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Sophisticated Surroundings

The art museum atmosphere of the DIA carries over into the DFT—quiet, formal, reserved. Carefully selected music sets the mood for the featured film. Before movies, a slide show on the DFT screen publicizes many of the fascinating events at the DIA, along with other arts-related activities like the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit.

Film presentations are so consistently choreographed that even the closing of the auditorium doors increases your anticipation for the featured film. This formality is balanced by the youthful enthusiasm and edgy fashions of students from the nearby College for Creative Studies and Wayne State University.

An exclusive feeling of community draws many DFT visitors to films that often are being shown for the first (and maybe only) time in the Detroit area. Attending the DFT can take on the air of an event, like a night at the opera. Patrons are often dressed up, perhaps because of a visit to a DIA art exhibit or a nice restaurant.

Because of the low lobby ceilings, an intense group feeling surrounds patrons leaving a show. It continues as everyone fans out along John R towards their parking spaces. The city lights of Detroit enhance the setting, with distant views of the Renaissance Center and the golden tower of the Fisher Building. You might see clusters of people who speak the native tongue of a foreign language film, excitedly sharing their impressions of this moving picture postcard from home.

The breaks between the three distinct seasons of the DFT add a welcome feeling of renewal for visitors in early summer, early fall and in the new year. The opening film of each season often includes a special introduction by DIA film curator Elliot Wilhelm. A farewell to the DFT at the end of its winter/spring schedule helps usher in the warmth of summer (which now includes a DFT schedule that is a welcome alternative to the summer blockbusters).

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