Bright Bulb Screening Series (formerly Andrew's Video Vault)

Every second Thursday of the month, filmmakers, educators, activists, and cinephiles screen a wide variety of film, from cult classics to avant garde to silent films with live scores provided by local musicians, to horror, suspense, comedy, musical, opera on film, activist docs, and much more. Each month's event features a single screening, double header, or triple header. Admission is FREE and films are continuous from 8pm. Founded by Dr. Andrew Repasky McElhinney in 2004 and now run by Dan Buskirk, this series is one of the longest-running at The Rotunda!

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Cinema Studies Program at the University of Pennsylvania (http://cinemastudies.sas.upenn.edu).

Upcoming Shows

No Future Shows!

Past Shows

Dec 12 2024 - In-person! Bright Bulb pres. Classic Martial Arts Double Feature w/ Writer/Pew Fellow Alex Smith! THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN (1978, dir by Lau Kar-leung, 115 min, Hong Kong) KUNG-FU HUSTLE (2004, dir by Stephen Chow, 98 min., Hong Kong
Nov 14 2024 - In-person! Secret Cinema presents The Short Films of W.C. Fields. All films on 16mm. Part of the Bright Bulb Screening Series.
Oct 10 2024 - In-person! Bright Bulb pres. JAMES EARL JONES MEMORIAL DOUBLE-FEATURE! THE BINGO LONG TRAVELING ALL-STARS & MOTOR KINGS (1976, dir. by John Badham, 110 min, U.S.) END OF THE ROAD (1970, dir. by Aram Avakian, 110 min, U.S.)
Sep 12 2024 - In-person! Bright Bulb Screening Series: The Secret Cinema presents ELECTION SEASON 16mm films
Aug 8 2024 - In-person! Bright Bulb Screening series pres. SHELLEY DUVALL DOUBLE-FEATURE! BERNICE BOBS HER HAIR (1976, dir by Joan Micklin Silver, 48 min, U.S.) TWILIGHT OF THE ICE NYMPHS (1997, dir by Guy Maddin, 95 min, Canada)
Jul 11 2024 - In-person! Bright Bulb pres. TOM WAITS DOUBLE-FEATURE! CANDY MOUNTAIN (1987, dir. by Robert Frank & Rudy Wurlitzer, 103 min, Canada) BIG TIME (1988, dir. by Chris Blum, 90 min, U.S.)
Jun 13 2024 - In-person! Yam On! An All-Ages Theatrical Music Extravaganza! + POPEYE (1980, directed by Robert Altman, 114 min., U.S.)
May 9 2024 - In-person! Cat Lovers Double Feature! (Hosted by Dan Buskirk, WPRB-Princeton, Fleisher Arts) RENT-A-CAT (2012, directed by Naoko Ogigami, 110 min., Japan) THE CAT RETURNS (2002, Hiroyuki Morita, 75 min., Japan)
Apr 11 2024 - In-person! DRACULA: PAGES FROM A VIRGIN'S DIARY (2002, directed by Guy Maddin, 75 minutes, Canada) JONATHAN (1970, directed by Hans W. Geißendörfer 97 minutes, West Germany)
Mar 14 2024 - In-person! Secret Cinema 16mm films
Feb 8 2024 - In-person! The Secret Cinema presents TOP SECRET 2024: FILMS YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO SEE
Jan 11 2024 - In-person! Rare Jazz Double Feature with Albert Ayler & Miles! MY NAME IS ALBERT AYLER (2005, directed by Kasper Collin, 79 minutes, Sweden/U.S.) DINGO (1989, directed by Rolf de Heer, 109 minutes, Australia)
Nov 9 2023 - In-person! Bright Bulb Screening Series pres. THE SECRET CINEMA CONNOISSEUR SERIES: Richard Talmadge double feature on 16mm
Oct 12 2023 - In-person! Bright Bulb screenings: Award-winning filmmaker, curator, media host & Temple prof Michael J. Dennis brings his Reelblack Productions back to The Rotunda for a deep dive into the Reelblack archive
Sep 14 2023 - In-person! cinéSPEAK presents Our Right To Gaze
Aug 10 2023 - In-person! 2 Rare '70s Comedies: Milos Forman's TAKING OFF (1971) & Alan Arkin's FIRE SALE (1977)
Jul 13 2023 - In-person! Bright Bulb Screening Series: Serkis IS Dury in SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL and the animated S/HE
May 11 2023 - In-person! The Secret Cinema presents 1960s STUDENT FILMS on 16mm, feat. several intriguing short films, incl. many made by students who went on to have long careers in Hollywood.
