Film Screening & Discussion: Billy Elliot (Rated R) at Freeman Performing Arts

Join Freeman Performing Arts throughout 2026 for a brand-new film series celebrating the power of art on screen and in our community. Over the course of the year, they’ll present six inspiring films across a variety of artistic genres. Each screening offers the chance not only to enjoy a great film but to engage in meaningful conversation with local voices who bring each story to life.

You will not find a film that more touchingly evokes the passion, pain, and pure euphoria of dance than Billy Elliott, director Stephen Daldry’s 2000 drama about a working-class British boy who pursues his dream despite the bitter opposition of his coal miner father. Nominated for three Oscars, the movie has inspired two generations of young artists, plus the creation of a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.

Following the film, audiences are invited to stay for a moderated conversation with Saturday Evening Post film critic Bill Newcott, creator of AARP’s Movies for Grownups, and Joan Beatson from First State Ballet Theatre. These post-screening discussions highlight the artistic discipline at the heart of each story and foster a deeper understanding of the creative processes that shape them.

Come for the film. Stay for the conversation. Experience the arts in a whole new way!