Rooftop Films Announces Opening Weekend Program

To launch the 18th Annual Rooftop Films Summer Series, presented by Industry City, Rooftop Films has set out to prove once again that the short film is the medium best suited to showcase the power of a freewheeling imagination. Rooftop Films is proud to announce the selection of short films to be screening on opening night, Friday, May 16th. THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN BY SHORT FILMS will highlight some of the most exciting and original short films from around the world, and will screen at Industry City, premier venue and presenting sponsor of the 18th annual Summer Series.

The following night, Rooftop Films will present a special sneak preview screening of the international festival favorite and upcoming A24 Films release OBVIOUS CHILD, a subversive, modern-day romantic comedy from writer/director Gillian Robespierre.

Both evenings will feature live music before each screening and a post-screening after party, presented by our exclusive Gin and Vodka sponsor, New Amsterdam Spirits.

Rooftop Films will be returning to Industry City throughout the summer for numerous screenings at their main rooftop location. For one weekend only, they are moving the celebration to a spectacular and undiscovered space - affectionately dubbed "Secret Party Cove" - tucked away amongst Industry City's massive complex along the Sunset Park Waterfront.

For more information visit: http://rooftopfilms.com/2014/schedule/this-is-what-we-mean-by-short-films-5/

OBVIOUS CHILD

Date: Saturday, May 17

Venue: Industry City, 39th Street and First Avenue, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Directions: Take the D, N, or R trains to 36th Street

Tickets: $13

8:00PM: Doors Open

8:30PM: Live Music

9:00PM: Films Begin

10:30PM: Q&A with filmmaker Gillian Robespierre

11:30PM: After party celebration

Brooklyn comedian Donna Stern gets dumped, fired, and pregnant just in time for the best/worst Valentine's Day of her life in this film festival favorite. Courtesy of A24 Films. Winner of the Rooftop Films Eastern Effects Equipment Grant.

For more information visit: http://rooftopfilms.com/2014/schedule/obvious-child/

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. In addition to their annual Summer Series - which takes place in unique outdoor venues every weekend throughout the summer - Rooftop provides grants to filmmakers, teaches media literacy and filmmaking to young people, rents equipment at low-cost to artists and non-profits, and produces new independent films. At Rooftop Films, we bring underground movies outdoors. For more information and updates please visit their website at www.rooftopfilms.com.

THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN BY SHORT FILMS

Date: Friday, May 16

Venue: Industry City, 39th Street and First Avenue, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Directions: Take the D, N, or R trains to 36th Street

Tickets: $13

8:00PM: Doors Open

8:30PM: Live Music

9:00PM: Films Begin

11:30PM: After party celebration with DJs and dancing

The Rooftop Films Summer Series is nothing if not wild, and this selection of dynamic short films encapsulates the adventurous spirit of the organization. This is a short film program that will inspire you to pump iron, smack your friends' butts, launch yourself into space, question the concepts of time and life, and then go home to share an egg sandwich and recharge. Sounds fun? It will be.

Bunda Pandeiro (Carlo Sampietro | 3')

In Brazilian slang, the phrase "Bunda Pandeiro" is used to describe attractive buttocks by referring to them as a tambourine. This film blurs lines between gender and race, reducing each participant to the utilitarian role of a musical instrument.

Filmmaker in Attendance.

Rhino Full Throttle (Nashom im Galopp) (Erik Schmitt | 15')

A young man uses art to reshape the city around him in search of its soul, but a beautiful tourist overtakes his mission in this imaginative love story.

Symphony No. 42 (Réka Busci | 10')

47 observations in the irrational connections between human and nature.

An Extraordinary Person (Quelqu'un d'Extraordinaire) (Monia Chokri | 28')

A 30-year-old scholar, intelligent and beautiful yet socially crippled, is forced to attend a Bachelorette party where her quest for authenticity leads to an unavoidable confrontation with old acquaintances. Winner of SXSW Jury Prize.

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared II: Time (Becky Sloan, Joe Pelling | 4') Rooftop Alumnus

Eventually everyone runs out of time - but before that happens to you, make some time to go on a journey, a journey through directorial duo Becky & Joe's existentialist universe of temporal confusion, TV guides and bathtime.

Afronauts (Frances Bodomo | 13') Rooftop Alumnus

It's July 16, 1969: America is preparing to launch Apollo 11. Thousands of miles away, the Zambia Space Academy hopes to beat America to the moon in this film inspired by true events.

Filmmaker in Attendance.

Master Muscles (Efren Hernandez | 13')

Veronika and Efren take a trip.

Filmmaker in Attendance.

Person To Person (Dustin Guy Dega | 18') Rooftop Alumnus

Waking up the Morning after hosting a party, a man discovers a stranger passed out on his floor. He spends the rest of The Day trying to convince her to leave.

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