The Three Hikers

The Three Hikers is a documentary about the three Americans hikers, Joshua Fattal, Sarah Shourd and Shane Bauer (Sarah and Shane are a couple) who were arrested in Iran for entering illegally the country.

The documentary starts by giving us a brief introduction about three young Americans, which goes like this: Three good kids who are interested in international relations, travelling and helping through NGO, teaching or a more journalistic approach. 

They were travelling for a week-long holiday in « the other Iraq », in the Kurdistan part of the region, that shares a border with Iran. They decide to go hiking but somehow loose the hold of their trail. That is when they mistakenly enter the Iran territory and everything goes downhill from there as they get arrested and imprisoned.

The documentary approaches the subject in a very humanistic approach. We understand the horror of the situation through recollection of the pictures they took during their trip, they are happy, they are on holidays, having a good time, but in a fraction of time, they are put into tiny cells and taken hostage of a bigger political context.

We meet their family and live the entire process with them, from the shock of the news, but also, and that’s the most interesting part, their willingness to act, to help any ways they can. It is very interesting to see the transition from a regular family with regular jobs into spokespersons, organizing demonstrations in order to make the release of their kids/siblings, a national priority. Not to mention the inextricable complexity of the political situation, all ties between Iran and the United States having been cut since 1979.

Many questions arise: Who could be the most suited representative to negotiate their releases? Those interlocutors are, in fact, a mix of different representatives through time, the Swiss ambassador, The sultan of Oman mainly but also other supports from Muhammad Ali, Sean Penn or Ban Ki Moon.

The documentary depicts well the terribly slow passing of time in the cells, the boredom (especially for Sarah, being the only woman, that is alone in her cell while the two others are at least together). It depicts how such a situation changes all family dynamics because now their families in the US are revolving entirely around their kids arrest and how to organize better, how to make people and the media talk about it, how to be seen. The ones that are left are in prison too, a different one, yes, but a prison never the less. They are awaiting answers, awaiting letters form the hostages, their entire life has been taken over, their ties to each others are weakened, no more daily routine, it is about doing as much as possible, raising money to continue the mobilization, surviving on hope.

The mothers are allowed to go to Iran and meet their children, after months of anxiety and disruptive communication. We share their joy as they reunite and their suffering when it is time to say goodbye.

Sarah is the first one to be released, after 14 months in detention and very actively seeks the release of her friends. She becomes the most represented in the media and the new, unified, face of the campaign; she has the legitimacy of having been one of them. The different tactics used to continue a dialogue with Iran are well depicted in the movie.

 

The trials for the two remaining hostages in Iran starts and they are charged with espionage. Ironically this charge is reinforced after Shane admits he was covering American wrong doings in the Middle East.

Eventually after more than two years, hundreds of protests, media coverage, talk shows, marches, many negotiations, ups and downs, delayed information and over two years of imprisonment, Shane and Joshua are released to the Sultan Oman.

The documentary is very well done; the recollections of the visuals are impressive, even the reconstitutions that can sometimes appear cheap are done in a way that adds interesting visuals to voice-overs. The different relationships in terms of politics between the actors in this crisis are also well depicted.

A few critics (in my opinion) are: the emphasis on the emotional instead of the political. There were a lot of interviews and shots of the families going though anxiety /fear/ despair and some were not needed, it would have been interesting to have more insights into what it is like to suddenly become the face and spokesperson of an international complex situations, how do you start ? how do you prepare for interviews and the media madness ? Did they have to study the subject deeply to avoid any misconceptions that could hurt their case?

Some events were not explained well in terms of the underlying’s interests or politics. For example, why would Iran allow their « prisoners » to meet with their mothers (and in a hotel)? What is the underlying motive?

Another thing is the very happy ending; it would have been interesting to deal, even lightly, with the possible traumatisms and how prison affected their lives (especially in the case of Sarah that is release a year before the others and becomes a main figure of the campaign).

All in all, I would recommend this documentary, it is enjoyable, interesting and gives you some insights into complex international relations and diplomacy.

Note: These ratings and review are personal opinion of the author.

