The Kutler Center held a showing of Mufasa: The Lion King on Jan. 22 as part of the Cinema Sundays initiative in association with Black Leadership And Awareness Club (BLACC), Parents of African American Harvard-Westlake Students and the HW African American Alumni Network. Movies are routinely chosen and shown for the community at selected locations, led by Director of Kutler Center and Director of Summer School Programs Jim Patterson.

Patterson said Cinema Sundays helps unite the school community in a way that aligns with the Kutler Center’s interdisciplinary ethos.

“Cinema Sundays is a community outreach program that allows us to provide educational opportunities  to our wider community,” Patterson said. “Cinema in particular is very interdisciplinary, and so it fits very nicely with the mission of the Kutler Center.”

Mufasa: The Lion King was recently released on Dec. 20, 2024. Many students enjoy attending Cinema Sundays as it allows them to watch newly released films, some of which are unavailable for streaming. The wide selection of movies provided by various affinity groups and student choice ensures a wide variety suitable for all.

Sarah Huang ’27 said she has enjoyed studying the details of films at this year’s screenings.

“I love Cinema Sundays as they make me so happy,” Huang said. “It encouraged me to explore the boundaries of movie possibilities and helped me move out of my comfort zone.”

Movies and films are nominated by students and affinity groups to be shown in future screenings. Attendance is open to all students and families of the school community.