Here’s one way to distinguish your film festival from all the other film festivals: take it outside.
Rooftop Films, which announced its 14th annual summer series on Thursday, aims to “bring the underground outdoors,” so its more than three dozen different film programs place shorts and features in unlikely environments around New York City. For instance:
The Oscar-winning short “Logorama” on the roof of a lower east side high school.
A comedy about a film student at loose ends in a lot across the street from the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
A group of shorts on the lawn of a Brooklyn automotive school.
A satirical drama from Israel on a Manhattan pier.
The recent, acclaimed short “Plastic Bag” atop a Brooklyn can factory.
Swedish films inside a sculpture garden in Queens.
In all, Rooftop Films will screen 38 different weekend programs of features and shorts, beginning on May 14 and officially ending on August 20, though additional special screenings will continue into September.
The lineup, which focuses on experimental and independent cinema, includes features about drug-smuggling Hasidic Jews, Filipino teen gangs and love triangles; documentaries about a dying circus in Mexico, avant-garde music in Japan and a working-class community in upstate New York; and short films by everyone from Spike Jonze to “an actual filmmaking monkey.”
Live performances include “Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then,” a film from musician/filmmaker Brent Green, which will include live musical accompaniment by a band that includes members of the legendary punk band Fugazi.
Tickets are $10, which is on the cheap side as film festivals go. Most will be preceded by live music, and followed by filmmaker Q&As and post-screening parties with complimentary drinks.
And yes, they promise that each venue will have an indoor alternative in case of rain.
The Rooftop Films website has the details.
The complete lineup, from the Rooftop press release:
Friday, May 14
THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN BY SHORT FILMS
Opening Night of Rooftop Films 14th Annual Summer Series features grand stories in little packages.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, May 15
HOLY ROLLERS
Special sneak preview. An intense drama set in late-90s NYC about Hasidic Jews who get caught up in a drug
smuggling ring. The feature debut from director Kevin Asch is based on a true story and stars Jesse
Eisenberg, Justin Bartha and Q-Tip.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Friday, May 21
HOPELESSLY DEVOTED (short films)
Romantic short films about the sacrifices and struggles we all endure for love. The program includes dazzling
animation, hilarious comedy, touching documentary and a spectacular new short by Spike Jonze.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, May 22
ENGKWENTRO
US Premiere. On the mean streets of the Philippines, teen gangs run wild trying to survive with the specter of
government death squads chasing them. The masterful debut feature from 22-year-old Pepe Dionko has won
awards at worldwide festivals.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Thursday, May 27
ETIENNE
NY Premiere. A quirky slacker road movie comedy about a man and his hamster.
Venue: On the roof of Brooklyn Tech High School (29 Ft. Greene Pl., Ft. Greene, Brooklyn)
Friday, May 28
DARK ‘TOONS (short films)
Animation that shines a light on the darkest parts of our souls.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, May 29
HOME MOVIES (short films)
Intimate and (mostly) true stories explore the little random moments that make up a recorded life.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Thursday, June 3
FULL FRAME DOCUMENTARY (short films)
One of the world’s leading documentary festivals presents short films from this year’s edition, including
Cambodian karaoke with a social message, Taiwanese mountain watchers, and the search for an elusive
photograph of Jesus.
Venue: On the roof of Brooklyn Tech High School (29 Ft. Greene Pl., Ft. Greene, Brooklyn)
Friday, June 4
DANGEROUS DOCS (short films)
Even in a cultural landscape dominated by Hollywood action blockbusters, semi-scripted "reality TV" and
carefully-crafted stage personalities, sometimes the most insane adventures and outlandish characters are
actually real.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, June 5
FEARS AND FANTASIES (short films)
A fun, frantic program of films about losing your grip on reality . . . and loving it.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Friday, June 11
BIKER FOX
NY Premiere. A documentary about Tulsa’s best-known bicycle-riding, raccoon-feeding, scrapyard-dealing,
screaming, ranting philosopher of life.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, June 12
THE MAN NEXT DOOR
NY Sneak Preview. A smug designer in a one-of-a-kind Le Corbusier home has to deal with his crass
neighbor’s new construction project in this dark comedy about architecture, class, and urban living.