TRUE CRIME Festival At Film Forum, July 10 – August 5

Four-Week, 50-Film Festival At Film Forum, July 10 – August 5
***
Kicks Off With New 4K Restoration Of In Cold Blood
***
Series Includes Bonnie And Clyde, Badlands,10 Rillington Place, Rope, Lucky Luciano, Stavisky,Many Others
*** 

“TRUE CRIME,” a four-week, 50-film festival of movies based on real events, will run at Film Forum from Friday, July 10 through Wednesday, August 5.The festival includes movies by directors Alfred Hitchcock, Fritz Lang, Howard Hawks, Elia Kazan, Robert Wise, Nicholas Ray, Budd Boetticher, Phil Karlson, Richard Fleischer, Roger Corman, John Frankenheimer, Arthur Penn, Sidney Lumet, John Milius, Don Siegel, Francesco Rosi, Shôhei Imamura, Nagisa Ôshima, Brian De Palma, William Friedkin, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese, and Terrence Malick.

The festival kicks off July 10 & 11 (Friday & Saturday) with a stunning new 4K restoration of Richard Brooks’ In Cold Blood, starring Robert Blake and Scott Wilson as real-life killers Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, who in 1959 broke into the home of a prosperous Kansas farmer – ostensibly to commit burglary – but then systematically slaughtered the farmer and his family. Adapted from Truman Capote’s legendary “non-fiction novel,” In Cold Blood’s ruthlessly realistic treatment has arguably never been topped, with Conrad Hall’s b&w photography giving a near-documentary feel (the murders were shot in the actual rooms in which they took place) – and with even the intricate parallel editing of the multiple storylines reproducing the book’s pacing. See below for press screening date.

Other 4K restorations in the festival include Terrence Malick’s Badlands; Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway in the title roles; Richard Fleischer’s 10 Rillington Place, based on the case of British serial killer John Christie (played by Richard Attenborough); and two films by the late Italian director Francesco Rosi, both starring Gian Maria Volonté, The Mattei Affair and Lucky Luciano.

Additional highlights of the festival include: 

· Two versions of M, inspired by infamous Düsseldorf murderer Peter Kürten: Fritz Lang’s 1931 classic, starring Peter Lorre, and the rare 1951 remake by Joseph Losey, starring David Wayne.

· Silents based on true crimes: Hitchcock’s The Lodger, loosely based on the Jack the Ripper case, and Clarence Brown’s The Goose Woman, based on events tangential to the sensational Hall-Mills case of the 1920s. Both screenings feature live piano accompaniment by Steve Sterner.

· Early talkies: Howard Hawks’ Scarface, with Paul Muni as a gangster based on Al Capone, and Mervyn LeRoy’s hard-hitting I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, based on the memoir by Robert Elliott Burns (the publicity around the movie led to his re-incarceration).

· Explicit true crime: Nagisa Ôshima’s hardcore sadomasochistic dramaIn the Realm of the Senses, based on the Sada Abe case, Leonard Kastle’s The Honeymoon Killers, with Shirley Stoler and Tony Lo Bianco as the notorious “Lonely Hearts” murderers, and John McNaughton’s “profoundly disturbing” (Pauline Kael) Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which helped bring about the NC-17 rating. Henrydirector McNaughton will introduce the movie via Skype (see listing below) from his home in Chicago.

· Three films based on the Leopold and Loeb case of the 1920s: Alfred Hitchcock’s 1948 Rope; Richard Fleischer’s 1959 Compulsion, with Orson Welles as the defense attorney based on Clarence Darrow; and Tom Kalin’s moodily homoerotic 1992 take on the case, Swoon. Director Kalin will introduce one of the Film Forum screenings (see below).

· Iconic performances by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro: Pacino in Lumet’s Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon, and Mike Newell’s Donnie Brasco, and De Niro in Scorsese’s Casino and De Palma’s The Untouchables.

· Over ten double features (2-for-1 admission), including Hitchcock’sThe Wrong Man and Kazan’s Boomerang!; William Friedkin’s The French Connection and The Brink’s Job; John Milius’ Dillinger, starring Warren Oates in the title role, and Don Siegel’s Escape from Alcatraz; and more!

· True crime from around the world: Shôhei Imamura’s Vengeance is Mine; Bong Joon-Ho’s Memories of Murder, based on Korea’s first serial killer case; Tadashi Imai’s Darkness at Noon; Alain Resnais’Stavisky, with Jean-Paul Belmondo as the 1930s swindler; Giuliano Montaldo’s Sacco and Vanzetti, based on the 1926 case of the two Italian immigrants accused of a lethal bombing in Braintree, Massachusetts; and Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures, with Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in their film debuts, as two matricidal friends.

