µÛÍõ»áËù

The Athena Cinema is proud to announce an exciting lineup of Fall 2025 programming, featuring the return of many beloved showcase series alongside the debut of several innovative new ones. This season promises to be the most diverse in the theater’s 110-year history. In addition to regularly scheduled first-run theatrical films, a wide range of special events is also planned throughout the fall.

In September, The Athena Cinema will bring back its fourth annual Appalachian Stories Film Series and its thirteenth annual Sustainability Film Series, both which offer free-to-the-public screenings with featured guest lectures from experts in their respective fields. 

The Appalachian Stories Film Series showcases interesting and important films about the history of Appalachia, how Appalachia and Appalachian people have been and are portrayed in media and the legacies of Appalachian stories in southeastern µÛÍõ»áËù and beyond. Meanwhile, the Sustainability Film Series offers documentaries that shed light on some of the most pressing issues in contemporary environmentalism. Both of these series are ticketed but offer free admission.

The Athena is also excited to be continuing its partnership with the Met Opera for the 2025-2026 season, inviting the local community to watch live in HD Peabody and Emmy Award-winning performances broadcast from the Met. Sponsored by Arts for µÛÍõ»áËù, the µÛÍõ»áËù Arts Council, and the Performing Arts and Concert Series, this series is a unique experience where local community members can see an expanded and critical catalog of the most exciting performances in opera unavailable anywhere else in the area.

Finally, The Athena is excited to announce a brand-new Hispanic Film Series. In partnership with the µÛÍõ»áËù School of International Studies and Languages (SISAL) and Sigma Delta Pi (the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society), this excellent new series celebrates the films and filmmakers of Spain and Latin America. With sponsorship of the series from Pragda, SPAIN arts & culture, and the Secretary of State for Culture of Spain, this series will feature five free-to-the-public screenings of films that celebrate the dynamic and exciting culture of Hispanic film.

As the area’s premier arthouse theater, The Athena Cinema will continue to offer community members the chance to experience an array of films that are sure to challenge, provoke and entice. In its 110th year, The Athena is looking forward to providing fun, interesting and engaging community experiences, and showing the best independent and blockbuster films of the day. 

Tickets to all Athena Cinema screenings and events can be purchased in person or online at athenacinema.com.

The following is the complete lineup of films in each series for the academic year:

Sustainability Film Series Screenings

• Sept. 3, 2025 â€“ "Her Shark Story"
• Sept. 17, 2025 – "Plastic People"
• Oct. 1, 2025 – "Seeing the Unseen"
• Oct. 15, 2025 – "Edge of Hope"
• Oct. 29, 2025 – "Common Ground"
• Nov. 12, 2025 – "Been Here, Stay Here"

From the Hills & Hollers: Appalachian Stories Film Series Screenings

• Sept. 18, 2025 – "The Evening Hour" with Carter Sickels
• Oct. 23, 2025 – "The Blair Witch Project" with Travis Eskins
• Nov. 13, 2025 – "Inheritance" with Kelly Hatas
• Jan. 29, 2026 – "O Pioneer" with Dr. Tiffany Arnold
• March 5, 2026 – "Fast Food Women + Mud Creek Clinic" with Rose Frech
• April 9, 2026 – "The Dukes of Hazzard" with Nerissa Young

The Met: Live in HD Series Screenings

• Oct. 7, 2025 – "Los Lobos"
• Oct. 14, 2025 â€“ "Bacurau"
• Oct. 21, 2025 â€“ "Moon’s Heart" (El Corazón de la Luna)
• Oct. 18, 2025 – Bellini’s "La Sonnambula"
• Nov. 8, 2025 – Puccini’s "La Bohème"
• Nov. 22, 2025 – Strauss’s "Arabella"
• Dec. 13, 2025 â€“ Umberto Giordano’s "Andrea Chénier"
• Jan. 10, 2026 â€“ Bellini’s "I Puritani"
• Mar. 21, 2026 â€“ Wagner’s "Tristan Und Isolde"
• May 2, 2026 â€“ Tchaikovsky’s "Eugene Onegin"
• May 30, 2026 â€“ Gabriela Lena Frank’s "El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego"

Hispanic Film Series Screenings

• Sept. 23, 2025 – "My Sextortion Diary"
• Sept. 30, 2025 – "Boca Chica"
• Oct. 7, 2025 – "Los Lobos"
• Oct. 14, 2025 â€“ "Bacurau"
• Oct. 21, 2025 â€“ "Moon’s Heart" (El Corazón de la Luna)

Other one-time events include:

Constitution Day Lecture

• Sept. 16, 2025

Wrongful Conviction Day Lecture

• Oct. 28, 2025

Frontline: A Dangerous Assignment with Director

• Nov. 3, 2025

The Room with Greg Sestero

• Oct. 9, 2025

School of Film Screenings

• Oct. 11, 2025—1st-Year MFA Screenings
• Nov. 8, 2025—2nd-Year MFA Screenings

Welcome Week Rooftop Movie

• Aug. 28, 2025 – "Parasite"