The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means that movie theaters won’t be opening anytime soon – but that’s not stopping three women from Hoboken from organizing a film festival.

“Our original mission was to get people off their couches and off their phones and devices and connect with their neighbors,” says Main Street Pops co-founder Tracy Gavant.

The company was originally founded to bring the community together and to support downtown businesses with in-person pop-up events. But once the pandemic happened, the mission had to be revamped.

“Obviously we want people to now stay on their couches. But we can still engage as a community and support one another,” Gavant says.

And the women hope to do that through a virtual film series called “The Wild and Scenic Film Festival.”

“We felt right now everyone wants to be transported and uplifted and go on a virtual escape for a couple of hours,” she says.

 

Main Street Pops is hosting three film series. The first one kicks off this weekend. Viewers can watch the films live with their friends during a virtual viewing party or view them on-demand over a five-day period.

“They’re all family-friendly and appropriate. You’ll laugh and cry and hopefully escape a little bit form your four walls,” says Gavant.

Tickets are $10 each. The money will be donated to local charities in Hoboken that support health care workers, small businesses, homeless shelters and the arts.

More information about the series can be found on the Main Street Pops website.