Tag: New York

Tribeca 2011 Daily Recap: April 28th

I’m willing to admit that today was a bit of a disappointment at the Tribeca Film Festival. I should have known something was up when it started pouring outside. The day started fine enough with a visit to the pressroom, where I happened to see Stephen Root. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to speak with him and that seems to be where things took a turn for the worse.

The first film I watched today was DETACHMENT, which stars Adrien Brody as a substitute teacher who is emotionally removed from the world, although he still wants to help seemingly every troubled young person he meets. If you think this sounds like a typical teacher reforms a class full of misfits flick, you are sorely mistaken. This film is absolutely bleak & would have left me quite depressed if I cared about the characters. I just couldn’t get into the film or the over-stylized experimental direction. Reactions were mixed with those I talked to after the screening and it seems like this is the sort of film people will either love or hate.

After grabbing a quick bite to eat with Alan LaFave (festival director for Hells Half Mile), we headed to our next screening. We opted to see HIGHER GROUND, by Vera Farmiga. This is another film that will likely divide audiences. I really enjoyed Joshua Leonard’s performance, as well as some of the more humorous moments, but overall this was just not a film for me. It offers brief satirical thoughts about religion but it is mostly an earnest look at someone struggling with faith over the course of her life. There is an absolutely huge audience out there for this film but I am not in it.

After the screening I made a final trip to the filmmaker lounge to check my email. Just one response to my many interview requests and it was a no because the talent had already left. With no more press screenings or any party invites, I headed home. I wouldn’t say it was a bad day, but it was definitely not what I expected.

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

Tribeca 2011 Daily Recap: April 27th

Because I was running late today, I unfortunately had to skip my customary breakfast ice cream. Instead today started right up with an early screening of GRAVE ENCOUNTERS by The Vicious Brothers. I was thoroughly surprised by this very fun flick. While I love the found footage genre, I much prefer TV shows like GHOST HUNTERS to found footage ghost (or demon) films like PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. While there really isn’t anything original in GRAVE ENCOUNTERS, the execution really makes it worthwhile.

Following the screening, I made my way to the Doha Film Institute Filmmaker Lounge for an interview with Rider and Shiloh Strong. I was really looking forward to the interview, not just because I grew up watching BOY MEETS WORLD religiously but also because I truly loved their short, THE DUNGEON MASTER. In fact, in the 30+ minutes that we spoke, we never talked about any of their previous work except for their first short film, IRISH TWINS. (We didn’t even talk CABIN FEVER despite it being one of my favorite horror films)

It was an honor getting to speak with the brothers Strong and I want to thank them for being so gracious with their time. They were also kind enough to sign some Tribeca Film festival programs for us to give away. I’ve already posted a contest for it HERE so be sure to check it out.

Since the interview lasted longer than I thought it would, which is always cool, I missed the press screening for THE GUARD. Ironically, after the interview I ended up having a nice conversation with THE SECURUTY GUARD of the filmmaker lounge. After that, I made my way to the SVA Theater for the Tribeca Talks panel, THE BUSINESS OF ENTERTAINMENT.

It was an interesting panel but I expected something quite different. It was billed in the guide as a panel with a “focus on financing films in the 21st century.” I expected them to talk about modern film funding techniques like crowdfunding and what low-budget filmmakers struggling to raise money should do. Instead they talked mostly about VOD, how easy it is to get distribution nowadays because of the digital revolution and how that’s making it easier to get funding as well. As a no-budget indie filmmaker, I can say neither of those statements are true for filmmakers at my level. If you would like to see the panel yourself, it is available in the online screening room.

After the panel, I spent a few minutes in the press lounge before finally heading home. I will work on getting some more reviews up tomorrow, as well as at least one of the interview videos. I will also be sending in some questions to Dick Maas, the writer/director of SAINT, so if there is anything you want me to ask him, let me know. You can read my review for SAINT right HERE.

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

Win a signed Tribeca program from Rider & Shiloh Strong!

If you have been following my coverage from the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, you already know that WAMG had a chance to sit down with Rider & Shiloh Strong to talk about their new film, THE DUNGEON MASTER. I absolutely loved this short and highly recommend you check it out.

To help promote the film, Rider & Shiloh have signed a few Tribeca Film Festival Official Guides for us to give away!

