By Nicolle Jones |ContributorWhether you’re enjoying a bucket of popcorn at the theater or enjoying a hotdog at the drive-in, going to the movies is a time honored tradition shared by the entire community. In honor of this tradition, Augusta University’s Cinema Series presents Whit Stillman in the viewing of his 2016 film "Love and Friendship" at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theater on Saturday Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. The film screening is free to students, faculty and the community.In an interview on Wednesday, Jan. 23, Matthew Buzzell, the director of AU's Cinema Series, described "Love and Friendship" as a “wickedly funny performance."Stillman, 66, is a filmmaker who was born in Washington, D.C. He has written and directed five hilarious movies, including the one being shown on Saturday.“Whit Stillman is one of the most significant filmmakers to emerge out of late 1980s and early 1990s American independent cinema,” Buzzell said.Stillman’s first film, "Metropolitan," was released in 1990. That critically acclaimed film was followed by "Barcelona" and "The Last Days of Disco." Associate Professor Buzzell showed all three on Jan. 17 act the Maxwell as part of a Stillman retrospective.Saturday's Stillman event is also partnered with Augusta University’s Writers Weekend that is taking place Friday, Jan. 25, and Saturday, Jan. 26. There will be multiple writers in attendance at Writers Weekend, including the keynote speaker Fiona Sze-Lorraine, whose presentation will be at 7 p.m.. on Friday evening in the JSAC Ballroom.Stillman will also be making an appearance in the JSAC after his movie showing and will be signing his newest novel based on his movie Love and Friendship. For a more detailed schedule and full roster of the Writers Weekend, please visit Literary Augusta.The movie is 93 minutes in length, and after it's over there will be a Q-and-A session with Mr. Stillman. "Love and Friendship," based on the Austen novella "Lady Susan," features Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigney (who also starred in "Last Days of Disco") and Xavier Samuel. This 18th-Century romantic comedy “is full of witty dialogue and full of pretention,” Buzzell said.This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to watch a major film and immediately ask the director and writer all the questions you ask yourself while normally watching a movie. Assistant professor Buzzell believes that when you watch a movie on your tablet or smartphone you “miss out on the intentions of the filmmaker." Films are made to be heard in 5.1 surround sound on a huge screen. Being surrounded by people and feeding off of the energy in the theater is an amazing communal experience that shouldn’t be missed, he said.Stillman will later on Saturday sign copies of his book "Love and Friendship" from Little, Brown and Company in a pop-up book shop in the JSAC Coffeehouse that the Writers Weekend is hosting with the Book Tavern.Funding for this event is graciously donated by the restaurants Bees Knees and The Hive. Contact Nicolle Jones at NJONES1@augusta.edu.