SALA Event Center Celebrates Mozart Week With Films, Community Events

SALA Los Alamos Event Center is packing its schedule with classical film, fresh independent cinema, and community programming through March 15, anchored by Mozart Week 2026, a celebration of the composer's 270th birthday that has drawn in local sponsors and partner organizations across the county.

"SALA Los Alamos Event Center invites the community to a dynamic week of film, music, classics, and special events from March 9 through March 15," the center announced. "From a celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to new independent releases and beloved favorites, there is something for every audience."

Mozart Week 2026: Two Films, One Legendary Composer

The centerpiece of the week is a pair of screenings honoring Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The series opened Monday, March 9, with Amadeus at 6:00 PM. The 1984 film remains one of cinema's most celebrated portraits of artistic genius and jealousy: "Winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Amadeus brings the dramatic rivalry between Mozart and Antonio Salieri to the big screen in a visually stunning and musically rich experience."

The second Mozart Week screening, The Magic Flute, follows on Thursday, March 12 at 6:00 PM. Where Amadeus dramatizes the composer's life, The Magic Flute brings his operatic work directly to the screen. According to SALA's programming notes, "Mozart's beloved opera is reimagined for the screen in this enchanting production that blends fantasy, romance, and timeless music." Together, the two films trace both the man and the music, offering a complementary double feature spread across the week.

Mozart Week in Los Alamos extends beyond SALA's walls. The Los Alamos Community Winds, a local ensemble, has stepped up as a proud community partner: "The Los Alamos Community Winds are proud to sponsor 'Mozart Week in Los Alamos' March 9-14, 2026." That sponsorship aligns with a broader community celebration, with events tied to Mozart's 270th birthday taking place at multiple venues, including Crossroads Bible Church, which is hosting a week-long program featuring performances, lectures, a master class, and a gala concert running through Saturday, March 14.

New Reels: Premieres and Continuing Runs, March 13–15

SALA's New Reels series, sponsored by Casa Los Alamos, takes over the weekend with two films running Friday through Sunday, March 13–15.

The headliner is The Optimist, making its premiere run at SALA. Described as "a true story of survival and connection," the film screens Friday at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM, Saturday at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and Sunday at 5:00 PM, giving audiences multiple opportunities to catch it across the weekend. Tickets are available through SALA's box office.

Also on the New Reels slate is Hoppers, which is still in its theatrical run and continues through the weekend. Showtimes for Hoppers are Friday and Saturday at 1:30 PM and 6:30 PM, with a Sunday matinee at 3:00 PM. The New Reels series, according to SALA, "continues to showcase engaging, fresh new films, offering audiences fresh stories and distinctive filmmaking," and the Casa Los Alamos sponsorship reflects the kind of local business investment that keeps independent and art-house programming viable in a small community.

Faith and Community Series: The Chosen Returns

On Saturday, March 14 at 4:00 PM, SALA hosts the latest episode of The Chosen as part of its Faith and Community Series. The screening covers Season 5, Episode 6, titled "Reunions," and admission is free. The event is sponsored by Lisa Shin, O.D., a local optometrist whose support makes the free admission possible. Free tickets are required for entry; check with SALA for details on how to reserve yours.

Community Events: Men Who Care and Alzheimer's Awareness

Two public events round out the week's programming, both reflecting SALA's role as a community gathering space beyond film.

Thursday, March 12 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM brings 100+ Men Who Care to SALA. The event is free and open to the public, with no RSVP listed in available information. The organization convenes community members to pool charitable giving toward local causes, and the SALA appearance signals the group's reach across Los Alamos County.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's Open House follows on Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 AM. Organizers describe it as a chance to "meet us, see what we are bringing to the community and how we can support you and your loved ones." For anyone interested in learning more about the local walk effort or connecting with Alzheimer's resources in the county, contact Joy Heerding directly at 505-328-8346 or joheerding@alz.org.

What to Know Before You Go

Ticket pricing and purchase links for the Mozart Week films and New Reels screenings were not fully published in available materials at press time; SALA's box office or website should be consulted for current pricing and reservation information. The Chosen screening on March 14 is confirmed as free, though tickets are required. The 100+ Men Who Care event on March 12 and the Walk to End Alzheimer's Open House on March 14 morning are both free to attend.

For a single week, the range SALA is offering, from an eight-time Academy Award winner to an independent premiere, a faith-based series screening, two free public events, and a community-wide Mozart celebration, reflects exactly the kind of programming that makes a small-city venue worth keeping on your calendar year-round.