Museum of the Moving Images Presents Spring Training April 2- May 15

As the spring weather lures young athletes outdoors, Museum of the Moving Image offers a reason to stay inside: great sports documentaries on the big screen. Spring Training, which runs from April 2 through May 15, 2011, features Saturday and Sunday matinees of acclaimed films including Steve James's Hoop Dreams, Frederick Wiseman's Boxing Gym, and Stacy Peralta's Dogtown and Z Boys.

"In all these films, the physical action inspires cinematic spectacle," said Chief Curator David Schwartz. "Beyond the action is the human drama, as we watch boxers, basketball players, surfers, skateboarders, racecar drivers, and video game champions strive to do their best. "

Spring Training was organized by Rachael Rakes, the Museum's Assistant Film Curator.

(Please note that during New York City Public School's Spring Recess, April 18-22 and April 25 & 26, the Museum will present daily weekday matinees of Tron Legacy in 3-D. Detailed information about the screenings and workshops during this holiday period will be announced soon.)

Before or after the screening, families are welcome to explore Real Virtuality, an exhibition featuring six experiments in art and technology, and Behind the Screen, the Museum's dynamic core exhibition about how movies, television, and digital entertainment are created, marketed, and shown. In addition, family workshops are presented every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. For a complete workshop schedule, visit http://movingimage.us/families.

SCHEDULE FOR ‘SPRING TRAINING' (APRIL 2-MAY 15)
Films are included with Museum admission unless otherwise noted and take place at the Museum. Recommended ages are noted for each title; where available, MPAA ratings are also included.

Boxing Gym
Saturday, April 2, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday April 3, 1:00 p.m.
Recommended for ages 12 and older.
Dir. Fredrick Wiseman. 2010. 91 mins. Digital BluRay projection. (Not Rated) Adults and children from all walks of life train in an Austin, Texas gym. With his famous fly-on-the-wall approach, Wiseman catches all the banter, sweat, and frustration in this classic example of an American melting pot.

Hoop Dreams
Saturday, April 9, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 10, 1:00 p.m.
Recommended for ages 12 and older.
Dir. Steve James. 1994. 170 mins. 35mm. (Rated PG-13 for drug content and some strong language) Two African-American high-school students from inner-city Chicago are recruited into a predominantly white rural school with an excellent basketball team. An epic film that takes us into the troubled worlds of education, sports, race, and poverty in the U.S., Hoop Dreams is often considered unrivalled among sports documentaries.

Step into Liquid
Saturday, April 16, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 17, 1:00 p.m.
Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Dir. Dana Brown. 2003. 88 mins. 35mm. (Rated PG) This round-the-world surfing documentary by Dana Brown, son of Endless Summer director and legendary surfer Bruce Brown, was described by Elvis Mitchell in The New York Times as "insanely gorgeous in hypnotic gradations of aquamarine...will send you into a dream state."

Racing Dreams
Saturday, April 23, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 24, 1:00 p.m.
Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Dir. Marshall Curry, 2009, 93 mins. 35mm. (Rated PG) A coming-of-age documentary about pre-teen racers who dream of becoming NASCAR stars, Racing Dreams follows a year in the lives of Annabeth, Josh, and Brandon as they compete for the World Karting Association's National Championship. A thrilling portrait of American kids facing the pressure of pre-professional sports alongside the daily challenges of growing up.

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Saturday, April 30, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 1, 1:00 p.m.
Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Dir. Seth Gordon. 2008. 79 mins. 35mm. (Rated PG-13 for brief sexual reference) A vicious rivalry erupts when unknown gamer Steve Wiebe, a suburban father and engineer, announces his new Donkey Kong world record. Reigning champion, and Hot Sauce mogul Billy Mitchell suspects foul play, and the two find new ways to trump each other to gain entry into the 2009 Guinness Book. After the movie, play vintage arcade games in the core exhibition Behind the Screen.

Dogtown and Z Boys
Saturday, May 7, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 8, 1:00 p.m.
Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Dir. Stacy Peralta. 2001. 91 mins. 35mm. (Rated PG-13 for language and some drug references) Former pro skater Stacy Peralta documents a group of daredevil skateboarders from an economically depressed area of Santa Monica known as Dogtown who reinvented the sport in the 1970s. The Philadelphia Inquirer called Dogtown "an exhilarating, breathless, must-see chronicle of the skateboarder revolution and evolution."

Pelada
Saturday, May 14, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 15, 1:00 p.m.
Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Dirs. Luke Boughen and Rebekah Fergusson. 2010. 90 mins. Digital projection. (Not rated) Two former college soccer stars travel the world to join pick-up games, finding freestylers in China, women playing in hijab in Iran, and joining games in Kenya, Brazil, and even a Bolivian prison. Pelada is a tribute to the informal, communal nature of soccer played on every kind of terrain around the world.

MUSEUM INFORMATION

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, 10:30 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Holiday Openings: Monday, April 18, and Monday, April 25 (Spring Recess for NYC public schools), 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed on Monday except for holiday openings).
Film Screenings: See schedule above for schedule.
Museum Admission: $10.00 for adults; $7.50 for persons over 65 and for students with ID; $5.00 for children ages 3-18. Children under 3 and Museum members are admitted free. Admission to the galleries is free on Fridays, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Paid admission includes film screenings (except for special ticketed events and Friday evenings) Tickets for special screenings and events may be purchased in advance online at movingimage.us or by phone at 718.777.6800.

Location: 36-01 35 Avenue (at 37 Street) in Astoria.
Subway: R or M trains (R on weekends) to Steinway Street. N or Q trains to 36 Avenue.
Program Information: Telephone: 718.777.6888; Website: http://movingimage.us

The Museum is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and its operations are made possible in part by public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Natural Heritage Trust (administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation). The Museum also receives generous support from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. For more information, please visit http://movingimage.us