Want to win one plus a postcard for THE DUNGEON MASTER?

All you have to do is watch the film for free on the Tribeca Film Festival website and then come back here to let us know what you thought of it. Be sure to leave your comments on the TFF website as well.

Here’s a direct link to the DUNGEON MASTER screening room:

http://www.tribecafilm.com/tribecaonline/streaming-room/dungeon_master-film33955.html

The film is only available until the morning of May 1. We will choose a winner shortly after. Because the screening room is only available in the United States, this contest is only open to US residents. Sorry.

Keep checking back for the rest of our Tribeca 2011 coverage, including our interview with Rider & Shiloh Strong!

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

Tribeca 2011 Daily Recap: April 26th

For me, today’s experience at the Tribeca Film Festival was the definition of short but sweet. It opened once again with free Magnum ice cream for breakfast followed by a press screening of EVERYTHING MUST GO. The film brings us a more reserved Will Ferrell similar to what we saw in films like STRANGER THAN FICTION and he once again does a great job with that type of character. The film follows a man who lost his job only to come home and find out his wife is leaving him so he does what everyone would do in that situation, decides to live on his front lawn.

After the screening I found out that my first interview for the festival fell through, which was disappointing. However, the next email I read made me forget all about it. I got confirmation for an interview with Abigail Breslin and Alessandro Nivola for JANIE JONES, which I just reviewed yesterday. They were able to squeeze me in at the end of their press day, which I was very grateful for. It is funny how these things work out sometimes.

Since I had some time to kill before the interview, I grabbed a surprisingly cheap & delicious lunch at Dallas BBQ and then went back to the press lounge to work on my questions. The interview was set to take place right next door at the GEM Hotel. Since they had finished early, they said I could come up sooner so I got to listen to Abigail Breslin jam for a few minutes before the interview. That girl is insanely talented in everything she does. Alessando Nivola said that she is a machine and it’s true. They were both really cool to talk with and sadly our 10 minutes flew by. I will post the full interview tomorrow but for now here is a screen grab:

After that, I headed home. As I said, short but sweet.

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

Want to watch Tribeca 2011 films online for FREE?

Since Friday, I have been raving to people about RABIES (review here), which is my favorite film of the Tribeca Film Festival so far. I’ve also been telling everyone how it is available to watch for free as part of the festival’s online screening room. Pretty much no one knew what I was talking about. It occurred to me that I should write a post to explain a little bit about Tribeca’s online festival and how you can watch some great indie films for free.

By going to http://www.tribecafilm.com/tribecaonline you can get all the info. Basically you have to sign up for a free Tribeca film account and then reserve a virtual seat for one of the online screenings. Each of the films have set days when they are streaming and you should have 24 hours for each to check in and watch the film on those days.

There are 6 features and a bunch of shorts available, including a few award winning shorts from previous years. Also available as part of the online festival are streams from each red carpet and from the live Tribeca Talks panels, plus chats and interviews with some of the filmmakers.

There is a lot of great content on the site and you should check it out for yourself. To get you started, here are 5 recommendations on what to watch. Click on the title to be taken directly to that film’s virtual screening room.

RABIES – Feature

Israel’s first horror movie is one of the best horror films you will see in a while. It is a brilliant slasher film with the psycho killer removed from the equation.

THE DUNGEON MASTER – Short

A surprisingly dark but funny short about why it may not be a great idea to play Dungeons & Dragons when it has been a few years since your last roll. Written & Directed by Rider and Shiloh Strong.

MR. STACHE – Short

A whimsical tale of a man, his moustache and the girl of his dreams. Directed by Jac Schaeffer, who you may remember as the very talented writer/director of TiMER.

SOME BOYS DON’T LEAVE – Retrospective Short

Girl breaks up with Boy but Boy refuses to leave the apartment they once shared so she tries to ignore him while he lives in her hall. Expertly shot and yet another great performance from Jesse Eisenberg.

TRIBECA TALKS: AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE – Panel

A 90 minute discussion on how to use social media to build a web presence and engage with your audience.

