Rodeo Cinema lassoing free screenings

Film will lasso the spotlight in Oklahoma City’s Stockyards City this spring with the opening of Rodeo Cinema, a nonprofit independent art house movie theater, at the district’s historic Centennial Rodeo Opry Theater, 2221 Exchange Ave. in Oklahoma City

The sister theater to Tulsa’s Circle Cinema, Rodeo Cinema will offer first-run independent, foreign and documentary films, guest speakers, film events and specialty programming under the direction of Rodeo Cinema Executive Director Kim Haywood.

Renovations to the 1924 theater will begin this month, with plans to open the first of three screens by May. The Rodeo Opry’s weekly Saturday evening performances will continue during and after completion of the renovations. Leading up to the renovations, Rodeo Cinema will host free community screenings Monday through March 24.

The films include the Oklahoma-produced Vietnam War documentary “Bill’s Thud” at 6 p.m. Monday; the true crime documentary “All the Queen’s Horses” at 8 p.m. Monday; the award-winning World War II drama “Fanny’s Journey” at 2, 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday; and the Academy Award-nominated foreign language film “The Insult” at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Additional screenings of “All the Queen’s Horses” are set for 2, 6 and 8 p.m. Thursday and March 23 and 11 a.m. March 24.

Seating for the screenings is on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets will be required, and guests are encouraged to arrive early. For more information, go to www. facebook.com/RodeoCinema.