Stuart Cinema showing "The Flash" as part of Pluto TV's free movie weekends this Saturday and Sunday in Brooklyn
NEW YORK -- Father's Day is right around the corner and if you're looking for something fun to do with dad, a local independent movie theater is partnering with Pluto TV to give out free movie tickets in support of family-owned theaters around the country.
At Stuart Cinema and Café in Greenpoint, the air smells like popcorn and butter, plus homemade empanadas straight from mom's kitchen.
"The owner's mom makes the empanadas herself," General Manager Andre Woodard told CBS2's Hannah Kliger.
The theater is small with one screen and about 50 seats, but the community impact is so much larger. The independent theater has been open since 2018, juggling big box movies, local indie showings and film festivals.
"We are the theater that hosts the most amount of film festivals in New York City, because where else are you going to get a filmmaker who understands? I also own a film festival," owner Emelyn Stuart explained.
Stuart says she is the first Afro-Latina to own a movie theater in New York, with a big multiplex expansion coming to Sunset Park later this year.
"In order for our young people to aspire to be things and to accomplish things, they need to see it. I was really in a difficult situation where people were saying that there was no audience for my content," said Stuart. "I thought, well, how do we do this so I can control what people watch?"
This weekend, the theater is giving away several free showings on Saturday and Sunday for the opening of "The Flash."
"It's really the action. All dads like action, there's no way around it," Woodard said.
The giveaway is Pluto TV's way to support independent theater owners. In addition to the show, the popcorn is also free.
"Pluto TV was looking for a way to reach an audience that loves film, that loves watching movies, and what better place than a movie theater to do that?" said Stuart.
CLICK HERE to claim your seats. Pluto TV is owned by Paramount, which is a parent company of CBS New York.
