Sleepy Hollow Cinema Announces Venue Milestone at Packed Launch Event

TARRYTOWN, NY — Sleepy Hollow Cinema (SHC), an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to bringing film to the community, announced a major milestone toward securing a permanent home during its Halloween double-feature launch on October 30.

Before a packed house at The Lyceum in Tarrytown, SHC Chair Marc Solomon shared that the organization is working toward an agreement to make the historic Strand building, on Beekman Ave, our permanent home, in collaboration with the New York Forward Project sponsor.

The nonprofit plans to lease the majority of the building’s first floor and build an 80–120 seat cinema with a lobby that will also serve as a visitor welcome center for Sleepy Hollow.

“People in this community have been talking for years about wanting a place to see movies together again,” said Solomon. “The Strand could be that place — something walkable, local, and full of life.”

“The energy at our launch events has been inspiring,” added Vice Chair Giselle Schuetz. “Every ticket and every donation gets us closer to proving that a real cinema belongs here in the Rivertowns.”

“Community donations are absolutely critical at this stage,” said Nara Sandberg, Director of Fundraising. “We’ve made incredible progress with volunteers and early supporters, but turning the Strand into a real cinema will take everyone’s help. Even small contributions show that this project matters to the people who live here.”

The announcement capped off SHC’s Halloween event — a double feature of Evil Dead and The Velvet Vampire — following a free Poltergeist screening at the Warner Library on October 23. Both events drew enthusiastic audiences and underscored the community’s appetite for shared film experiences, especially those tied to the area’s creative and spooky character. SHC will continue hosting pop-up screenings in the months ahead while fundraising for the Strand project.

Community donations will be critical to moving the project forward. Contributions support the architectural feasibility study, ongoing pop-up screenings, and the eventual buildout of the Strand into a permanent, community-owned cinema. Donations can be made at sleepyhollowcinema.org.

Once complete, the planned cinema on Beekman Avenue will host multiple screenings per day and be available for community events, birthday parties, and independent film premieres. SHC also aims to partner with local schools to provide hands-on educational programs in film and media production.

About Sleepy Hollow Cinema

Sleepy Hollow Cinema is an all-volunteer, community-based nonprofit working to create vibrant gathering spaces for people to experience the power and art of film. Founded in response to strong local demand for a walkable movie theater, SHC showcases a wide range of programming — from family classics and Spanish-language films to avant-garde and horror titles. Proudly rooted in local history, SHC plans to make Sleepy Hollow a national Home for Horror each fall while serving audiences of all ages year-round.

Learn more or donate at sleepyhollowcinema.org.

About The Strand

The historic Strand Theater was one of three local cinemas that served Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, entertaining generations of residents through the 1970s. Its revival represents an opportunity to restore a beloved neighborhood landmark and bring new cultural energy to Beekman Avenue.

Media Contact:
press@sleepyhollowcinema.org
sleepyhollowcinema.org