2026 College Town Film Series Explores “Underground” Themes
Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 12:00 AM
Categories:
School of Arts and Letters | Faculty/Staff | Pressroom | Events- Public | Students
Macon, GA
Graphic: Cierra Horton
The 28th annual College Town Film Series returns in February 2026 with “Underground” as the guiding theme, inviting audiences to explore stories that unfold beneath the surface.
Hosted each year by Middle Georgia State University, Mercer University, and Wesleyan College, the series will once again take place at the historic Douglass Theatre in downtown Macon.
Screenings are free to students with college IDs and $5 for the general public. A faculty member from one of the participating institutions will introduce each film and lead a discussion with the audience following the movie.
This year's lineup spans genres and decades, showcasing cinematic works that illuminate the unseen forces and unconventional perspectives that challenge the mainstream:
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 – Blade Runner (1982)
Presenter: Tom Ellington, Wesleyan College
Ridley Scott’s influential sci-fi neo-noir dives into a dystopian world where artificial humans fight for autonomy in the shadows of a sprawling futuristic city.
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 – The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)
Presenter: Jacqueline Pinkowitz, Mercer University
This groundbreaking film follows a man who uses his insider training to organize a clandestine grassroots movement, offering a bold critique of political power structures. Pinkowitz conceptualized the “underground” theme for this year’s series.
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 – I Shot Andy Warhol (1996)
Presenter: Patrick Brennan, Middle Georgia State University
A provocative biographical drama exploring the life of Valerie Solanas and her collision with the downtown New York art scene, capturing the pulse of subculture and rebellion.
Founded to foster collaboration among Macon’s higher education institutions, the College Town Film Series continues its tradition of presenting thought-provoking films paired with scholarly insight and community dialogue.
Dr. Bob Burnham, Middle Georgia State history professor, was one of the primary organizers of the College Town Film Series when it began in 1999.
“As far as I know, the College Town Film Series is the only ongoing student activities program involving these three local institutions of higher learning,” Burnham said. “From the outset, it was intended to facilitate cooperation and interaction between faculty and students from the three colleges, and I think it has served that purpose well over the years.”