In 1960, Dan and Toby Talbot opened the New Yorker Theater on the then-dangerous Upper West Side. With no money or experience, the Talbots transformed this 900-seat living room into one of the country’s most influential repertory and arthouse cinemas, launching a remarkable six-decade career in film exhibition and distribution.

I grew up in Argentina, more precisely in Mendoza—the wine country. When I was a teenager, a tiny cable company opened in my neighborhood. It had only 10 channels, and I became obsessed with Channel 2, where the owner was programming independent and foreign cinema 24/7. I spent my days and nights traveling the world— one film at a time. Through these films, I witnessed the richness of the human experience across languages and cultures. These films enhanced my perception of the world. They enriched my creativity and imagination. They influenced my life so profoundly that I decided to become a filmmaker.

While living in New York, I discovered that Dan and Toby Talbot, a Jewish couple from the Bronx, championed many films that inspired me in my teens. This was the genesis of this project.

Our documentary explores the transformative power that cinema can have in our lives and in our collective and individual artistic development. I am proof of that power. Furthermore, Dan and Toby’s innovative and bold approach to running a movie theater can serve as a guide and inspiration to reimaging film exhibitions in the U.S.

We passionately believe that given the ongoing challenges facing independent and artistic cinema, with fewer arthouses worldwide and more and more movies not being shown, Dan and Toby Talbot’s story is a beacon that can help us weather this storm. Their lasting impact and legacy can continue inspiring and shaping generations of exhibitors, distributors, filmmakers, and film lovers. Moreover, this film is even more urgent today; given the erosion of culture in the United States and around the world, Dan and Toby Talbot’s remarkable story must be told loudly and clearly.

For both my team and me, it is paramount that Talbots’s legacy stays alive as a testimony to their remarkable story and professional achievements.

I hope you feel the same.