I'd argue you have the right and possibly even the responsibility of setting the tone for the films you show and that would necessarily involve letting people know that they're ruining the experience of those around them by laughing derisively at a film made in earnest. This problem is an epidemic in the rep house movie world. Every time the film begins, we're told to keep our cell phones silent and out of sight. Now, I've never had somebody's cellphone usage ruin a movie for me, but I've walked out of plenty of movies because the crowd couldn't engage with it in good faith. I think this is a problem worth addressing.
I'd argue you have the right and possibly even the responsibility of setting the tone for the films you show and that would necessarily involve letting people know that they're ruining the experience of those around them by laughing derisively at a film made in earnest. This problem is an epidemic in the rep house movie world. Every time the film begins, we're told to keep our cell phones silent and out of sight. Now, I've never had somebody's cellphone usage ruin a movie for me, but I've walked out of plenty of movies because the crowd couldn't engage with it in good faith. I think this is a problem worth addressing.