Venue: On the roof of El Museo del Barrio (1230 Fifth Ave., East Harlem, Manhattan)
Sunday, June 13
TINY FURNITURE
22-year-old Aura returns home to her artist mother’s TriBeCa loft with the following: a useless film theory
degree, 357 hits on her Youtube page, a boyfriend who’s left her to find himself at Burning Man, a dying
hamster, and her tail between her legs. Presented in partnership with BAM CinemaFest.
Venue: In the lot across from BAM (Fulton & Ashland, Ft. Greene, Brooklyn)
* In the event of rain, this event will be held on Thursday, June 17.
Friday, June 18
NEW YORK NON-FICTION (short films)
Unexpected history lessons about the birth of our nation, the end of an artistic era, and the complex
commotion of contemporary NYC. It’s your city. Take a look.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, June 19
LOVERS OF HATE
In this savage comedy about deceit and sibling rivalry, two estranged brothers, Rudy and Paul, have nothing in
common but their love for the same woman. In the shadows of a posh chalet, Rudy tries desperately to
sabotage the relationship in director Bryan Poyser’s brilliantly executed game of cat and mouse.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Sunday, June 20
SWEET MUD
A satirical drama about a young man and his mentally-troubled mother, living on a kibbutz in 1974. Winner of
the award for Best World Drama at the Sundance film festival. A special presentation with the Consulate
General of Israel Cultural Affairs Office.
Venue: On the pier at Solar One (23rd St. & East River, Kips Bay, Manhattan)
Thursday, June 24
THE RURAL LIFE AND SPIRIT (short films)
An adorable yodeling animal animation, a legendary buck-dancer documentary, a splendid story of spirits in
the tropics, plus more magnificent movies from pastoral places.
Venue: On the lawn of Automotive High School (50 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Friday, June 25
THE HAPPY POET
NY Premiere. Rooftop alum Paul Gordon returns as Bill, an out-of-work poet, who puts his heart, soul, and last
few dollars into starting an all-organic mostly-vegetarian food stand, but complications with the business
jeopardize his dreams for a hot dog-free future.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, June 26
GRAVITY WAS EVERYWHERE BACK THEN
When Leonard’s wife Mary was diagnosed with cancer, he thought he could build their house into a healing
machine. It didn’t work. But he kept building. The magnificent debut feature from Rooftop alum
musician/animator/artist Brent Green will be performed with a live soundtrack, featuring members of punk idols
Fugazi.
Venue: On the roof of Open Road at New Design High School (350 Grand St., Lower East Side, Manhattan)
* In the event of rain, this show will be held on the following day, June 27.
Friday, July 2
INDUSTRIANCE (short films)
In this striking program of short films, self-constructing buildings battle for fidelity, makers of mold-o-form
plastic deer muddle their love, and Werner Herzog plays a discarded plastic bag desperately seeking the
meaning of existence.
Venue: On the roof of The Old American Can Factory (232 Third St., Gowanus, Brooklyn)
Thursday, July 8
NYARMA & POLAR EXPLORER
NY Premiere. Two films from the cold edges of the vast Russian frontier, from the hardscrabble life of nomadic
reindeer herders to the dangerous life of arctic bear researchers.
Venue: On the roof of Brooklyn Tech High School (29 Ft. Greene Pl., Ft. Greene, Brooklyn)
Friday, July 9
KICKSTARTER
A Selection of film, video and art projects supported on the new crowd-source funding website kickstarter.com,
fitting for Rooftop’s community-minded approach.
Venue: On the roof of The Old American Can Factory (232 Third St., Gowanus, Brooklyn)
Saturday, July 10
THE TIGHTROPE
US Premiere. A lyrical documentary about small town Mexican circus, balancing precariously on the brink of
disappearance.
Venue: On the roof of El Museo del Barrio (1230 Fifth Ave., East Harlem, Manhattan)
Friday, July 16
WE DON’T CARE ABOUT MUSIC ANYWAY
NY Premiere. In this stunning and engaging documentary about the avant-garde music scene in Japan
everyday objects are transformed into musical instruments and radical noise art is grounded in a poetic reality.
Presented in partnership with Issue Project Room.
Venue: On the roof of The Old American Can Factory (232 Third St., Gowanus, Brooklyn)
Saturday, July 17
BROOKLYN TRANSFORMATIONS (short films)
Local filmmakers deal with stolen dogs, dying industries, gentrification and immigration, in fiction and
documentaries with that particular Brooklyn flair, featuring sensitive tough guys and boldly smart girls.