Apr 13 2023 - In-person! 2 Fantastical Features! AIR CONDITIONER (2020) & SOUND OF NOISE (2010)
Mar 9 2023 - The Secret Cinema presents MEGATON MOVIES: FILMS ABOUT THE ATOMIC BOMB
Feb 9 2023 - In-person! Bright Bulb pres. Lili Taylor in Two Indie Classics from the 1990s! HOUSEHOLD SAINTS (1993. dir. by Nancy Savoca, 124 min, U.S.) I SHOT ANDY WARHOL (1996, Mary Harron, 103 min, U.S.)
Jan 12 2023 - In-person! Bright Bulb pres. TOOMORROW (1970 directed by Val Guest, 95 min, U.K.) CATCH MY SOUL (1974, directed by Patrick McGoohan, 97 min, U.S.)
Dec 8 2022 - In-person! Bright Bulb presents a Double Feature! 2020's HELL OF A HEARTACHE w/ Dir./Star Rob Burson in Person plus HIGH TIDE (1987)
Nov 10 2022 - In-person! The Secret Cinema pres. NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY SHORT FILMS program as part of Bright Bulb Screening Series
Oct 13 2022 - In-person! Newest ARCHIVE DISCOVERIES: UNSEEN CURIOSITIES FROM THE SECRET CINEMA COLLECTION (16mm films)
Sep 8 2022 - In-person! Bright Bulb Screening Series pres. Afro-Future Double Feature! Hosted by DM Hotep, guitarist w/ The Sun Ra Arkestra! STRANGE FRAME (2012) and THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET (1985)
Aug 11 2022 - In-person! Bright Bulb Screening Series presents a double header! ONE SINGS, THE OTHER DOESN'T (1977, dir. by Agnes Varda) and FIRST COMES COURAGE (1943, dir. by Dorothy Arzner)
Jul 14 2022 - In-person! DJ DANA K Hosts the New Wave Concert Film, URGH: A MUSIC WAR (1982)
Jun 9 2022 - In-person! Bright Bulb presents a MICHELLE YEOH ACTION DOUBLE FEATURE! WING CHUN (1994) and BUTTERFLY & SWORD (1993)
May 12 2022 - In-person! Secret Cinema: 1965 British mod/pop/heist film DATELINE DIAMONDS on 16mm
Apr 14 2022 - In-person! Alexoteric Curates! An Evening w/ Sci-Fi/Fantasy Writer Alex Smith presented by Bright Bulb
Mar 10 2022 - In-person! BETTY DAVIS: THEY SAY I'M DIFFERENT (2017, directed by Philip Cox, 55 minutes, U.K./France/U.S.) BUCK & THE PREACHER (1972, directed by Sidney Poitier, 102 minutes, U.S.) pres. by Bright Bulb
Feb 10 2022 - In-person! Secret Cinema: MID-CENTURY LEISURE IN CLOSE-UP
Dec 9 2021 - In-person! The Secret Cinema pres. LOST TELEVISION - films on 16mm
Nov 11 2021 - In-person! DOUBLE FEATURE! (Hosted by Dan Buskirk - WPRB, Fleisher Arts Memorial) THE DAY SHALL COME (2019, dir. by Chris Morris, 87 min, U.K./U.S.) THE STORY OF A THREE-DAY PASS (aka “La Permission”) (1967, dir. by Melvin Van Peebles, 87 min)
Apr 9 2020 - POSTPONED! Bright Bulb presents CineSPEAK
Mar 12 2020 - Bright Bulb pres. Fabio Testi Double Feature! CONTRABAND (1980, dir. by Lucio Fulci) and  REVOLVER (1973, dir. by Sergio Sollima) 
Feb 13 2020 - Bright Bulb pres. Iranian Double Feature: NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT Persian CATS (2009) & TAXI (2015)
Jan 9 2020 - The Secret Cinema pres. Four Films - The Enchanted Hill: The Story of San Simeon, A Ballad of Love, Directors at Work, and Geisha Girl
Dec 12 2019 - German thrillers Dead Eyes of London and Creature with the Blue Hand
Nov 14 2019 - CinéSPEAK + Philly Vets for Peace present We Are Not Done Yet, pres. with Bright Bulb
Oct 10 2019 - The Secret Cinema revives IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFESTYLE: A VALENTINE TO THE 1970S
