Because any film worth its salt has already been released in order to achieve 2008 Oscar consideration, the first week of the year is typically the deadest zone cinema has to offer. The upside to this — and it’s a pretty big upside — is that now’s the time to build up your catalog of films past and present. MoMA’s specially curated program takes you a long way toward this goal: the only commonality of the films in this retrospective is that they’re ones that deserve highlighting. In particular, don’t miss the 1936 Chicago romance The Wedding Present and Julie Dash’s stunning, rarely screened Daughters of the Dust (1991).

When: Tuesday, January 1 – Monday, January 7, 2008
Where: MoMA (11 W. 53rd Street, New York, (212) 708-9400)
Price: $10 per screening
More info: www.moma.org