(SURF CITY, NJ) -- Lighthouse International Film Society presents a screening of Secret Mall Apartment on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Surf City Firehouse. One of this year's must-see indie films, it has quickly become one of the most talked-about films in the festival circuit, earning a dozen awards for its thought-provoking narrative and original vision. The screening begins at 7:30pm.

In 2003 eight young Rhode Island artists created a secret apartment hidden within the hulking and abandoned Providence Place Mall.  Undetected during their four year residency, the artists moved in furniture, tapped into the mall's electricity grid, and secretly constructed a safe room; a hidden “sanctuary” made with two tons of smuggled-in cinderblock.

Filming everything they did in the process, their act of defiance was far more than a wild prank. Soon the secret apartment became a creative clubhouse, a deeply held and treasured space for their artistic response to America’s bankrupting consumerism and empty-headed gentrification.

Finally, when the result of their secret residency was revealed, the story of their stay caused a local sensation. The eight had fashioned a stunning 750 square-foot public/private art installation that’s now featured in a film with a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door; admission is free for LIFSociety members.  Tickets are available for purchase online.  Surf City Firehouse is located at 713 Long Beach Boulevard in Surf City, New Jersey.

Praised for its striking cinematography and authentic performances, Secret Mall Apartment masterfully combines an ironic vibrancy with quiet reflection, creating a deeply human experience. The film comes from Director Jeremy Workman and Executive Producer Jesse Eisenberg. It has won awards at the Cleveland International Film Festival, IFFBoston, deadCenter Film Festival, Sidwalk Film Festival, newportFilm, Calgary International Film Festival, and Cordillera International Film Festival.

The Lighthouse International Film Society is the film festival's sister organization, bringing  you cutting-edge, award-winning films and events to enjoy all year long.