Martin and Francesca Scorsese launching family film series at Southampton Playhouse

Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese and his daughter Francesca Scorsese are launching their new family film series at the Southampton Playhouse on Aug. 14.

The yearlong program, titled "Scorsese Presents: Family Films," is to celebrate the Scorseses' shared love of movies, especially the ones they watched together when Francesca was growing up. 

"We've been watching movies together for so long now. It's been a sacred practice, like passing on the most precious family heirloom and understanding the meaning of it, the place that it holds," the Scorseses said in a joint statement Tuesday. "Watching, rewatching, reacting to them, absorbing them, seeing them through each other's eyes. It's been a revelatory experience for both of us, grounded in love. Love between the two of us, father and daughter, and love for the art form of cinema and the individual movies that comprise its history and its future."

The screenings will showcase some of the acclaimed filmmaker's favorite classics, made for watchers of all ages. 

"Bicycle Thieves" (1948) will kick off the showings on Aug. 14. The rest of the announced films will include "Playtime" (1967) on Aug. 15, "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) in IMAX 3D on Aug. 16, 17 and 20 and a double bill of "A Dog's Life" (1918) and "The Red Balloon" (1956) on Aug. 17.

Additional films will be added throughout the year.

"We're starting at the beginning of the whole process — the endless adventure of movies," the Scorseses' statement added.

Eric Kohn, artistic director of Southampton Playhouse, called it the "Summer of Scorsese."

"Our theater blends nostalgia with a passionate investment in the future of the moviegoing experience, and we couldn't have asked for better partners than Marty and Francesca to cement this goal," Kohn said in a statement. "Scorsese Presents: Family Films will be a foundational part of our programming agenda as we work to inspire new generations of film lovers for years to come."

Each screening will feature a prerecorded introduction from the father-daughter duo. Some screenings will also feature guest speakers and events to provide historical and artistic context for audiences.

To mark the start of the series, Martin and Francesca Scorsese will participate in the first episode of Playhouse's podcast, "Movie People: Interviews & More from the Southampton Playhouse," which premieres later this month.

Martin Scorsese won the Academy Award for best director in 2007 for his thriller "The Departed." He recently received his first Emmy nomination for acting, for his guest appearance in AppleTV+'s "The Studio."

For more information on "Scorsese Presents: Family Films," visit southamptonplayhouse.com/scorsese.