· AND MANY MORE! See below for complete list of films in schedule format.

TRUE CRIME was programmed by Bruce Goldstein, Film Forum’s Director of Repertory Programming.

 

Public Screening Schedule


JULY 10/11 FRI/SAT 
IN COLD BLOOD (1967, Richard Brooks) 4K DCP 
Robert Blake, Scott Wilson
12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

JULY 12 SUN (Separate Admission)
THE LODGER (1927, Alfred Hitchcock) DCP
12:30 ONLY
*Live piano accompaniment by Steve Sterner

M (1931, Fritz Lang) 4K DCP
Peter Lorre
2:20, 6:20

M (1951, Joseph Losey) 35mm 
David Wayne
4:30, 8:30

JULY 13 MON (Double Feature)
HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948, Alfred Werker & Anthony Mann) 35mm
Richard Basehart
12:30, 4:10, 7:50
 
THE PHENIX CITY STORY (1955, Phil Karlson) 35mm
Richard Kiley
2:10, 5:50, 9:30

JULY 14 TUE (Double Feature)
THE WRONG MAN (1956, Alfred Hitchcock) 35mm
Henry Fonda, Vera Miles
12:30, 4:25, 8:20

BOOMERANG! (1947, Elia Kazan) DCP
Dana Andrews
2:35, 6:30, 10:25

JULY 15 WED (Double Feature)
THE ST. VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE (1967, Roger Corman) 35mm
Jason Robards, George Segal, Jack Nicholson
1:10, 5:10, 9:10

THE RISE AND FALL OF LEGS DIAMOND (1960, Budd Boetticher) 35mm
Ray Danton
3:10, 7:10

JULY 16 THU (Separate Admission)
VENGEANCE IS MINE (1979, Shôhei Imamura) 35mm
Ken Ogata, Rentarô Mikuni, Mayumi Ogawa
12:50, 3:30, 7:00

IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES (1976, Nagisa Ôshima) 35mm
Tatsuya Fuji, Eiko Matsuda
9:50 ONLY

JULY 17 FRI (Separate Admission)
BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967, Arthur Penn) 4K DCP
Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway
12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 7:00

HEAVENLY CREATURES (1994, Peter Jackson) 35mm
Kate Winslet, Melanie Lynskey
9:30 ONLY

JULY 18 SAT (Separate Admission)
BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967, Arthur Penn) 4K DCP
Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway
12:30, 2:40, 7:20, 9:40

MEMORIES OF MURDER (2003, Bong Joon-Ho) 35mm
Song Kang-Ho
4:50

JULY 19 SUN (Separate Admission)
DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975, Sidney Lumet) 35mm
Al Pacino
12:30, 5:25, 8:00

DONNIE BRASCO (1997, Mike Newell) 35mm
Al Pacino,  Johnny Depp
2:55 ONLY

JULY 20 MON (Double Feature)
I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (1932, Mervyn LeRoy) 35mm
Paul Muni
12:30, 4:10, 7:50

SCARFACE (1932, Howard Hawks) DCP
Paul Muni, George Raft, Ann Dvorak
2:20, 6:00, 9:40

JULY 21 TUE (Double Feature)
THE TRUE STORY OF JESSE JAMES (1957, Nicholas Ray) 35mm
Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter
12:30, 4:20, 8:10

NED KELLY (1970, Tony Richardson) 35mm
Mick Jagger
2:20, 6:10, 10:00

JULY 22 WED (Double Feature)
THE BODY SNATCHER (1945, Robert Wise) 35mm
Henry Daniell, Boris Karloff
12:30, 4:25, 8:20

I WANT TO LIVE (1958, Robert Wise) 35mm
Susan Hayward
2:05, 6:00

M (1931, Fritz Lang) DCP
Peter Lorre
10:00

JULY 23 THU (Double Feature)
DILLINGER (1973, John Milius) 35mm
Warren Oates, Ben Johnson
12:30, 4:55, 9:20
 
ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (1979, Don Siegel) 35mm
Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan
2:40, 7:05
 
