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Film Festival Duo Presents Two New Films
Rooftop Films and International Film Festival Rotterdam combine forces
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Rooftop Films, the non-profit revered by New York and the film community at large for bringing exciting new independent movies to the forefront, has forged a partnership with the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). The partnership, brought about after a trip to IFFR in 2009 by Rooftop’s artistic director, Mark Rosenberg, was initiated because of a shared mission. Explained Rosenberg, “Both festivals focus on films that tell personal stories, as opposed to films that look for a broad overview. Both festivals appreciate truly daring cinema that uses innovative styles. We both highlight the work of young and emerging filmmakers, instead of established celebrities. And we both create new cinematic experiences.”
Those experiences at Rooftop include a holistic film viewing, one that emphasizes the total experience of viewing a film rather than the film as a piece that stands alone. For Rooftop, the act of watching a movie or short becomes a transformative and communal experience when contextualized within the surroundings of the screening or the community that is viewing it. As Rosenberg cites, “We look for films that will match well with a location or a neighborhood, and create a synergy: for instance…screening a film about over-fishing at an environmental center located on a riverside pier. The result of this interconnectedness is that the filmmakers and the audience alike have a more meaningful and memorable experience.”
Rooftop Films and IFFR are set to co-present two new films that continue in this tradition. The first is entitled The Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly, a film that Rosenberg describes as a “dark comedy…off-beat and unusual.” It was the winner of the 2009 FIPRESCI Award for Best Film at IFFR and is sure to delight with its multi-layered narrative involving several interwoven sketches all examining the themes of love, lust, alienation and politics. The film will be shown on the roof of the Old American Can Factory on Friday, July 17.
The second film is entitled Los Herederos and will enjoy its US premiere on the rooftop of El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem on Saturday July 18. The film is a documentary which explores themes of poverty and labor issues and is described by Rosenberg as, “astonishingly beautiful, but very rugged and low-fi, an aesthetic combination which appeals to cineastes and film neophytes alike.” Each film is to be preceded by a musical performance and followed by a reception afterward (free sangria and beer are featured). For ticket and itinerary information, visit www.rooftopfilms.com.