York is U Movie Nights a big success

York is U Movie Nights were launched this year with much success. Every other Friday night, the student-spirit organization screened free Hollywood films, gave out free popcorn and attracted hundreds.


Right: Kiran Singh, a Movie Nights coordinator, and Huma Qureshi, York is U charity and entertainment director, prepare free snacks for movie goers.


Huma Qureshi, York is U charity and entertainment director, and her Movie Nights team hosted close to a dozen movie nights each semester and enjoyed a steady rise in attendance as word of mouth spread among students and other community members. Over 1,300 York students enjoyed this year’s lineup, including Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, King Kong, Harry Potter I, II, III and IV, Rumour Has It, The Legend of Zorro, Red Eye, Corpse Bride, Flight Plan and more.


Qureshi’s Movie Nights team gave away loot bags, movie snacks and pizza, decorated the theatre and tailored games and prizes based on the theme of the movie.


Whitney Dunning, a Movie Nights coordinator, provides a possible explanation for Movie Nights popularity: “Who doesn’t enjoy a free showing of a blockbuster movie with snacks provided?” Fellow coordinator Sharmila Sundaralingam says, “Movie Nights has outraced our expectations and has become one of the top events York is U offers students.”


Left: Movie Nights volunteers, from left, Melissa Nguyen, Farhan Ali, Kiran Singh, Diane Truong, Whitney Dunning, Sharmila Sundaralingam, Suganya Yoganathan, Huma Qureshi, Masroora Haque and Alexia Casalinuovo. Standing above others at back are Leo Wong and Adeyinka Daramola.