I am shocked to learn that Movies at Midway will be reducing theater availability for the 17th Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival this fall to four only, and none in the future!

This is disappointing for all of us movie fans in the area, and also for those who have enjoyed a holiday trip here for years.

Local businesses have also been rewarded. Along with the Rehoboth Art League, which started in the late 1930s, the festival helped the reputation of Rehoboth Beach to become not only the best beach on the mid-Atlantic coast, but a “premier cultural center!”

My late husband (1927-2009) Martin Priest was honored to have his film “The Plot Against Harry” shown during the 2000 year third annual film festival. He was from the Lee Strasburg Actors Studio School of “method” acting. It had previously been at the Cannes Film Festival. Of course, I and my friends were thrilled.

This is only one example of the many and varied films that have been exhibited over the past 17 years, including documentaries and those of local film makers.

I’m sure we all will be pleased that Midway will continue to show individual films. I’m hoping that perhaps they can reconsider their devastating new edict.

Meanwhile, let’s put on our thinking caps and try to find new alternative places to present the exciting, varied films we have been so fortunate to have been able to see and review for so long. The Metropolitan Operas exhibited in the beautiful Cape Henlopen High School have been a new treat this winter. Thank you all.

Catherine Winslow Priest
Rehoboth Beach