ROOFTOP PANORAMA
THREE SPECIAL DAYS FOR THE ROOFTOP COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER
June 12-14, 2008
Rooftop Films "Panorama" — a special weekend within the 2008 Summer Film Series — will showcase all that we do and bring together the diverse communities we serve. Rooftop Films is more than a film festival. We are a community of filmmakers, audience members, artists, activists, musicians, organizations, venues, and neighborhoods. We use film as a means of bridging cultural boundaries, exploring important issues, entertaining and informing tens of thousands of people every year.
Rooftop is best known for showing new independent films in unique outdoor locations throughout the city, in a way that connects filmmakers and audience, films with neighborhoods. On Friday, June 13, the World Premiere of Captured—a feature-length documentary about Clayton Patterson, prolific photo documentarian of the turbulent Lower East Side for over 30 years—will be held on a graffiti-covered roof in the neighborhood the film is about, highlighting Rooftop’s singular ability to premiere films in a memorable and meaningful way.
But Rooftop Films does so much more, including co-producing new films through the Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund, teaching media literacy and video production to high school students, programming live music, and renting equipment to independent exhibitors. All of which will be highlighted during “Rooftop Panorama.”
The Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund has co-produced dozens of new films, and during “Rooftop Panorama,” we will be screening the award-winning short Glory At Sea (directed by Benh Zeitlin) on June 12, and an excerpt from the upcoming feature-length documentary Persona Non Grata (directed by Fabio Wuytack) on June 14.
On Saturday, June 14, in conjunction with IndiePix and Shooting People, Rooftop Films will host two panel discussions, on “The Art of the Short Film” and “Cinema and Social Justice,” bringing in filmmakers, programmers and funders to discuss issues that are crucial to Rooftop Films’ mission. Panelists include: Ryan Harrington (Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund); Simon Kilmurry (Executive Director of POV), Esther Robinson (director, A Walk Into the Sea; Founder of Art Home) and Katy Chevigny (Director, Election Day; Co-Founder of Arts Engine); Benh Zeitlin (Filmmaker, Glory at Sea); Duana Butler (Filmmaker, Curator of ReelNY); Signe Baumane (animator, Teat Beat of Sex), and more.
Students from Rooftop Films’ high school education program at Automotive High School will be present at our June 12 screening, and students from New Design High School, where we are collaborating on events and fundraising for school services, will be in attendance on June 13.
On each of the three screenings, Rooftop Films will host parties and present live music. Free drinks provided by Radeberger Beer and Brooklyn Oeneology Wine will be provided at parties at Matchless Bar (Williamsburg), Fontana’s (Lower East Side), and at The Old American Can Factory (Gowanus, Brooklyn). Screenings will be proceeded by live music from O'Death, A.R.E. Weapons and Silver Haunches, presented by Sound Fix Records.
Rooftop Films “Panorama” promises to be an exciting weekend, blending the uniquely diverse qualities of Rooftop’s annual Summer Series with the condensed excitement of other film festivals. Come join us all weekend, and all summer.
Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and inspire diverse communities by showing movies in outdoor locations every weekend all summer long, producing new films, teaching filmmaking to young people, and renting low-cost equipment to artists and non-profits. At Rooftop Films, we bring the underground outdoors.
June 13 - Open Road Rooftop, Lower East Side
+ World Premiere of Captured, feature-length documentary about Clayton Patterson, prolific photo documentarian of the turbulent Lower East Side for 30 years. Before the film, Sound Fix presents a performance by A.R.E. Weapons and there is a party after wards at Fontana's June 12 - Automotive High School, Williamsburg
+ Films co-produced by the Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund, including Glory at Sea and an excerpt of Persona Non Grata. O'Death performs before the show and afterwards there is an open bar at Matchless. Music presented by Sound Fix June 14 - Old American Can Factory, Gowanus
+ Short Film Programs
+ Panel Discussions, Co-Presented with IndiePix & Shooting People
+ Sound Fix Presentes live music by Silver Haunches
+ Reception
+ $6 tickets for a limited time only to "INDUSTRIANCE Short Films: Eminent Domain." Price inlcudes admission to the wine reception, panel discussion and music.