Presented in partnership with the Brooklyn Arts Council and CM Letitia James.
Venue: On the lawn in Fort Greene Park (South Oxford & Myrtle, Ft. Greene, Brooklyn)
Wednesday, July 21
SWEDISH CINEMA (short films)
Rooftop kicks off a weekend-long partnership with the Swedish Film Institute with a program of short films that
represent the dynamic diversity of emerging talent in Sweden, including an Academy-Award nominated
comedy.
Venue: On the lawn of Socrates Sculpture Park (3134 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City, Queens)
Friday, July 23
THE APE
NY Premiere. Rooftop and the Swedish Film Institute partner on a weekend long celebration of Swedish
Cinema, including this intense and intimate psychological thriller.
Venue: On the roof of Brooklyn Tech High School (29 Ft. Greene Pl., Ft. Greene, Brooklyn)
Saturday, July 24
GREETINGS FROM THE WOODS
NY Premiere. Rooftop and the Swedish Film Institute partner on a weekend long celebration of Swedish
Cinema, including this wondrous documentary exploration of the strangeness of everyday suburban society.
Venue: On the roof of The Old American Can Factory (232 Third St., Gowanus, Brooklyn)
Thursday, July 29
CAPUCINE: FILMMAKING MONKEYS & OTHER RENEGADES (short films)
Crazy characters who make their own rules, as cake-addicted cranks, Rambo-revering detectives, and an
actual filmmaking monkey. Plus a live performance by fabulist Luis Nieto.
Venue: On the roof of Brooklyn Tech High School (29 Ft. Greene Pl., Ft. Greene, Brooklyn)
Friday, July 30
ANIMATION BLOCK PARTY (short films)
Some call it punk rock, some call it grass roots, but labels aside, NYC-based Animation Block is dedicated to
exhibiting the world’s best independent, professional and student animation.
Venue: On the lawn of Automotive High School (50 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Saturday, July 31
DISCO AND ATOMIC WAR
NY Premiere. This quirky documentary hybrid about Estonia and Finland in the early 80s covers an
unexpected information war, where a totalitarian regime stands face to face with the heroes of popular
culture…and loses.
Venue: On the roof of The Old American Can Factory (232 Third St., Gowanus, Brooklyn)
Friday, August 6
DOOMED LOVE AND THE DEVILLES (short films)
Spectacularly failing romances, including an alcoholic comedy, some stunning facts about the sexuality of one
of the founding fathers, and a luscious documentary about a stripper / punk rocker husband and wife duo.
Venue: On the lawn of Automotive High School (50 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Friday, August 13
LAST TRAIN HOME
Every New Year, 130 million people leave China’s industrial cities to return to their rural homelands—the
largest human migration in history. This overwhelming yet intimate documentary follows one family through
their chaotic, desperate, agonizing journey. Presented in partnership with Hot Docs.
Venue: On the roof of The Old American Can Factory (232 Third St., Gowanus, Brooklyn)
Friday, August 20
ROOFTOP SHOTS (short films)
The official Closing Night of Rooftop Films 2010 Summer Series includes short films so sharp we call them
shots, fired from the roof on last time this year.
Venue: On the roof of The Old American Can Factory (232 Third St., Gowanus, Brooklyn)
TBD September
GAS LAND
When a natural gas mining company offered Josh Fox and his upstate New York neighbors $100,000 each for
the right to drill for gas on their land, Fox decided to examine the issue via a personal, revelatory journey
across America. Presented in partnership with The Fledgling Fund.
Venue: On the pier at Solar One (23rd St. & East River, Kips Bay, Manhattan)
TBA – August
SHORT FILMS
From the dawn of hip-hop in one of NYC hottest clubs to a contemporary jazz master gigging in the subways,
these films from the Bronx and other inner city areas highlight hard luck stories and local heroes. Presented in
partnership with City Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo.
Venue: TBA in the Bronx
TBD September
IFP LABS (trailers and scenes)
A sneak peek at trailers and scenes from narrative and documentary films from IFP’s 2010 Labs—next year’s
hot festival and indie releases.
Venue: TBA
TBD September
TWELVE WAYS TO SUNDAY
World Premiere. Amid a rural landscape and disappearing communities, the residents of Allegany County, NY
are living the working-class American story. This luscious and intimate cinematic portrait captures the
testimonies of life in these small towns.
Venue: TBA