BONUS FREE SCREENING INFO

In addition to the official online portion of the festival, several films from Tribeca are available at various VOD platforms. One of those platforms is Amazon.com and they are giving away free $6 in Tribeca credit in return for just one tweet. Go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000673791 for full details. None of the feature films available at Amazon are available for free on the Tribeca website so choose wisely or watch one for free and purchase the others. A few of the shorts are also available on Amazon for free, including MR. STACHE.

Most of this content is only available until the end of the festival so check it out now before it is too late. Hopefully this post makes you feel a little bit better about not being able to attend the festival in person. Enjoy!

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

Tribeca 2011 Review: JANIE JONES

Ethan Brand is a struggling rocker (Alessandro Nivola) who is forced to look after the daughter he’s never met before (Abigail Breslin) after her junkie mother abandons her at one of his concerts. The 13 year old happens to be a very talented musician on her own and a lot more mature than most girls her age. Ethan happens to be an unfriendly alcoholic whose life is all about music even though it can’t pay the bills. If you think you know what is going to happen next, you are probably right. While the story offers nothing new, JANIE JONES is still a well-made film that left me with a smile on my face at the end of the screening.

While the film is fairly straightforward, there are still a few ways it manages to take risks. For one thing, I was surprised that the film seems to be going for an R-rating when this type of film is typically a bit cleaner to reach a wider audience. I was also surprised by the character of Ethan Brand, who is the film’s real protagonist. I was surprised because he is such an asshole. He is not likeable at all nor does he start off with any redeeming characteristics. As the late great Blake Snyder would say, he does not “save the cat.”

If you are unaware of Snyder, he was a screenwriter who suggested the main character must do something early in the film to get the audience on board with him, such as saving a cat. When it comes time for him to “save the cat” by looking after Janie when she is abandoned, he is reluctant to even do that. He is forced to take her in and constantly reminds everyone that he doesn’t believe she’s really his kid and doesn’t even remember meeting her mom, despite a valid birth certificate. For a good chunk of the film we could care less about Ethan but because we are invested in Janie, we stick it out.

Then something happens. Slowly we come to feel sorry for Ethan and eventually we begin to root for him. He is self-destructive but he really does love his music. He is not trying to be a rock star for the sex, drugs or money. He is doing it because it is his passion. And when the time comes that he could exploit Janie’s talent, he doesn’t want to do it. It is very obvious that Ethan would evolve into a likeable father figure but it is still an interesting arch to follow.

The other big risk in the film is the music. Writer/Director David M. Rosenthal likes to linger on the musical sequences. Whenever Janie gets upset, she grabs her guitar and sings her heart out. This happens many times throughout the film. When other characters hear her playing and approach her, we always wait until she finishes her song for the scene to continue. It becomes overkill because we get that she loves to play and that is her retreat, we don’t need to see it happen constantly.  At one point I actually became suspicious of Janie because of how often she played just close enough for band members and managers to hear her. I thought maybe she was scamming Ethan and she was not really his kid. That being said the music is not half bad and while so many sequences may be unnecessary, it fits in with the film.

The highlight of the film are the performances. Everyone does a great job with the roles, especially Abigail Breslin and Alessando Nivola who both did their own singing and guitar work. The always brilliant Peter Stormare was also fantastic as Brand’s managaer. I especially loved his first scene with Janie when she is still getting used to the band. I also enjoyed seeing Joel Moore (He got rid of the David?) in this since I have always been a fan of his work.

You know exactly what kind of film you are in for with JANIE JONES. It has flaws and lacks some originality but it has heart and solid performances throughout. If the plot description interests you, definitely give this one a watch.

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE VERSION OF THE FILM I SAW WAS NOT THE FINAL CUT. I WILL LEAVE THIS REVIEW UP BUT PLEASE NOTE THERE MAY BE CHANGES FROM WHAT IS MENTIONED HERE AND WHAT IS IN THE FINAL FILM. IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, I WILL REVIEW THE FILM AGAIN UPON RELEASE.

Tribeca 2011 Review: SAINT

Before I start my review of this killer Santa movie, I’d like to clarify one thing. This is not the Santa most of us know and love. There are no reindeer. There is no sleigh. There are no elves. This is not jolly old St. Nick. The film doesn’t even take place on Christmas. Instead it is about the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas. While I probably would have enjoyed this movie more if I knew about the Dutch tradition beforehand, the flick is still a fun ride.

