The Auburn Public Theater will be expanding its repertoire to include film screenings. The arts center is preparing to open its movie theater Sunday with the science fiction thriller, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

The landmark Steven Spielberg movie stars Richard Dreyfuss and Francois Truffaut. It follows a series of encounters between people and extraterrestrial beings.

It made landmark use of special effects for its time to tell a story that broke with then-current trends of villifying aliens by instead portraying them as friendly beings.

A documentary film titled “Surfwise” will also be showing at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19. This film tells a story of a husband and wife who raise nine children in a camper in the 1950s. Dedicated to protecting their children from the perils of society, the couple home school the children as they travel around the country. Inherent in their education is their father's passion for surfing, in which the children are instructed rigorously and several of the children go on to win championships and awards for their talent.

Auburn Public Theater will be hosting the producer of “Surfwise,” also the second of the nine children, Jonathan Paskowitz, to discuss his journey through this real-life story.

The theater will also pack into this action-filled weekend Charlotte Cushman of “Considerable of a Woman,” which will offer a first-person interpretation by actress/singer Deborah Anne Goss at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets will be $8 at the door.

If you go

What: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”

When: 7 p.m. Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17

Where: Auburn Public Theater, 108 Genesee St., Auburn

Cost: $5

Info: Call 253-6669