Sep 12 2019 - Secret Cinema: Archive Discoveries, Unseen Curiosities
Aug 8 2019 - Double Feature "Ingrid Goes West" 2017 & "Siesta" 1987 pres. by Bright Bulb Screening Series
Jul 11 2019 - Reelblack w Historian Charles Woods on Black TV Westerns presented by Bright Bulb Screening Series
Jun 13 2019 - REELBLACK presents: PANTHER (1995, directed by Mario Van Peebles, 123 minutes, U.S.) and The WALKING DEAD (1995, directed by Preston A. Whitmore II, U.S.)
May 9 2019 - The Secret Cinema pres. Technorama, program on 16MM
Apr 11 2019 - CinéSPEAK presents Tuba to Cuba (Philadelphia premiere)
Mar 14 2019 - Free Screening: Jacques Rivette's 1981 thriller Merry-Go -Round
Feb 14 2019 - Free Screening: Lucrecia Martel's Zama, and Entranced Earth
Jan 10 2019 - The Secret Cinema pres. NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY 30TH ANNIVERSARY program on 16MM
Dec 13 2018 - 1962 Film. "All Night Long" Featuring a musical set by BASQIAT BLUES (with AuRu Shabaka-Ra Khonsu of the Sun Ra Arkestra)
Nov 8 2018 - The Secret Cinema pres. TOP SECRET: FILMS YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO SEE
Oct 11 2018 - CinéSPEAK Double Feature: The People Under the Stairs / Get Out
Sep 13 2018 - Secret Cinema pres. TOTALLY WIRED: THE FILMS OF BELL TELEPHONE
Aug 9 2018 - Late Night Morsels (just music videos)
Jul 12 2018 - 38HOTTT night of audio, video and image immersion
Apr 12 2018 - Healing and Feeling night of short films
Feb 8 2018 - Human Flow, a film by Ai Weiwei
Jan 11 2018 - NINE TO FIVE (1980, 110 min) and BORN IN FLAMES (1983, 90 min)
Dec 14 2017 - DIABOLICAL FRENCH DRAMA Under The Sun of Satan [Sous le soleil de Satan] (1976) and The Devil, Probably [Le diable, probablement] (1977)
Nov 9 2017 - PRE-CODE COMEDY! Show Girl in Hollywood (1930) and Girl Crazy (1932)
Oct 12 2017 - GRINDHOUSE GOTHIC! The Witch Who Came From the Sea (1976) and oys Are Not For Children (1972)
Sep 14 2017 - BOLDLY INTO THE DARK! Selected Shorts and Begotten (1990)
Aug 10 2017 - 90s DRUG-FUELED FREAK-OUTS! Gift (1993) and The Love God (1997)
Jul 13 2017 - CLARA BOW DOUBLE FEATURE! Kid Boots (1926) and Mantrap (1926)
Jun 8 2017 - ART HOUSE EROTICA DOUBLE FEATURE! La Marge (1976) and Der Bomberpilot (1970)
May 11 2017 - EARLY ALMODOVAR! Pepi, Luci, Bom (1980) and What Have I Done to Deserve This? (1984)
Apr 13 2017 - REEL BLACK CINEMA PRES TV MOVIES OF THE 1970s! Dummy (1979) and The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened (1977)
Mar 9 2017 - FRITZ LANG’S INDIAN EPIC! The Tiger of Eschnapur [Der Tiger von Eschnapur] (1959) and The Indian Tomb [Das indische Grabmal] (1959)
Feb 9 2017 - NEWSPAPER DOUBLE FEATURE! Five Star Final (1931) and Park Row (1952)
Jan 12 2017 - Double Feature! ’80’S POP MUSIC EPICS Sign of the Times (1987) and Breaking Glass (1980)
Dec 8 2016 - TOO MUCH JOHNSON (1938/67 minutes) and FÅRÖ DOCUMENT 1979 (1979/100 minutes) screened by Andrew's Video Vault
Nov 10 2016 - CHARLEY VARRICK (1973/111 minutes) and THE BEGUILED (1971 /105 minutes) screened by Andrew's Video Vault
Oct 13 2016 - Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer True Crime Double Feature screened by Andrew's Video Vault