Here’s the official description listed in the Tribeca guide:

The film’s titular saint was in fact a murderous medieval marauder, ultimately slain by the villagers he tormented, only to swear a ghostly revenge on their descendents every December 5—the anniversary of his death. Centuries later, the story has settled comfortably into innocuous folklore, until a bloody encounter with the ghoul himself forces local teen Frank to believe in Santa all over again. Teaming up with a fellow believer, discharged conspiracy-theorist cop Goert, it will be up to Frank to save the city of Amsterdam in an all-out bloody battle against the wrathful “Sinterklaas” and his minions.

This Dutch horror comedy blends elements of THE FOG & A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET with other well-known genre conventions. All of the characters are typical horror fodder. Even the idea of a killer Santa isn’t wholly original. But it all works for the most part. My biggest complaint with the film is that parts of it are so incredibly well done that the rest of the film pales in comparison. This contrast causes it to feel like two films cut together; one an insanely fun Raimi-esque horror-action-comedy and the other a horror film that takes itself far too seriously.

It could be that some of the Dutch humor was lost on me or some of the jokes just fall flat but there are times where the momentum slows down far too much. The reason this is such a problem is that the action set pieces are immensely fun. The special effects for the most part are fantastic although some of the CGI could use a bit of work. The opening scenes revealing St. Niklas’ origins and Goert’s backstory are set up perfectly. Other scenes such as the Black Peters (evil elves in black face) attacking Frank’s friends and the rooftop horse chase are equally incredible.

If writer/director Dick Maas chose to cut out a few of the slower scenes and amped up the insanity, he would have a true cult classic in his hands. But as it stands now, this film is still destined to be a holiday favorite. It is already a major success in the Netherlands and I have a feeling IFC Midnight will do quite well with it stateside.

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

Tribeca 2011 Review: RABIES

There is a fundamental flaw with RABIES that will unfortunately hold it back from the major success it could have been. I am of course talking about the fact the film is in Hebrew. Because people hate to read at the movies, it will not get a wide theatrical release (unless it gets the HIGH TENSION treatment) and some people will skip it when it hits video & VOD. It’s a real shame because RABIES is one of the best and most inventive horror films I have seen in a while.

A quick summary makes the film seem like an overly clichéd backwoods slasher but its brilliant execution reveals that it is so much more. The film opens with a girl caught in a trap while her brother attempts to rescue her, a group of young tennis players lost in the woods and a kindhearted park ranger doing a routine inspection with his trusty dog. A little later we meet two cops; one is quite crooked while the other is dealing with personal issues. We are even introduced to a psychotic killer that doesn’t wear a mask or have any supernatural abilities; he’s just a man with a large knife. This all sounds pretty standard, right?

What if I told you the psycho killer doesn’t actually kill anyone yet the body count at the end of the film still meets the typical slasher quota? Shortly after we are introduced to the killer, he gets knocked out. Confusion, jealousy, mistrust, poor judgment, and several accidents put the potential victims at odds with each other. Their secluded surroundings full of bear traps, land mines, and other dangerous obstacles only add to the mayhem.

RABIES plays with genre conventions and does it well. The acting is surprisingly strong across the board and really brings you into the story. Unfortunately, there were a few times where I was unable to read the subtitles because this is by far one of the brightest horror movie you will ever see. The entire film takes place over the course of a sunny afternoon and many of the characters are dressed entirely in white. The fact they were able to make such a suspenseful horror film in broad daylight shows you how talented the writer/director duo of Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado really are. Unfortunately it made the pale yellow subtitles hard to read at times but I never lost my place in the film nor lost any interest in the characters. In fact, I believe you can watch the entire film sans subtitles and still enjoy it but then you’d miss out on some of the brutally clever dialogue. There are some hilarious jokes and lines that elevate the film to a very darkly humorous level. The pacing and cinematography are equally great.

