FIlms at the Gate (2006-present)
- improve awareness of Boston's Chinatown as a site of cultural activity
- restore a tradition of shared, public experience of Chinese-language films in Chinatown,
- provide temporary community use of Chinatown's underutilized spaces,
- draw foot-traffic to neighborhood restaurants, and make downtown Boston a destination beyond the working hours.


Films at the Gate Web Site
Go Behind the Scenes: our Blog
A tradition of film in Chinatown
Until the late 1980s, Chinatown had three movie theaters which showed double-features three times a day, often to packed houses from midday to midnight. Whole families would attend, and children would often play in the aisles. In the 1970s and 80s, concessions consisted of vending machine-goods, bags of popcorn, and fortune cookies brought in by the owner. Patrons often brought in their own food as well. Jackie Chan movies were especially popular. Facing pressure from the popularity of home video rentals, all three cinemas closed in the 1980's.
Press
- Boston Phoenix "Best 2010"
- Sampan [9/10/2010] "Fifth Annual Films at the Gate maintains Chinatown tradition, builds community"
- Jay's Movie Blog [9/2/10] "This Week in Tickets: 23 August 2010 to 29 August 2010."
- Boston Globe [8/22/10] "Open-air fest a kick.." by Taylor Adams
- Natural Resources Defense Council on Films at the Gate
- Pedestrian Friendly [8/27/09] "An urban vacant lot blossoms, if only briefly"
- Boston Globe [8/26/09] "A Weedy Lot Blossoms" by Yvonne Abraham
- Boston Zest "Dinner and a Movie Al Freco Style"
- Huffington Post [9/1/09] "Village Green: Boston's Asian Community brings Fun, Education, and Affordability to Chinatown."
Press
- Boston Phoenix [8/30/09] "Event Picks"
- Boston.com [8/27/09] "Go To It: Hot Events Around the Hub"
- Bostonist.com [8/27/09] "Thursday Happenings"
- The Tufts Daily [9/4/08]
- Boston Globe [9/3/08] "Everybody is kung fu fighting"
- Boston Phoenix [9/2/08] "Giving voice to Red Heroine"
- Sampan [2007]
- WBUR [9/15/06] (listen)
- Boston Globe [8/20/06] "Kung fu back on the screen"
Our Recent Blog Posts about Films at the Gate:
Films at the Gate 2016
Films at the Gate 10th Anniversary
Films at the Gate: 9th year!

Time again for Films at the Gate! What began nine years ago as an effort to transform a vacant lot in Boston’s Chinatown has become an enduring tradition: a free, outdoor series of Chinese-language films under the stars. Learn about the project here. Friday-Sunday, Sept. 12-14, 2014. Schedule here. See you by the Gate!
Films at the Gate 2013: schedule is here!

It’s time again for Films at the Gate! What began in 2006 as an effort to transform a vacant lot in Boston’s Chinatown has become an enduring tradition: a free, outdoor series of Chinese-language films under the stars. Learn about the project here. Friday-Sunday, Sept. 13-15. Curator Jean Lukitsh has provided the film choices for 2013, […]
Films at the Gate: on to the weekend
View all of our blog posts about Films at the Gate here.