JULY 24 FRI (Double Feature)
10 RILLINGTON PLACE (1971, Richard Fleischer) 4K DCP
John Hurt, Judy Geeson, Richard Attenborough
12:50, 5:15, 9:40
 
THE BOSTON STRANGLER (1968, Richard Fleischer) DCP
Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis, George Kennedy
3:00, 7:25
 
JULY 25 SAT (Separate Admission)
THE MATTEI AFFAIR (1972, Francesco Rosi) 4K DCP
Gian Maria Volonté
DCP courtesy of The Film Foundation
12:30
 
BADLANDS (1973, Terrence Malick) 4K DCP
Sissy Spacek, Martin Sheen
2:45, 7:20, 9:30
 
MEMORIES OF MURDER (2003, Bong Joon-Ho) 35mm
Song Kang-Ho
4:40
 
JULY 26 SUN (Separate Admission)
BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (1962, John Frankenheimer) 35mm
Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Robert Stroud
12:30
 
SERPICO (1973, Sidney Lumet) 35mm
Al Pacino
3:20, 5:50, 8:20
 
JULY 27 MON (Separate Admission)
BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (1962, John Frankenheimer) 35mm
Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Robert Stroud
12:30

DARKNESS AT NOON (1956, Tadashi Imai) 35mm
3:30, 8:10
 
THE GOOSE WOMAN (1925, Clarence Brown) 35mm
Louise Dresser, Jack Pickford
6:30 ONLY
*Live piano accompaniment by Steve Sterner
 
JULY 28 TUE (Separate Admission)
LUCKY LUCIANO (1973, Francesco Rosi) 4K DCP
Gian Maria Volonté, Rod Steiger, Vincent Gardenia
DCP courtesy of The Film Foundation
12:30, 4:55, 7:00
 
THE MATTEI AFFAIR (1972, Francesco Rosi) 4K DCP
Gian Maria Volonté
DCP courtesy of The Film Foundation
2:40, 9:10
 
JULY 29 WED (Double Feature)
THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987, Brian De Palma) DCP
Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Sean Connery
12:40, 5:10, 9:40
 
SUGARLAND EXPRESS (1974, Steven Spielberg) DCP
Goldie Hawn, William Atherton
Spielberg’s feature debut
3:00, 7:30
 
JULY 30 THU (Separate Admission)
CASINO (1995, Martin Scorsese) DCP
Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone
12:50, 7:00
 
BADLANDS (1973, Terrence Malick) 4K DCP
Sissy Spacek, Martin Sheen
4:30
 
HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986, John McNaughton) 35mm
Michael Rooker
10:15 ONLY
*Introduced via skype by director John McNaughton, moderated by writer/journalist Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan.
 
JULY 31 FRI (Double Feature)
THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971, William Friedkin) DCP
Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey
2:45, 7:00
 
THE BRINK’S JOB (1978, William Friedkin) DCP
Peter Falk, Allen Garfield, Peter Boyle, Warren Oates, Paul Sorvino
12:40, 4:50, 9:10
 
AUGUST 1 SAT (Separate Admission)
MONSIEUR VERDOUX (1947, Charles Chaplin) 35mm
Charles Chaplin, Martha Raye
12:30 ONLY
 
THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971, William Friedkin) DCP
Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey
3:00, 5:10, 7:15
 
THE HONEYMOON KILLERS (1970, Leonard Kastle) 35mm
Shirley Stoler, Tony Lo Bianco
9:30 ONLY
 
AUGUST 2 SUN (Separate Admission)
LUCKY LUCIANO (1973, Francesco Rosi) 4K DCP
Gian Maria Volonté, Rod Steiger, Vincent Gardenia, Charles Cioffi
DCP courtesy of The Film Foundation
12:30
 
SACCO AND VANZETTI (1971, Giuliano Montaldo) 35mm
Riccardo Cucciolla, Gian Maria Volonté
Music by Ennio Morricone.
2:35 ONLY
 
STAVISKY (1974, Alain Resnais) 35mm
Jean-Paul Belmondo, Charles Boyer, Gerard Depardieu
Music by Stephen Sondheim. 
5:10, 7:30, 9:50
 
AUGUST 3 MON (Double Feature)
COMPULSION (1959, Richard Fleischer) 35mm
Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman
12:40, 4:55, 9:10
 
THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING (1955, Richard Fleischer) 35mm
Joan Collins, Ray Milland, Farley Granger
Based on the Stanford White murder. 
2:45, 7:00
 
AUGUST 4 TUE (Double Feature)
REVERSAL OF FORTUNE (1990, Barbet Schroeder) 35mm
Glenn Close, Ron Silver, Jeremy Irons
12:30, 5:10, 9:50
 
THE KRAYS (1990, Peter Medak) 35mm
Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp
2:50, 7:30
 
AUGUST 5 WED (Double Feature)
ROPE (1948, Alfred Hitchcock) DCP
John Dall, Farley Granger, James Stewart
12:30, 4:00, 7:30
 
SWOON (1992, Tom Kalin) 35mm
2:10, 5:40, 9:10
*9:10 show introduced by director Tom Kalin. 

See Film Forum repertory calendar for more information on each film. (Repertory calendar programmed by Bruce Goldstein)

For more information, please visit www.filmforum.org

 

Rooftop Films Announces Free Events Summer 2015

Rooftop Films is happy to announce its complete list of free movies for the summer of 2015. This year Rooftop will help produce over 60 free outdoor screenings, many of which are new, independent films that will screen as part of the 19th annual Summer Series. Rooftop Films will also partner with various New York cultural institutions to screen new independent films along with classics and recent blockbuster hits.

Over in Manhattan, Rooftop Films will co-present three free screenings of new independent films on the Waterfront Plaza at Brookfield Place (formerly World Financial Center) with Arts Brookfield. The screenings will take place July 30th through August 1st, with live musical performances preceding each of the films. July 30th marks the return of Animation Block Party, a selection of the year’s best animated shorts. This will be followed on July 31st by a special screening of the environmental exposé Racing Extinction, directed by the Academy Award® -winning filmmakers of The Cove. Racing Extinction will be broadcast worldwide in 220 countries and territories on Discovery Channel later this year.

Rooftop is also happy to support Olga Bell’s Krai, and Roomful of Teeth’s Render and Ritornello, which are co-presented by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and New Amsterdam Presents as part of the River To River Festival. River To River is a public engagement initiative that inspires residents, workers, and visitors in Lower Manhattan, by connecting them to artists, new ideas and perspectives, and other art-lovers to demonstrate the role that artists play in creating vibrant, sustainable communities. To learn more about River To River and for a full calendar of events, visit RiverToRiverNYC.com

Rooftop has also selected two films for Outdoor Cinema at Socrates Sculpture Park, which returns to Long Island City this summer for an 18th consecutive summer of free screenings of films from around the world on Wednesday nights in July and August. This year, Rooftop has chosen Rooftop Alums Gaspard Kuentz & Cedric Dupire’s sensational Kings of the Wind and Electric Queens, in addition to a series of Swedish Short Films, courtesy of the Swedish Film Institute, as their contributions to the festival. Rooftop will also help produce the rest of the Film Forum curated series, which includes Don’t Look Back, Iron Crows, and Wadjda among other international triumphs. In addition to films, the Outdoor Cinema festival invites visitors to picnic on the grass, and see musical and dance performances.

As part of the Summer Series, Rooftop has teamed up with The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Forest City to bring outdoor movies to Summer@Metrotech in Downtown Brooklyn. These events include A Night with Khalik Allah, one of New York’s preeminent photographers and filmmakers, and a special screening of Bikes vs. Cars, which documents the transportation revolution.

Rooftop will also once again co-present Coney Island Flicks on the Beach in partnership with the Alliance for Coney Island and NYC & Company. Every Monday from July 6th to August 24th, a giant 40-foot inflatable screen will turn the beach at West 10th Street into an outdoor movie theater. This summer’s lineup includes a mix of modern, classic, and indie films, all for free, and starting at 7:30 pm.

Rooftop will also help Bronx Terminal Market host its 4th Annual Free Summer Film Series. Films include Home, The Lego Movie, and Big Hero 6. Each evening will begin with pre-film activities provided by Bronx Terminal Market retailers and local organizations such as Bronx Museum and CUNY Hostos.

This summer Rooftop will explore exciting new venues such as Elevated Acre, a full acre park three stories up between the two towers at 55 Water Street. As part of the Water Street Game On! Program, Rooftop will produce outdoor screenings of White Men Can’t Jump, The Karate Kid, and Rudy.

