'Good Will Hunting' Showing at Cinema Salem to Benefit Suicide Prevention Efforts

The Boston-based hit movie “Good Will Hunting” that earned Robin Williams an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor will be shown on Sunday night at Cinema Salem as a benefit for local and national suicide prevention and mental health charities.

The screening is designed to honor the life of Williams, who took his own life earlier this month.

The doors at Cinema Salem will open at 7:30 p.m. and the movie will start at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Cash donations will be encouraged to benefit suicide prevention and mental health charities, including North Shore Medical Center’s Psychiatric and Mental Health Department, Samaritans and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

CinemaSalem owner Paul Van Ness donated the theater to show the film and the theater will also be collecting donations all day Sunday in its lobby. Anyone who donates more than $10 will receive a free bag of popcorn.

Free passes for the “Good Will Hunting” showing will be available in advance at Cinema Salem, 1 East India Square in Salem, during regular business hours. There is a limit of four passes per person.

Already, 94 people are planning to go, according to the Facebook event page.

“We kindly request only getting as many passes as you need so that we have enough to share with everyone that wants to attend,” Cinema Salem said in an announcement about the event.

In addition to Cinema Salem, the event is sponsored by Salem Food Tours, Gulu-Gulu Cafe, A&J King Artisan Bakers, Salem Wine Imports and Salem Cycle.