghamton. The films will be shown inside Atomic Tom’s gallery at 196 State St., and following the viewings, community members will have the opportunity to participate in question-and-answer sessions about the films and how to get involved with placemaking efforts across Greater Binghamton.

Just outside Atomic Tom’s, the City of Binghamton will be closing the street to allow for residents to gather and enjoy live music, food & drink, chalk art, and more. Community members are encouraged to make a whole day of their outing as the Broome County Arts Council will be hosting a speaker in their new space on State Street on social media influencers ahead of the Film Festival, and the Binghamton Philharmonic will be having one of their 2022-2023 Season Concerts, Northern Lights, beginning at 7:30 PM just around the corner at the Forum Theatre on Washington Street. 

“This partnership between the Office of Placemaking and Visit Binghamton Film is a perfect example of how the Leadership Alliance's collaboration can seamlessly bring our community together to celebrate Greater Binghamton. We hope the Binghamton Better Cities Film Festival will showcase our support for local artists while simultaneously uplifting our community's pride in place," said Leadership Alliance CEO Stacey Duncan. 

“I am very excited to collaborate with our Film Office on this gathering to showcase our amazing region. Since both the Visit Bing Film Office and Greater Binghamton Chamber Placemaking Office are relatively newer to the community, I am hopeful the Better Cities Film Festival Binghamton “Pop Up” event will provide the community with a glimpse of what is to come,” said the Office of Placemaking director, Jim Reyen. “Attendees will be able to view Greater Binghamton Films, enjoy a street festival, visit the great State Street businesses and restaurants, and bring life and laughter to an area that has such a rich history.”

Local filmmakers are also invited to contact Louis Newman, the head of the Visit Binghamton Film Office at [email protected], to learn more about how they are able to participate.