Rooftop Films will also present free outdoor events at the Ridge Hill Mall in Yonkers, including screenings of recent Academy Award® nominees Birdman and Whiplash. The screenings at Ridge Hill are presented in partnership with Forest City.

In addition to those listed above, Rooftop has also helped to program and present LOFT’s “LOL Movie Series” which will feature free screenings of Frances Ha, and Bridesmaids at Solar One in Kips Bay, as well as three free screenings on the roof of the Whole Foods in Lincoln Park, Chicago.

ROOFTOP FILMS 2015 FREE SUMMER PROGRAM:

THE ROOFTOP FILMS 2015 SUMMER SERIES

Various Locations

June 22

Industry City, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

FRESH DRESSED (Sacha Jenkins)

Special FREE screening courtesy of Vimeo. Fresh Dressed is a fascinating chronicle of hip-hop, urban fashion, and the hustle that brought oversized pants and graffiti-drenched jackets from Orchard Street to high fashion's catwalks and Middle America shopping malls. Director Sacha Jenkins' music-drenched history draws from a rich mix of archival materials and in-depth interviews with rappers, designers, and other industry insiders. Featuring Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Nas, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, Damon Dash, André Leon Talley, A$AP Rocky, Marc Ecko, Big Daddy Kane, Kid ‘N Play & many others. Fresh Dressed will be released on Vimeo on Demand on June 26th

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/fresh-dressed/

June 23

Liberty Plaza, Manhattan

RIVER TO RIVER PRESENTS: OLGA BELL’S KRAI

Krai (край) is the Russian word for edge, limit, frontier or hinterland. Present‐day Russia is divided into a myriad of ‘federal subjects’, including nine krais. Olga Bell’s Krai is an audio‐visual performance concerned with the rest of the map: the wilderness, the towns, the inhabitants and their stories.The setting for Krai is Pier 15, where a video installation showing landscapes of rural Russia provides a dreamlike backdrop for this performance. Using text that is a mix of traditional, liturgical and original poetry that Olga created with her mother, a former Radio Moscow broadcaster, Krai will feature Olga along with a small chorus will sing entirely in Russian of Cossack fables, Orthodox chants and politically charged limericks—all set to an astounding score, creating a dizzying mosaic of avant‐garde and vernacular soundscapes. River to River Festival includes 60 free dance, music, visual art events in Lower Manhattan and on Governors Island

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/river-to-river-presents-krai/

June 24

Liberty Plaza, Manhattan

RIVER TO RIVER PRESENTS: RENDER AND RITORNELLO

Roomful of Teeth is a Grammy-award winning vocal project founded by Brad Wells and dedicated to mining the expressive potential of the human voice. Drawing from their studies with masters of non-classical traditions from around the world, the eight-person ensemble is continually growing its vocabulary of singing techniques, which include Tuvan throat singing, yodeling, belting, Inuit throat singing, Korean P’ansori, Georgian singing, Sardinian cantu a tenore, Hindustani music, and Persian classical singing. Roomful of Teeth’s mesmerizing songs are guaranteed to capture your attention and show you the infinite possibilities of what the human voice can do through singing styles from around the world. River To River Festival includes 60 free dance, music, visual art events in Lower Manhattan and on Governors Island

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/river-to-river-presents-render-and-ritornello/

July 17

Metrotech Commons, Downtown Brooklyn

A NIGHT WITH KHALIK ALLAH

Join one of NYC’s preeminent urban photographers/filmmakers for a night of unforgettable imagery.

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/a-night-with-khalik-allah/

July 29

Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City

KINGS OF THE WIND AND ELECTRIC QUEENS (Gaspard Kuentz & Cedric Dupire)

A compelling and hypnotic glimpse into one of India’s wildest carnivals. Courtesy of UniFrance.

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/kings-of-the-wind-and-electric-queens/

July 30

Waterfront Plaza at Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey Street, Financial District

ANIMATION BLOCK PARTY (SHORT FILMS)

Experience some of the year's best animated shorts at the incomparable Animation Block Party!

