Sizzling Screens: Rooftop Films

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Parent Category: Film Festivals
Category: Previews
Published on Wednesday, 01 June 2011 05:00
Written by L E Shannon

Rooftop Films is presenting its 15th Annual Summer Series every weekend from May 13rtf-PosterB through August 20, 2011 on the roof of the New Design High School in the Lower East Side, with further screenings throughout the city.

In conjunction with IFC and New York Magazine, over 50 shows are planned, including:

Rooftop Films has continued to experience remarkable growth since their initial single screening on the roof of founder Mark Elijah Rosenberg's tenement building in rtf-FakeIt1997.

But their focus remains on bringing out big crowds to shine a spotlight on new independent films that might otherwise never get the attention they deserve.

"15 years ago, screening films only available on 16mm prints, the problem was accessibility," says Rosenberg, Rooftop's Artistic Director. "Today, technology has made production and distribution available for thousands of films; the problem is getting people to watch them. Rooftop's model builds a community around the world's best independent films."

As innovators, Rooftop Films has helped enable the success of many alumni, including the films Wasteland, Trouble the Water, Holy Rollers, Winnebago Man, among others.

In addition, through their Rooftop Filmmakers' Fund, they are helping more powerful, understated films not only be seen, but made -- films such as Rooftop Filmmakers' Fund Grantee Martha Marcy May Marlene, which went on to win Sean Durkin a Best Director award at Sundance and a distribution deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures.

However, the popularity and longevity of Rooftop Films comes primarily from the fact that their events take audiences beyond the average multi-plex moviegoing experience.

Rooftop Program Director Dan Nuxoll adds, "Outdoor film screenings are always special, but we strive to go one step further, to create unforgettable and meaningful events.rtf-Convento

We are really excited to continue that tradition in 2011 with some really remarkable shows, especially our screening of Robert Greene's Fake It So Real, about a ragtag group of semi-professional wrestlers from North Carolina....

We'll also be screening Jarred Alterman's documentary Convento, about the Dutch kinetic artist, Christiaan Zwankikken, who makes amazing robots out of local dead wildlife. But instead of just showing the film, we will also fly in Christiaan and have him create an installation of his robots onsite."

Additional 2011 Summer Series Short Film Programs include:

New York Non-Fiction – Scratches, beats, and elegies from the city of cities.

Clermont Ferrand – Rooftop works with the world's premier short film festival to bring a stunning selection of short gems from across the globe.

Animation Block Party – NYC-based Animation Block Party is dedicated to exhibiting the world's best independent, professional and student animation.

Kill Screen Video Game Night – Rooftop partners with the avant gartf-Orbitrde video game magazine Kill Screen to bring you an evening of short films that ask the question, "What does it mean to play games?"

Orbit (NY Premiere) – A collaborative, feature-length omnibus movie about our solar system where every planet is represented by a short film. Co-produced by Rooftop Films and Cinemad. 

Rural Route – A program of film offering city dwellers a glimpse of the rural life, where the grass is indeed greener. This program will be fittingly screened on a brand new Rooftop Venue: The Brooklyn Grange, an organic rooftop farm in Long Island City, Queens.

Industriance – Razor sharp short films about the changing industrial and agricultural landscape in urban and rural America and beyond.

Rooftop Shots – The official Closing Night of Rooftop Films 2011 Summer Series includes short films all about endings. "Films so sharp we call them shots, fired from the roof one last time this year."

Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and inspire the diverse communities of New York City by showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers and musicians.

For more information, visit www.rooftopfilms.com.

Rooftop Films Summer Series
Through August 20
718-417-7362

Fake it So Real
Crown Vic
(Outdoors in the back yard)
60 South 2nd St, Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Convento
Orbit (omnibus film)
The Old American Can Factory
Gowanus/Slope
232 Third St. at 3rd Ave. 
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Sound of Noise
Solar One, on the pier
2420 FDR Drive, Service Road
Kips Bay, New York City

Plus various locations around Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx