The Spectrum 8 Theater in Albany on Jan, 29, 2018. (Image from Instagram)

This time of year—after the Oscar nominations are announced and before they awards are given out—is often called by those in the movie press as a bleak time for new releases. Some say this is why the Jumanji reboot has been able to be the number one movie at the box office after so many weeks after its initial release.

But, living as I do in upstate New York, I’m not where most of the movie press lives—LA and NYC. Instead, I’m where most of the movie-going public lives. That means that for us this is the time when many of the prestige movies are finally available for us to see in a nearby theater. In fact, the closest theater to where I live, which is known for running independent and foreign films (the Spectrum 8 theater in Albany) is showing seven of the nine best picture nominees (Get Out and Dunkirk already played there) and I, Tonya (which is nominated for three Oscars—actress, supporting actress, and film editing).

Are you one of those people who tries to see all the best picture nominees before the awards are given out? If the snows hold off, and thanks to my local movie theater, I just might be able to do it. Join me on my journey.