NYC has an amazing independent film scene, with some of the best arthouse cinemas in the world. (Just check out Time Out’s new global list of the 100 Greatest Cinemas in the World for proof.) And now New Yorkers can take advantage of it for free with a new campaign out of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment: Running from March 20 through 26, the inaugural Art House Cinema Week will offer up 5,000 free tickets to 30 participating independent theaters around town, including Film Forum, Metrograph, IFC Center, the Angelika and more.

RECOMMENDED: Four NYC movie theaters were just ranked among the world’s best cinemas

So, how exactly do you get said tickets? You have to be among eligible New Yorkers, including NYC teachers, CUNY students, U.S. active-duty military personnel and veterans, people with disabilities, SNAP/EBT cardholders and NYC families registered with the nonprofit Cool Culture, which provides free access to cultural spaces. Simply present valid forms of identification at the box office. 

“This initiative reflects our vision for an inclusive creative economy that supports the people who make art, the people who experience it, and the venues that bring it to life. At a time when many New Yorkers and independent theaters are feeling the squeeze of the affordability crisis, we’re stepping in with a simple way to open doors and strengthen our creative ecosystem. I hope to see you at the movies!” said Rafael Espinal, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).

“These tickets will make it easier for working New Yorkers to enjoy these incredible films, and they will provide a boost for our local theaters and small businesses supporting the festival. Access to arts, culture, and entertainment should be a right for every New Yorker, not a luxury for the few,” said Julie Su, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice, in a statement.

Advance tickets are currently available to all for purchase and additional information can be found on the Art House New York website. Check out the full list of participating movie theaters below: 


Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Brooklyn
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Lower Manhattan
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Staten Island
Angelika Film Center & Cafe
Anthology Film Archives
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Cinema 123 by Angelika
Cinema Arts Centre
Cinema Village
Cobble Hill Cinemas
DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema
Film at Lincoln Center
Film Forum
IFC Center
Jacob Burns Film Center
Kew Gardens Cinema
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan – The Carole Zabar Center for Film
Maysles Documentary Center
Metrograph
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Museum of the Moving Image
Nitehawk Cinema – Prospect Park
Nitehawk Cinema – Williamsburg
Paris Theater
Quad Cinema
Roxy Cinema New York
Shorts Movie Theater
Uptown Film Center
Village East by Angelika
Williamsburg Cinema