The Oscar-winning filmmaker will be at the Count Basie Center for the Arts July 20 for a showing of his latest movie, followed by a discussion
By Alex Biese
RED BANK – Francis Ford Coppola has dreamed of New Jersey.
Coppola, the Academy Award-winning director of “The Godfather” (1972), “Apocalypse Now” (1979) and “The Outsiders” (1983), revealed in a statement shared with The Two River Times that, growing up, he aspired to live in West Milford, Passaic County.
“As a kid, my dream was to move to the New Jersey community at Pinecliff Lake,” said Coppola. “My father had bought a summer home on Pinecliff Lake (near larger Greenwood Lake). I dreamed of always living and going to school there, but one day my father said he had sold ‘Melody Lodge,’ which was its name. I still have that old wooden sign.”
Coppola, now 86, returns to New Jersey this weekend for a very special engagement. He’ll be at the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank to present his latest film, the visionary 2024 epic “Megalopolis.” The screening will be followed by “How to Change Our Future,” an in-depth and interactive discussion with Coppola, as well as a question-and-answer session.
The event is co-presented by the Garden State Film Festival and the New Jersey Film Academy.
“It’s the ultimate Francis Ford Coppola experience,” said Eddie Bernard, marketing manager for Coppola and coordinator of the tour, in an interview with The Two River Times. “Because you get to see his movie, ‘Megalopolis,’ which is not available to see anywhere right now, by design.
And you can see that movie and then hear Francis talk about the themes in that movie and why they’re important to humans as a society. It’s a very cerebral approach to watching the film, because you get to hear the author talk about the themes of the film and what they mean.”
“Megalopolis,” with its futuristic setting in the city of New Rome, is the saga of architect Cesar Catilina, played by Adam Driver, and the conflict his vision finds from the city’s mayor, Franklyn Cicero, played by Giancarlo Esposito. The film co-stars Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Aubrey Plaza and Dustin Hoffman, and reportedly received a 10-minute standing ovation following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France last year. It was released theatrically worldwide in September and is not currently streaming or available on physical media.
Bernard, who grew up in Atlantic Highlands, explained why the Basie was ideally suited to host Coppola’s “Megalopolis” experience.
“When we looked at venues for this tour, we were looking for theaters that were classical in style and had a community behind them, and specifically a film community, which the Basie has. And when we were routing this tour and the Basie showed up on the list it was very apparent to me that the Basie was the right place to do this,” he said.
“We are absolutely thrilled to bring an event of this caliber to New Jersey’s vibrant filmmaking community,” said Lauren Concar Sheehy, executive director of the Garden State Film Festival, in a news release. “This extraordinary evening with Francis Ford Coppola perfectly aligns with the Garden State Film Festival’s mission to celebrate, educate and inspire through the power of cinema. Having a legendary filmmaker share his insights directly with our community – including our up-and-coming student filmmakers – represents exactly the kind of transforma- tive experience we strive to create. This collaboration demonstrates how the Garden State Film Festival continues to bring world-class programming to New Jersey, elevating our state’s reputation as a serious destination for film education and appreciation.”
Diane Raver, executive director of the New Jersey Film Academy, explained: “For our students and emerging filmmakers, this represents an unparalleled educational experience. To have direct access to Francis Ford Coppola – a master who has shaped modern cinema – is the kind of mentorship opportunity that can truly transform a young filmmaker’s perspective and career trajectory. This collaboration between our organizations demonstrates our shared commitment to nurturing New Jersey’s creative talent.”
Garden State Film Festival and New Jersey Film Academy present “An Evening with Francis Ford Coppola and ‘Megalopolis’ Screening.” Doors open 6 p.m., show 7 p.m. Sunday, July 20, at the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. For tickets and more information, visit thebasie.org/events.
The article originally appeared in the July 17 – July 23, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