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/animation-block-party-short-films-2/

July 31

Waterfront Plaza at Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey Street, Financial District

RACING EXTINCTION (Louie Psihoyos)

Filmmakers of The Cove bring you the latest environmental exposé

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/racing-extinction/

August 1

Waterfront Plaza at Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey Street, Financial District

TBA

August 5

Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City

COLD CONFLICTS: SWEDISH SHORT FILMS

A selection of Swedish short films about confrontations and disagreements. Part of Rooftop Films’ Swedish Summer Focus.

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/swedish-short-films/

August 6

Metrotech Commons, Downtown Brooklyn

BIKES VS. CARS (Fredrik Gertten)

The bicycle, an amazing tool for change. Activists and cities all over the world are moving towards a new system. But will the economic powers allow it? Bikes vs Cars, a new film project from BANANAS!* and Big Boys Gone Bananas!* director Fredrik Gertten, looks into and investigates the daily global drama in traffic around the world. Part of Rooftop Films’ Swedish Summer Focus.

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/bikes-vs-cars/

LOL MOVIE SERIES (NEW YORK)

Solar One, Manhattan. Loft and Rooftop Films present three classic comedies, FREE, along the river at East 23rd Street.

More Info: http://loft.com/summermovies 

June 25

LOFT AND ROOFTOP FILMS PRESENT: FRANCES HA (Noah Baumbach)

Noah Baumbach's brilliant comedy Frances Ha, FREE, outdoors at Solar One.

June 30

LOFT AND ROOFTOP FILMS PRESENT: BRIDESMAIDS (Paul Feig)

The instant-classic comedy, Bridesmaids, FREE, outdoors at Solar One

LOL MOVIE SERIES (CHICAGO)

Loft’s LOL Movie Series continues in Chicago with three free screenings on the roof of Whole Foods Market Lincoln Park, Chicago.

More Info: http://loft.com/summermovies

July 8

LOFT AND ROOFTOP FILMS PRESENT: BRIDESMAIDS (Paul Feig)

The instant-classic comedy, Bridesmaids, FREE, on the roof of Whole Foods Market in Chicago, as part of Loft's LOL Movie Series.

July 15

LOFT AND ROOFTOP FILMS PRESENT: GHOST WORLD (Terry Zwigoff)

The 90’s indie hit, starring Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson on the roof of Whole Foods Market Lincoln Park, in Chicago, as part of Loft's LOL Movie Series.

July 22

LOFT AND ROOFTOP FILMS PRESENT: WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (Rob Reiner)

The classic 80’s rom com, When Harry Met Sally, FREE, outdoors on the roof of Whole Foods Market Lincoln Park, in Chicago, as part of Loft's LOL Movie Series.

OUTDOOR CINEMA

Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City

July 1

DON’T LOOK BACK (D.A. Pennebaker)

Arguably the greatest music documentary ever. Bob Dylan’s 1965 British tour, intimately recorded by legendary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker, reveals the genius/enfant terrible at the height of his growling ‘60s counter-culture persona.

More Info: http://socratessculpturepark.org/program/dontlookback/

July 8

LIVE IN MAID (Jorge Gaggero)

A wonderful comedy of class consciousness and codependency that easily and subtly crosses cultural boundaries.

More Info: http://socratessculpturepark.org/program/live-inmaid/

July 15

GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC LIFE (Joann Sfar)

The life and loves of French pop star Serge Gainsbourg are reimagined by comic book artist Joann Sfar.

More Info: http://socratessculpturepark.org/program/gainsbourg-2/

July 22

IRON CROWS (Bong-Nam Park)

Remarkably beautiful cinematography affords indelible insights into how some of the most exploited people on earth retain their courage, decency and fortitude.

More Info: http://socratessculpturepark.org/program/ironcrows/

July 29

Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City

KINGS OF THE WIND AND ELECTRIC QUEENS (Gaspard Kuentz & Cedric Dupire)

A compelling and hypnotic glimpse into one of India’s wildest carnivals. Courtesy of UniFrance.

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/kings-of-the-wind-and-electric-queens/ 

August 5

Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City

SWEDISH SHORT FILMS

A selection of Swedish short films about confrontations and disagreements.

More Info: http://rooftopfilms.com/2015/schedule/swedish-short-films/

August 12

WADJDA (Haifaa al-Monsour)

The charming, poignant story of a 10-year-old girl who longs for a bicycle so she can race her best friend (a boy) and attain some measure of independence in a society whose restrictions on women begin early.

