Lufkin, TX — Cinemark Theater has chosen Lufkin as a test market for an independent films program going on now.

The idea behind the program is to give Lufkinites another viewing option in addition to blockbusters like Harry Potter and Transformers, according to Cinemark marketing manager Frank Gonzales. This program, housed in the theater on Miles Way, is timed in conjunction with the film industry’s high season — October through December, when production companies hope to generate Academy Award buzz.

“This gives another option for people who think movies are mindless, the same old car crashes, car chases and fight scenes. This is something different — thought-provoking subject matter that is not the norm, visual styles you don’t see very often,” Gonzales said. “I think the main thing is that when you go to see an art and independent film, you’re investing your money and yourself in these types of movies. People like to go to movies to forget about their troubles, but these movies are going to provoke you. It’s a different type of entertainment. They’re designed to make you think — stick out a point of view — and you’ll respond to it, whether negatively or positively.”

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