The Huntington Cinema Arts Centre reopened Friday for the first time in two years since it shut down due to the pandemic.

Co-director Dylan Skolnick says the cinema completed renovations while it was closed. 

“The place needed a refresh, and now we have new seats, new carpeting, new improved ventilation,” he says.  

Skolnick adds that the theater is open just in time for families to see movies for Mother’s Day. 

“It's all brand-new and fixed up. Kicking off the weekend with some great films, especially one you could bring your mom to. We have a lovely French movie called ‘Petite Maman’ that's about mothers and daughters. And it's an amazing, sweet, wonderful movie,” he says. 

Nancy Solomon, from Long Island Traditions, says the theater will also host a Maritime Film Festival this summer. 

“Part of our festival will include the world premiere of ‘A World Within a World: The Bay Houses of Long Island Bay,’ and filmmaker Greg Blank and Barbara Weber will be joining us on June 21,” she says. 

Solomon says this festival is important because it will focus on Long Island’s heritage. 

“Our heritage is our identity. We all live on Long Island because of its connection to the waterfront. And this festival will bring you inside for that backstory from the perspective of people carrying on these traditions,” she says.