More Info: http://socratessculpturepark.org/program/wadjda/

August 19

ALICE (Jan Svankmajer)

A live-action Alice encounters both animated animals and objects on her trip down the existential rabbit hole.

More Info: http://socratessculpturepark.org/program/alice/

CONEY ISLAND FLICKS ON THE BEACH

On Mondays during July and August, a giant 40-foot inflatable screen turns the beach at West 10th Street into an outdoor movie theater! Come on down and see great flicks, representing a mix of modern, classic, and indie movies. Get ready for a great lineup for the fifth annual Coney Island Flicks on the Beach presented by Alliance for Coney Island, Rooftop Films and NYC & Company!

More info: http://www.coneyislandfunguide.com/Attraction/Coney-Island-Flicks-on-the-Beach.htm

July 6

THE TERMINATOR (James Cameron, 1984)

July 13

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (Wes Anderson)

July 20

THE GOONIES (Richard Donner)

July 27

INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (Steven Spielberg)

August 3

BIG HERO 6 (Don Hall, Chris Williams)

August 10

MRS. DOUBTFIRE (Chris Columbus)

August 17

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (James Gunn)

August 24

TBA

RIDGE HILL

Rooftop Films and Forest City present five screenings FREE screenings at Ridge Hill in Yonkers.

More info: http://www.westchestersridgehill.com/eventscalendar

July 13

PADDINGTON (Paul King)

July 27

BIG HERO 6 (Don Hall, Chris Williams)

August 10

MALEFICENT (Robert Stromberg)

August 19

BIRDMAN (Alejandro González Iñárritu)

August 27

WHIPLASH (Damian Chazelle)

GAME ON! AT ELEVATED ACRE

More Info: http://gameon.downtownny.com/

July 8

WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP (Ron Shelton)

August 12

KARATE KID (John G. Avildsen)

September 9

RUDY (David Anspaugh)

BRONX TERMINAL MARKET

Rooftop Films co-presents three FREE screenings of family-friendly movies on the big, beautiful Roof of the Bronx Terminal Market. More info at http://bronxterminalmarket.com/pages/events.aspx

June 30

HOME (Tim Johnson)

July 14

THE LEGO MOVIE (Christopher Miller, Phil Lord)

August 11

BIG HERO 6 (Don Hall, Chris Williams)

For more information and updates please visit their website at www.rooftopfilms.com

Rose McGowan's Directorial Debut DAWN - Available for FREE Now!

ROSE MCGOWAN'S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

DAWN

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON ROSE MCGOWAN'S OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CLICK HERE

FREE OF CHARGE

FEEL FREE TO WATCH AND EMBED FILM

**Sundance Film Festival: Official Selection** 

"The creepy directorial debut of actress Rose McGowan...lurches from bubblegum to menace"

- Stephen Holden, THE NEW YORK TIMES 

"Provocative...slowly seductive" 

- Betsy Sharkey, LOS ANGELES TIMES

"Positions McGowan as an earthmover behind the camera"

- Matthew Bedard, FLAUNT

"A strong debut; a subversive bit of old-fashioned, pop-melodrama with a scary undercurrent"

- Austin Trunick, UNDER THE RADAR

"The film left me literally breathless"

- Liz Whittemore, CINEMIT

"Tense and dark"

- Rob Feld, THE HUFFINGTON POST

Realizing that her passion lies in film-making, Rose McGowan's breakthrough directorial debut, DAWN, is a disturbing tale of a young girl's budding sexuality and one's desire to experience the unknown.  Dawn (Tara Barr) is a quiet young teenager living in Kennedy era America who longs for something or someone to free her from her sheltered life. When she strikes up an innocent flirtation with the boy who works at her local gas station (Reiley McClendon), she thinks that he is perhaps the answer to her teenage dreams. Though when she invites the boy and his friends into her otherwise cloistered world, she gets a lot more than she bargained for.
TRAILER HERE 

Directed by: Rose McGowan

Written by: M.A. Fortin, Joshua John Miller

Cast: Tara, Barr, Reiley McClendon, Hannah Marks, Michael Moskewicz, Julia Sanford, John Grady

TRT: 17 Minutes 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON ROSE MCGOWAN'S OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CLICK HERE

FREE OF CHARGE