Sep 8 2016 - COME AND SEE (1985/140 minutes) and IN A GLASS CAGE (1987/110 minutes) screened by Andrew's Video Vault
Aug 11 2016 - SWEET REVENGE (1976) and A GORGEOUS GIRL LIKE ME [Une Belle Fille Comme Moi] (1972): Andrew's Video Vault double feature
Jul 14 2016 - WHITE COMANCHE (1968) and CLEARCUT (1991): Andrew's Video Vault double feature
Jun 9 2016 - SLADE IN FLAME (1975) + OIL CITY CONFIDENTIAL (2009): Andrew's Video Vault double feature
May 12 2016 - Andrew Video Vault screens LOOKIN’ TO GET OUT (1982 / 120 mins) and SECOND HAND HEARTS (1981 / 102 mins)
Apr 14 2016 - BLACK VENUS [Venus Noire] (2010 / 159 minutes) by Andrew's Video Vault
Mar 10 2016 - L’ORFEO [Orpheus] (2006 / 170 minutes) pres. by Andrew's Video Vault
Feb 11 2016 - THE DEVILS (1971/111 minutes) and WOMEN IN LOVE (1969/131 minutes) pres. by Andrew's Video Vault
Jan 14 2016 - PASOLINI (2014 / 84 minutes) and THE HAWKS AND THE SPARROWS [Uccellacci e uccellini] (1966 / 91 minutes) pres. by Andrew's Video Vault
Dec 10 2015 - Permissive (1970) and Duffer (1971)
Nov 12 2015 - Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) and Everybody's Fine (Stanno Tutti Bene; 1990)
Oct 8 2015 - The Innocents (1961) and The Seventh Victim (1943)
Sep 10 2015 - Andrew's Video Vault pres. a FREE, surprise screening hosted by Guest Host and Curator Dan Buskirk
Aug 13 2015 - Tie Xi Qu: West of Tracks: Part One: Rust (2003 / 240 min) - Andrew's Video Vault
Jul 9 2015 - Screening of Chameleon Street (1989) and UFOria (1985); pres. by Andrew's Video Vault
Jun 11 2015 - SOUL MAN (1986) and WATERMELON MAN (1970)
May 14 2015 - DR. MABUSE, THE GAMBLER [DR. MABUSE, DER SPIELER – EIN BILD DER ZEIT] (1922 / 271 minutes)
Apr 9 2015 - AMERICAN JOB (1996 / 90 minutes) and TBA Aki Kaurismäki Directed Movie
Mar 12 2015 - Perfect Lives (1984) - Andrew's Video Vault
Feb 12 2015 - Enemy Territory (1987) and Certain Fury (1985) - Andrew's Video Vault
Jan 8 2015 -  Goltzius and The Pelican Company (2012) and Blue (1993) - Andrew's Video Vault
Dec 11 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Traffic in Souls (1913) and Wild Oranges (1924)
Nov 13 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Arsenal (1929) and The Virgin Soldiers (1969)
Oct 9 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens The Goose Woman (1925) and Penn and Teller Get Killed (1989)
Sep 11 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Martyrs of the Alamo (1915) and Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson (1976)
Aug 14 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Chicago (1927) and Don’t Gamble with Strangers (1946)
Jul 10 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Soul for Sale (1923) and Murder Obsession (1982)
Jun 12 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens The Magician (1926) and Noah’s Ark (1928)
May 8 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens The Penalty (1920) and The Unscarred (2000)
Apr 10 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Ghosts (1915) and Dollhouse (2003)
Mar 13 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Warning Shadows (1923) and The Crash (1932)
Feb 13 2014 - CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW!!! Andrew's Video Vault screens Outside the Law (1920) and Two Seconds (1932)