I really loved how the film plays out in seemingly real time and that the filmmakers are not afraid to have key moments occur off screen. The scenes not shown are largely unnecessary and keeping them out keeps the film fast-paced. It even adds to the suspense at times. This approach to the story really works well throughout but I was surprised to see that it ends in the same style. While each storyline is interconnected, there was no grand finale where everything comes together. Instead each story has it’s own ending. This is where my one real big problem with the film lies. I actually liked each individual ending and wouldn’t change anything about them. However, I feel they made a huge mistake in the order of the endings. There is one very short scene that I believe should have come a little later in the film.  (To keep this review spoiler free, I will not describe the scene but will gladly tell you if you message me after you see it.) It would have worked far better as the final resolution. They could keep everything else exactly the same, including the tag within the credits, but just change the order of the finale. I know it is a very minor complaint but it is really the only thing that bothered me about the film.

I highly recommend you check out RABIES for yourself. And from now until May 1st, you can watch it online for free. Just go to the Tribeca Film Festival online streaming room at http://www.tribecafilm.com/tribecaonline/streaming-room/ and reserve a seat for the next free online screening. If you don’t get a chance to watch it now, be sure to keep an eye out for it. The film has the distinction of being Israel’s first ever horror film and it has set the bar absurdly high.

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

Tribeca 2011: Two Day Recap

I want to start off by apologizing for the delay in my coverage. I originally planned to do daily recaps from each day at the festival but my 90-minute commute to and from the festival quickly killed that idea. Below is a recap of my experience at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival so far…

THURSDAY APRIL 21

My first day at the festival didn’t start off with a bang. I planned on attending the press screening of THE BANG BANG CLUB but just couldn’t get to the festival in time. Instead I picked up my press badge and decided to check out the complimentary snack area. I opted for a breakfast ice cream bar courtesy of MAGNUM Ice Cream. Free Ice Cream for breakfast? Yes, I am living the dream.

Following my deliciously inappropriate breakfast, I decided to canvas the press lounge and theater to see what kind of promo materials I could find. I love collecting that kind of stuff to see what other filmmakers are doing to promote their films. Sadly, there was not much out but since it was only the first full day I didn’t think much of it.

At noon I caught the press screening of THE TRIP, which stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as themselves on a food tour through the English countryside. The film was hilarious and definitely a good way to kick off the movie watching portion of my festival experience.

After the screening, I grabbed a quick lunch (plus another free ice cream bar) and headed back to the Clearview Cinemas for the press screening of JANIE JONES. The film stars Abigail Breslin as a talented 13-year-old musician who is abandoned by her mother (Elizabeth Shue) and is forced to stay with a struggling rocker (Alessandro Nivola) who doesn’t believe she is really his kid. While fairly conventional, it was still an enjoyable film.

Following the screening I headed over to the Filmmaker Lounge where they were hosting a filmmaker / press reception. While waiting for the doors to open, I started talking with Alan J. LaFave, Festival Director for the HELL’S HALF MILE FILM + MUSIC FESTIVAL. Although we never actually met before, he recognized me from STUCK LIKE CHUCK, which screened at his festival in 2009. We ended up chatting for over 2 hours about movies and festivals.

As the party ended, I grabbed one more ice cream bar for the road and made my way to the bus home. I got home about 10:30 and called into FILMSNOBBERY LIVE! which is a weekly live show about indie film that I cohost. After speaking with actor Jay Ferraro, I talked about my first day impressions of the festival before signing off and passing out on my bed.

FRIDAY APRIL 22

I woke up late but somehow managed to make it to the Clearview Cinemas in time for SAINT. The Dutch horror comedy reimagines Saint Nicholas as a bloodthirsty bishop who emerges whenever there is a full moon on December 5 to kidnap children and murder anyone else who gets in his way. There are many moments of crazy batshit insanity that I absolutely loved but others that I felt took down the movie as a whole. It is still a very enjoyable flick that is destined to become a holiday cult classic.

After SAINT, I headed across the lobby to theater 7 for the press screening of PUNCTURE. The film stars Chris Evans as a drug addict / lawyer who takes on a major health care case that could save millions of lives but may also be too much for him and his partner to handle. Just like its main character, the film is flawed but still enjoyable.

After the screening, I spoke briefly with Alan J. LaFave again before bumping into the legendary Bob Hawk. For those unfamiliar, he is a film consultant known for discovering Kevin Smith, Edward Burns and many others. Several months ago I went to lunch with him to discuss my current film project so it was great getting to catch up. Since talking with Hawk used up much of my break, I grabbed another Magnum Ice Cream bar from the press lounge before heading back to the theater to catch my final screening for the day.

