From Manhattan to Long Island, the New-York Historical Society brings its celebrated film series to the Hamptons! Produced in collaboration with Guild Hall at the John Drew Theater in East Hampton, New-York Historical revisits some of the most popular films presented in its Justice in Film Series. Join us for a selection of silver screen classics featuring discussions by notable filmmakers, writers, actors, and historians and explore how these motion pictures have tackled social conflict, morality and the perennial struggles between right and wrong that are waged from the highest levels of government to the smallest local communities.

In Steven Spielberg’s award-winning sci-fi classic, civilians and government officials alike are inexplicably drawn together following encounters with extraterrestrial lifeforms and attempt to find the meaning behind their experiences. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Bob Balaban. 135 min.

Q&A to follow

Bob Balaban is an actor, director, and Academy Award-nominated producer for his work on the film Gosford Park. He is also the author of Spielberg, Truffaut & Me: An Actor’s Diary, a memoir recounting his time as an actor in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Susan Lacy is the creator and former executive producer of American Masters. Now, as an independent filmmaker, her company Pentimento Productions is currently working on documentaries about Steven Spielberg and Jane Fonda as part of a multi-picture exclusive deal with HBO.

General Admission: $14 ($12 Members)

The John Drew Theater in the Dina Merrill Pavilion at Guild Hall, 158 Main Street, East Hampton, New York 11937, 631.324.0806; Tickets available at GuildHall.org; Box Office; 631.324.4050; Theatermania.com; or 1.866.811.4111.

Free Saunders Student Rush tickets available