Lineup Announced for 14th Annual Coney Island Film Fest

By: Sep. 08, 2014
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

The 14th annual installment of the Coney Island Film Festival (named one of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals" by MovieMaker Magazine) hits the shores of Coney Island from Friday, September 19th through Sunday, September 21st. This year's festival features 98 films from around the world; a stunning array of high and low-brow fare, as diverse as the neighborhood it represents. Subjects range from the profound to the profane, showcasing the independent spirit and irreverent nature of the one and only Coney Island.

The festival kicks off on Friday Night, September 19th at 7:30pm in the Coney Island Museum with a screening of "Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie", which examines the drive-in theatre as an integral part of American culture from its invention in 1933, to its peak in the late 50s, to the rapid decline in the 70s and 80s, through the recent resurgence. Following the screening, it's our Opening Night Party, 9:30 p.m. at the Freak Bar and Sideshows by the Seashore (1208 Surf Ave.). It's an evening of live performance from Sideshow Performers and stars of the New York Burlesque scene! Hosted by Adam RealMan. Open Bar (beer and wine) from 9:30pm - 11:30pm, light finger food will be served.

The Coney Island Film festival offers a huge variety of Shorts, Features, Documentaries, Animation, Experimental, Made in Coney Island, Horror Films, and Music Videos, making CIFF, a festival with something for everyone! Short highlights include Ben Lazarus's " Bodies In Irreversible Detriment". Horatio has Body Integrity Identity Disorder, where people seek to amputate appendages to make themselves whole. The film stars David Johansen (New York Dolls, Buster Poindexter) and Mark Margolis (Breaking Bad). Elias Plagianos's "The Man from the City ". A mysterious businessman visits a small town with questionable intentions as he contemplates leaving his big city life behind. Starring SAG award winner Robert Clohessy ( Boardwalk Empire, Blue Bloods, Wolf of Wall Street) and Sean Young ( Blade Runner, Ace Ventura, No Way Out). Andrew Serban's "Coney Island Dreams". Desperate to return to her native Ireland, a disillusioned young woman seeks help from a shady older man who offers to pay her plane fare in exchange for one last job, she must lure an unsuspecting iron worker to a deserted Coney Island street.

Documentary Feature highlights include: Lloyd Handwerker's "Famous Nathan" . A first insider documentary of the legendary Brooklyn eatery and iconic NY institution, created in 1916 in Coney Island, by the filmmaker's grandfather. Danny Garcia's "Looking for Johnny", which tells the story of Rock N' Roll Legend Johnny Thunders career, from the early 70's as a founding member of the highly influential New York Dolls to his demise in New Orleans, where he died under mysterious circumstances in 1991.

Feature film highlights include the World Premiere of Tim Martin Crouse's "Redemption". a dark thriller about a man trying to put his life back together after a series of personal misfortunes. Stars Tim Martin Crouse and Hisham Tawfiq (The Blacklist). CIFF presents the World Premiere of Jared Outten's 'Samuel's Game". Hank, an artist from Pennsylvania, moves into an old turn of the century apartment building in Brooklyn, New York. He meets and befriends THE FAMILY of a small Spanish girl when he inadvertently saves her from a near death experience. They both become victims to a terrifying haunting which taints the building and become first hand witnesses to events of the past. And in keeping with annual tradition, the festival will screen the 1979 Coney Island cult classic "The Warriors", at 10:30pm on Saturday, September 20th, at Sideshows By The Seashore.

The wildly popular Horror Shorts Program returns again this year, Saturday, September 20th at 8pm. Ten films from the bizarre to the macabre, are bound to scare and spook the audience!

Wrapping up the festivals last screening block on Sunday, September 21st at 6pm, is "Coney Island Films", featuring short films centered and themed around Coney Island.

An awards ceremony takes place Sunday, September 21st, 8pm at the Eldorado Auto Skooters, 1216 Surf Ave., where filmmakers and attendees get to ride the bumper cars, right after the awards are handed out!

Event Details are as follows:
Coney Island Film Festival
September 19, 20 and 21, 2014

Films screen at Coney Island USA's Sideshows by the Seashore (Ground Floor) and the Coney Island Museum (2nd Floor), both located inside the landmarked Coney Island USA building at 1208 Surf Ave., between Stillwell Ave. and West 12st in Coney Island, Brooklyn. 718-372-5159.

By Subway: D, F, N or Q lines to the Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue stop.

Tickets:
Full Festival Pass (excludes "The Warriors"): $50
Opening Night Screening: $8
Opening Night Party: $25
Saturday Screening Pass (excludes "The Warriors"): $15
Saturday Night Screening of The Warriors: $12
Sunday Screening Pass: $12
Any Individual Program Screening: $8

Advanced tickets for all programs and events are on sale now at our website. Remaining tickets and passes are available day of, at the box office 1208 Surf Ave.

For the full schedule and a complete list of films and events at the festival, visit www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com

All proceeds from the Film festival, benefit Coney Island USA, a not for profit arts organization, located in Coney Island.

About Coney Island USA
Coney Island USA, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in the amusement area of Coney Island whose mission is to defend the honor of lost forms of American popular arts and culture, leading to the renaissance of the historic Coney Island neighborhood. Coney Island USA produces programs including the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, the Mermaid Parade and Ball, Burlesque at the Beach, Creepshow at the Freakshow, the Coney Island Film Society, the Coney Island Film Festival, the Coney Island Museum, Ask the Experts, Coney Island Sideshow School, the Coney Island Tattoo and Motorcycle Festival and THE CONGRESS of Curious Peoples. The Coney Island Film Festival is produced in association with indiefilmpage.com.



Videos