I got back just in time for the press & industry screening of Israel’s first ever horror film, RABIES. This is my favorite film from the festival so far and set the bar pretty high for the rest. This flick brilliantly plays with genre conventions and makes for one hell of a good time. I was completely caught by surprise and ended up raving about it to several people right after.

Besides being an amazing film, this screening was especially awesome because one of the Tribeca jury groups was in attendance. I watched the film sitting behind Paul Dano, Anna Kendrick, Rainn Wilson and several other really cool people. I was able to remain professional but really wish I had a chance to talk with some of them after the screening. I also hope Paul Dano got his hat back. He left it at his seat and the woman next to me brought it to one of the volunteers. Fingers crossed for a safe recovery.

I made my way to the Cadillac Press Lounge for the Documentary Filmmaker & Press Reception. While I didn’t meet any filmmakers, I did quickly become friends with Peter Gutierrez and Ben Umstead from Twitch. We talked about the festival, horror films and general movie geekdom. We also all seemed to agree that we have not seen any filmmakers actively promoting their films and that there should be an easier way to distinguish who is a filmmaker based on our badges. Apparently I was the first filmmaker they had even spoken to at the festival. Despite it not being part of Tribeca, I gave them both copies of STUCK LIKE CHUCK because I am a total press whore.

Eventually we made our way to the Filmmaker Lounge where the DOHA Film Institute was hosting its own reception. I again bumped into Alan LaFave. I find it funny that I keep missing tons of celebrities that are popping up in pictures all around the festival but I keep running into Alan. I wonder if there are secret backrooms that us lower level press people don’t know about? When they were getting ready to close, I grabbed yet another ice cream for the bus ride and left. That night I sat on my computer determined to begin my coverage. About 20 minutes later I was out cold, which brought an end to my second day at the festival.

SATURDAY APRIL 23 & SUNDAY APRIL 24

I did not attend the festival these days because I had to spend time with my family. However, I was able to make some time to write this article as well as a few of my reviews. I will not be attending the festival on Monday but I will check out some of the online films throughout the day. I will be back at the festival starting Tuesday morning to cover Will Ferrell’s new film, EVERYTHING MUST GO.

Jerry Cavallaro  – www.StuckLikeChuck.com

BLANK CITY – Official Trailer

Featuring

Jim Jarmusch, Debbie Harry, Steve Buscemi, John Lurie, Fab 5 Freddy, Thurston Moore,
Richard Kern, Lydia Lunch, Amos Poe, Eric Mitchell, James Nares, Maripol, Ann Magnuson,
James Chance, Beth B, Scott B and John Waters

A Film By

Opening at the IFC Center in New York on Friday, April 6

Before there was HD there was Super 8. Before Independent film there was Underground Cinema. And before New York there was…well, New York. Once upon a pre-Facebook time, before creative communities became virtual and viral, cultural movements were firmly grounded in geography. And the undisputed center of American – some would say international – art and film was New York City. In particular, downtown Manhattan in the late 1970’s and 80’s was the anchor of vanguard filmmaking.

BLANK CITY tells the long-overdue tale of the motley crew of renegade filmmakers that emerged from an economically bankrupt and dangerous period of New York History. It’s a fascinating look at the way this misfit cinema used the deserted, bombed-out Lower East Side landscapes to craft daring works that would go on to profoundly influence Independent Film today. Unlike the much-celebrated punk music scene, this era’s thrilling and confrontational underground film movement has never before been chronicled.

Directed by French newcomer Céline Danhier, BLANK CITY captures the idiosyncratic, explosive energy of the “No Wave Cinema” and “Cinema of Transgression” movements. Stark and provocative, the films drew name and inspiration from the French New Wave; as well as Film Noir, and the works of Andy Warhol and John Waters. Filmmakers such as Jim Jarmusch, Eric Mitchell, Beth B, Charlie Ahear, Lizzie Borden and Amos Poe showcased the city’s vibrant grit and bore witness to the rising East Village art and rock scenes and the birth of hip hop. Short, long, color or black-and-white, their stripped-down films portrayed themes of alienation and dissonance with a raw and genuine spirit, at times with deadpan humor blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

Running time: 96 minutes

Release date: April 6 at the IFC Center, New York

Visit the official site HERE