On the weekends, the line for the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth splits in two. While most patrons come in for the various art exhibits, others trickle to see indie art house films and future Oscar winners.

Magnolia at the Modern is the museum’s weekend film series that highlights critically acclaimed films. Not to be confused with the larger Magnolia Theatre in Dallas, this film series provides a closer location for international films. “People don’t have to drive to Dallas to see these films,” Kendal Lake, Fort Worth Modern Art Museum communications manager said.

Of the movies listed, showtimes are typically on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as Sunday afternoons. Examples of popular recent releases include Carnage, The Skin I Live In and Midnight in Paris.

“What differentiates us from other theaters is that we show more films with more artistic quality than other theaters, those higher level productions you see on award shows,” Lake said.

The inside of the theater matches the aesthetic quality consistent with the rest of The Modern. Wood panels line the theater walls. Some of the panels are covered in striated recesses behind which fiberglass insulation lies. This is all in the pursuit of top audio quality for the up to 250 people the theater can seat.

Somebody talking in the front of the theater can be heard readily by anyone on the back row. This acoustic feature is useful for the staff, especially on the Magnolia’s Talk Cinema nights. On these nights, film critic Harlan Jacobson screens a movie for the audience and engages them in a dialogue after the credits. The only catch is patrons don’t know what movie will be played.

“Sometimes you get a really great movie, and people want to stay after and talk about it,” audio visual technician John Nuckels said. “Other times, you get a more challenging movie and people really want to stay after and talk about it.”

For most contemporary theaters, film companies distribute digital copies of the movie. The Magnolia chooses to showcase its movies with two film projectors with multiple reels on each. Nuckels takes the raw film from the reels and edits them to show in the theater. The process includes cutting and pasting the strips so that the film is divided amongst the reels evenly. When one reel runs out, another on the opposing projector turns on.

“You see this sort of system less and less nowadays,” Nuckles said. “More and more, you only see this at museums or other archival places.”

The audience at The Magnolia ranges from college-age patrons to senior citizens. Although the theater does not offer student specials as of now, Lake said that could be an option for the future as they want to increase their student moviegoers.

University of North Texas alumnus Kim Zent occasionally comes out to The Magnolia, based on what is showing. She said she enjoys content aimed toward both younger and older audiences but sees younger people at certain showings.

“There really isn’t a place to see films like this in Fort Worth,” Zent said.

Every September, The Modern staff partner with Fort Worth Star-Telegram film critic Christopher Kelly to host a film festival. Every year’s event holds a different theme, such as film noir or Federico Fellini movies. On Feb. 10-12, the theater will host a night of short films nominated for Academy Awards this year.

Through Feb. 4, The Magnolia at the Modern is showing five critically acclaimed shows as part of its ongoing series.

Carnage (There are no noon show times)

• Friday-Sunday
• Parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight. As their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the evening into chaos. Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster star in this latest film from legendary director Roman Polanski. Carnage is an adaptation of Yasmina Reeza’s award-winning play God of Carnage.
• R for language, 79 minutes
  
  

Le Havre

• Feb. 3–5
• When an African boy arrives by cargo ship in the port city of Le Havre, an aging shoe shiner takes pity on the child and welcomes him into his home.
• NR 93 minutes, French with English subtitles
  
  

A Separation (showtime varies from set times)

• Friday 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., Saturday 5 p.m., Sunday noon, 2:15 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.
• Feb. 17–19
• A married couple must decide whether to improve their child’s life by moving to another country or stay in Iran to look after a deteriorating parent with Alzheimer’s disease.
• PG-13 123 minutes, Persian with English subtitles
  
  

Being Elmo

• Feb. 24–26
• Meet the unlikely man behind the Muppet - the heart and soul of Elmo - Kevin Clash in this documentary favorite from Sundance 2011.
• PG for some mild language including a brief drug reference
  
  

The Hipsters (showtime varies from set times)

• Friday 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., Saturday 5 p.m., Sunday noon, 2:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• March 2–4
• While the Cold War heats up on the world stage, rebellious youth in 1955 Moscow wage a cultural battle against dismal Soviet conformity, donning brightly colored black-market clothing, adopting American nicknames and reveling in forbidden jazz.
• NR 130 minutes, Russian with English subtitles