The Spectacular Now

After winning big at Sundance earlier this year, Athens native James Ponsoldt's coming-of-age tale The Spectacular Now is set to open in Los Angeles and New York City this Friday.

Shot entirely in Athens, the movie stars Miles Teller (Rabbit Hole), Shailene Woodley (The Descendents) and Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights"), among others, and tells the story of an improbable teen romance. The film is already garnering rave reviews from influential critics, like New York Magazine's David Edelstein and The New Yorker's David Denby.

Ponsoldt will be in attendance at two Athens screenings of his film on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Ciné. The first screening will be preceded by a National-catered reception at 6 p.m. and followed by a Q&A with the director. Tickets for the early screening are $50, a price that includes a goodie bag containing a copy of the Tim Tharp book of the same name and a collectable custom poster. 

The second screening, at 9:30 p.m., is preceded by a "prom" party sponsored by Film Athens. Ponsoldt will again answer audience questions afterwards. Tickets for the late show are $15. All proceeds from both screenings will go towards Ciné's digital evolution.