Jan 9 2014 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Mikaël (1924) and A Cold Wind In August (1961)
Dec 12 2013 - Rope of Sand (1949) and Jewel Robbery (1932); Andrew's Video Vault
Nov 14 2013 - Anna Nicole (2011 / 120 minutes) opera about Playmate; Andrew's Video Vault
Oct 10 2013 - The Monster (1925) and The Eyes of The Mummy Ma (1918); Andrew's Video Vault
Sep 12 2013 - West of Zanzibar (1928) and Adventure In Iraq (1943); Andrew's Video Vault
Aug 8 2013 - Side Show (1981) and The Wagons Roll at Night (1941); Andrew's Video Vault
Jul 11 2013 - A Double Life (1947) and Life Begins at Eight-Thirty (1942); Andrew's Video Vault
Jun 13 2013 - Dusty and Sweets McGee (1971) and Rings on Her Fingers (1942)
May 9 2013 - The Couch (1962) and All The Pretty Maids in a Row (1971)
Apr 11 2013 - No Way Home (1996 / 90 min) + The Man With Two Faces (1934 / 72 min)
Feb 14 2013 - Debussy: The Fall of the House of Usher [La Chute de la Maison Usher] and The Life and Works of Richard Wagner; Andrew's Video Vault
Jan 10 2013 - Triple feature! Nightbirds, Things, and Mystique; Andrew's Video Vault
Dec 13 2012 - Screening: Rienzi – Der Letzte Der Tribunen [Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes] (2010
Nov 8 2012 - Screening: Pericles on 31st Street (1962) and The Man with Two Heads (1972); Andrew's Video Vault double header
Oct 11 2012 - The Unknown (1927) + The Unholy Three (1925); screened by Andrew's Video Vault
Sep 13 2012 - Dementia (1955) + Freud (1962), screened by Andrew's Video Vault
Aug 9 2012 - Carny (1980) + Girl on the Run (1953); Andrew's Video Vault double feature
Jul 12 2012 - Vibrations (1967) + Fluctuations (1970); Andrew's Video Vault double feature
Jun 14 2012 - The Red House (1947) and Brother Orchid (1940); Andrew's Video Vault double header
May 10 2012 - The Music of Chance (1993) + All I Desire (1953) screened by Andrew's Video Vault
Apr 12 2012 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Rubber (2010) + Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977)
Mar 8 2012 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Girlfriends (1978) + Windows (1980)
Feb 9 2012 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Samson and Delilah (1949) + Sodom and Gomorrah: The Last Seven Days (1975)
Jan 12 2012 - Andrew's Video Vault screens The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947) + The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (1932)
Dec 8 2011 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Funeral Procession of Roses [aka, Bara no sôretsu] and The Embryo Hunts in Secret [aka, Taiji ga mitsuryô suru toki]
Nov 10 2011 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Giovanna d’Arco
Oct 13 2011 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Messiah of Evil [aka, Dead People] and Carnival of Souls
Sep 8 2011 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Seventeen and Dadetown
Aug 11 2011 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Popeye and Querelle: A Film About Jean Genet’s ‘Querelle de Brest’
Jul 14 2011 - Andrew's Video Vault pres. Workout videos!
Jun 9 2011 - Andrew's Video Vault screens Hustling and The Wife
Oct 9 2008 - Andrew's Video Vault pres. Body Snatchers, Uncle Sam, & The Ravager