Welcome to the Cognitive Film Society
Wait… who are you again?
We're a community of film lovers based in Long Island’s world famous Five Towns — bringing the magic of cinema to life through screenings, conversations, and shared discovery. From our home base at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library's Gold Theater to this digital gathering space, we're hoping to bring exciting and fun cinematic experiences to our local communities.
We're Your Neighbors
Born on the South Shore, we're dedicated to enriching our community through film. Whether you're a longtime cinephile or just love a good movie night, you'll find a warm welcome here. Our programming reflects and celebrates the diverse voices of Nassau County while connecting us to the broader world of cinema.
Remember the first time a movie took your breath away? When the lights went down and something magical happened - maybe it was Hitchcock making you scared of your own shadow, or losing yourself in the swirling cameras of Scorsese, or discovering some mind-bending masterpiece you'd never heard of before.
Meet the Founders
Doug Hesney - Founder & President
Doug founded the Cognitive Film Society in January 2025 with a simple belief: great films create great conversations, and both require community to truly thrive. A longtime Five Towns resident and parent with children in the Hewlett-Woodmere public schools, his day job as a communications strategist for C-Suite executives—advising everyone from asset managers to public companies on presenting complex ideas clearly—informs his approach to making challenging films accessible.
As President, Doug curates our programming while contributing regularly to Cognitive Frames, exploring how films connect to broader patterns in art and culture. When not programming screenings, he can be found at Lincoln Center, Citifield, or expanding his extensive collection of vinyl records and films. He serves on the Hewlett-Woodmere Public School Endowment Fund, which sponsors the Arts Below Sunrise street festival in Hewlett-Woodmere, and believes criticism should be creative act—finding meaning through unexpected connections.
Yelena Fradlis - Co-Founder & Creative Director
Yelena co-founded the Cognitive Film Society alongside Doug and Jeff, bringing over 15 years of experience in creative direction and brand building to overseeing all aspects of our event presentation and visual identity. As a parent with children in the Hewlett-Woodmere public schools, she understands building cultural programming that serves families and the broader community, while her career launching fashion collections has taught her how visual presentation shapes identity.
As Creative Director, Yelena creates our interactive programming experiences and ensures every screening creates genuine community connection. Her insight that contemporary fashion marketing follows the same playbook as classic Hollywood costume design reflects her unique perspective on how visual culture operates across different media.
Jeff Hsi - Co-Founder & Community Director
Jeff co-founded the Cognitive Film Society alongside Doug and Yelena, bringing his passion for building community through shared cultural experiences—a skill he's honed both as a high school teacher at Valley Stream High School and as a parent with children in the Hewlett-Woodmere public schools. His classroom experience connecting with students across different backgrounds, combined with his investment in local education as a parent, translates perfectly to developing partnerships with organizations across Hewlett-Woodmere and beyond.
As Community Director, Jeff ensures the Society serves as a genuine community resource, creating connections between our programming and the diverse interests of Five Towns residents. He serves alongside Doug on the Hewlett-Woodmere Public School Endowment Fund and helps maintain our core commitment to democratic film culture—creating spaces where everyone from high school film students to veteran critics can engage in meaningful dialogue about cinema.
Geoff Wolinetz - West Coast Director
Geoff writes for Cognitive Frames from Los Angeles, where he's spent the last five years learning the rhythms of a city that exists somewhere between performance and authenticity. When not analyzing films like Albert Brooks's Defending Your Life and Steve Martin's L.A. Story, he runs JPEG Consulting, helping companies sharpen their go-to-market strategies and messaging—skills that translate surprisingly well to programming films that cut through cultural noise.
As West Coast Director, Geoff is developing opportunities to establish Cognitive Film Society programming in Los Angeles, creating a bi-coastal dialogue about cinema that bridges two distinct but equally passionate film communities. He believes that great films, like effective business strategies, help us navigate the spaces between who we are and who we're becoming—whether that's in a new city, a familiar theater seat, or a rapidly changing marketplace
All of us believe there's something special happening in film culture.
From repertory screenings packed with smartphone-wielding cinephiles to vibrant online discussions about everything from silent classics to the latest releases, we're seeing a renaissance in how people discover and share their love of movies.
The Cognitive Film Society is dedicated to building on that film culture in local communities - while connecting to larger networks of film enthusiasts.
We want to build a flourishing digital community that can look forward to great in-person screenings, where thoughtful analysis meets genuine enthusiasm, and where every great film sparks a conversation worth having.
We live for our screenings!
We have an amazing partner in Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, who has graciously allowed us to use the Gold Theater for our curated programmings.
We’re planning exciting programming that allows favorite classics and under-seen masterpieces to be experienced as intended - on the big screen and with enthusiastic audiences.
And we promise - each screening will be an event! We are lining up serious film scholars, local artists and actual movie stars (no really! stay tuned!) to appear in-person and share their perspectives.
We’ll have posters, pins, programs, and all kinds of commemorative (and collectible!) tothckes.
We live for this stuff! Its why we’re here.
Let’s stay connected online!
This Substack will be our digital hub and brings together:
Cognitive Frames: Our film criticism journal featuring essays that treat cinema as part of a larger cultural conversation. From high school students to established critics, our contributors explore how films connect to literature, philosophy, and contemporary life. Recent pieces have examined everything from Tokyo Story's meditation on time to the political undercurrents of classic noir, always asking not just what films mean, but why they matter now.
Screenings & Events: Curated programming at the Gold Theater and other venues across the South Shore — featuring rare films, industry guests, and unique presentations. We've hosted film scholar Foster Hirsch for Rear Window, partnered with LI Comic Shop for anime screenings, and are planning special events like live jazz accompaniment to classic films. Each screening becomes a community conversation about cinema's power to connect us across generations and cultures.
Letterboxd Reviews: Because sometimes you need to geek out about what you watched last night. Follow our curators, join the conversation, and discover your next favorite film through our "Four Favorites" community project and regular reviews that balance personal response with cultural insight.
Join the Cognitive Film Society!
As a 501(c)(3) organization, your membership is completely tax deductible and goes to support great programming. You also get great stuff!
Digital Membership ($5/month or $50/year)
Complete access to our growing archive of features and analysis
Priority registration for screenings and events
Member-only discussions
Special digital content around our monthly themes
Support our educational and community programs
Founding Member ($150/year)
All digital membership benefits
Exclusive print editions delivered at screenings
Member-exclusive collectibles designed for each screening
Special recognition in our digital and physical spaces
Founding member events and previews
Help shape the future of film culture in our community!
Beyond The Screen
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we're building something bigger than just another streaming guide or review site. Your membership supports:
Free film education programs
Community partnerships and events
Preservation of film culture and history
Building bridges through cinema
Making great movies accessible to everyone
Whether you're the person who can quote every line from "The Godfather" or you're just starting to explore beyond the multiplex, there's a place for you here. We believe in the power of movies to educate, unite, and inspire - and we'd love for you to be part of this story.
Come help us build something special. The conversation is just getting started.
The Cognitive Film Society is proud to call the Five Towns of Long Island home, but our digital community welcomes film lovers from everywhere. Because great cinema knows no boundaries.
Subscribe for free and become a member today!
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