The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts is proud to announce that upcoming films in the 2026 W. Curtis Montz Film Series will be preceded by a short documentary made by a regional filmmaker from WVIA’s VIA Short Takes series.
WVIA’s VIA Short Takes documentary series features topics ranging from dramatic and edgy to cute, quirky, thrilling, and more. It aims to provide an entertaining look at the people and places that make Pennsylvania (and beyond) so unique. Starting with the Wednesday, July 1 st screening of “The Song Remains the Same,” audiences will enjoy a VIA Short Takes documentary before each W. Curtis Montz Film Series movie.
The W. Curtis Montz Film Series is an annual series named in honor of former F.M. Kirby Center employee W. Curtis Montz. The series celebrates the best in independent, documentary, and foreign film. W. Curtis Montz Film Series movies screen at 1:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. on select Wednesdays during the summer. Admission is $5 for the 1:00 P.M. screening and $7 for the 7:00 P.M. screening. Each entry in the W. Curtis Montz Film Series shows on The Luzerne Foundation Screen at the F.M. Kirby Center.
Remaining 2026 W. Curtis Montz Film Series Schedule:
- “The Song Remains the Same [PG]” on Wednesday, July 1st – preceded by VIA Short Takes documentary “Everybody Knows Schpay” by John Mikulak
- “The Secret Agent [R]” on Wednesday, July 8th – preceded by VIA Short Takes documentary “Wings of Valor: The Vietnam War Pilot Who Saved Hundreds” by John Alaimo
- “Sentimental Value [R]” on Wednesday, July 22nd – preceded by VIA Short Takes documentary “Sue Hand” by John Alaimo
- “Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time [NR]” on Wednesday, August 5th – preceded by VIA Short Takes documentary “The Butler House” by Kris Hendrickson
- “Marty Supreme [R]” on Wednesday, August 12th – preceded by VIA Short Takes documentary “The Resurgence of The American Bald Eagles” by Timothy Novotney
On-Sale Dates:
- Tickets for each scheduled screening in the W. Curtis Montz Film Series are on sale now. To get tickets, visit kirbycenter.org, call 570-826-1100, or purchase tickets when you arrive for your chosen screenings.
About the Films:
Wednesday, July 1st
“The Song Remains the Same [PG]”
Filmed in 1973 over the course of a three-night stand at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, this concert film shows Led Zeppelin at the apogee of their hard-rocking glory. In addition to featuring such indelible hits as “Dazed and Confused,” “Whole Lotta Love” and “Stairway to Heaven,” the live footage is interspersed with elaborate fantasy sequences, backstage shenanigans and a glimpse of what the business side of such a large touring operation entails.
VIA Short Takes documentary “Everybody Knows Schpay” by John Mikulak
Hard Core rocker Steve “Schpay” Spirko has had a rock ’n’ roll dream since the 1970s – and he’s not about to give up on it! Take a tour of Steve’s wild career and revel in his never say die attitude toward rocking your world!
Wednesday, July 8th
“The Secret Agent [R]”
The Secret Agent is a Brazilian political thriller starring Wagner Moura as Marcelo, a technology expert on the run from assassins in 1977 during Brazil’s military dictatorship. He hides in Recife seeking to reconnect with his son, but encounters intense surveillance, corruption, and paranoia within an oppressive, dangerous society.
VIA Short Takes documentary “Wings of Valor: The Vietnam War Pilot Who Saved Hundreds” by John Alaimo
In this gripping video, U.S. Air Force Colonel Bob Graham flies his badly damaged F100 Sabre Jet during a bombing mission in Vietnam. Graham’s aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire and he could only fly at minimum air speed because his fuel lines were damaged. On his return to base he was notified that another American base with around 500 American troops was being attacked.
Wednesday, July 22nd
“Sentimental Value [R]”
Nora, an actor, and her sister Agnes, are grieving the loss of their mother when their father Gustav reappears in their lives after a long absence. Gustav, a once-celebrated filmmaker, has written a script for a comeback movie and offered the main part to his daughter Nora, but she categorically refuses the role. During a career retrospective in France, Gustav meets an adoring Hollywood star and offers her the part intended for Nora.
VIA Short Takes documentary “Sue Hand” by John Alaimo
Working from her studio in Dallas Pa., Sue Hand explores her creative process, influences and how she transforms familiar subjects into thoughtful, expressive works of art, where color, composition and emotion take center stage. Highlighting her approach to subject matter and the creative freedom of working on canvas.
Wednesday, August 5th
“Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time [NR]”
Over 25 years, filmmaker Robert B. Weide developed an intimate bond with provocative author Kurt Vonnegut, who captured the American imagination. Their friendship inspired Weide to produce a biographical film of the writer’s life and works. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage of the late author.
VIA Short Takes documentary “The Butler House” by Kris Hendrickson
Col. Zebulon Butler commanded the colonial forces at the infamous Battle of Wyoming in 1778. His home, the oldest one in the city of Wilkes-Barre, was rescued from demolition to become a living history museum celebrating northeastern Pennsylvania’s contribution to the American struggle for independence.
Wednesday, August 12th
“Marty Supreme [R]”
Directed by Josh Safdie and starring Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme is a fictionalized, fast-paced drama inspired by the life of 1950s table tennis icon Marty Reisman. The film follows Marty Mauser, a wily, obsessive New York City shoe salesman and table-tennis shark striving for championship glory through high-stakes hustling, theft, and chaos.
VIA Short Takes documentary “The Resurgence of The American Bald Eagles” by Timothy Novotney
Through firsthand accounts and patient observation, we’ll trace the American bald eagle’s journey from the brink of extinction to a symbol of renewal, revealing how a simple moment of wonder can turn into a deeper sense of responsibility. In the end, it becomes a story not just about wildlife, but about people, about what happens when awareness leads to action, and action creates lasting change.
