BFF FILM & FESTIVAL BLOG
10 Films and Events We Look Forward to at the 18th Annual Tribeca Film Festival
written by Amanda Lederle
There are so many good films, events, and parts of culture I would want to immerse myself in, so narrowing it down to just 10 was not easy. From seeing influential on and off screen figures speaking about the filmmaking process to their social, political effects on communities, this year’s Tribeca Film Festival ( April 24- May 5) is looking energetic and inspiring!
As a festival goer, I know to not overbook myself so that I don’t rush from one theatre to the next or miss out on meals. With that in mind my chosen 10, generally lined up to be one a day so you can map out your festival week with ease.
So get your pass, map out your nearby restaurants and coffee shops, it’s festival time!
1. SHORTS! We start with Shorts because there are various dates, mostly at the beginning of the festival. In this year’s lineup there are 63 short films. You can choose from Sci Fi, Nature, Comedy (Funhouse), LGBTQ, and even animated shorts curated by Whoopi Goldberg! Gasp. The list goes on and with such variety, you are bound to find one you like. Two really stood out:
THE BOXERS OF BRULE (Jessie Adler, 2018, New York Premiere) directed by Adler, a Human Rights Storyteller, shares journey of a Lakota woman who creates a boxing team to combat youth suicide.
THE DOWNFALL OF SANTA CLAUS (Robert Depuis, 2018, North American Premiere) from Norwegian filmmaker Depuis brings to life in claymation a boy’s faith in St. Nick which is the only reason Santa Claus exists!
2. IN LIVING COLOR (Tribeca TV, Premiere Episode from 1990)
Sound the alarm and cancel all your plans on April 27, this is an event you do not want to miss. If you grew up watching In Living Color, like I did, you are in for a treat! Under the TV category, Tribeca is celebrating the premiere episode to celebrate its debut in 1990. This show set the stage for well-known actors like Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson and obviously, the Wayan brothers. Audience members will have a special experience with a post-screening conversation with creator and star Keenan Ivory Wayans and co-stars Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans, Tommy Davidson, David Alan Grier, and Rosie Perez. This is surely a not to miss event for fans.
3. SEE YOU YESTERDAY (Stefon Bristol, 2019, World Premiere)
Bristol, a Bushwick Film Festival alum and 2018 Rising Star Award winner, teamed up with Spike Lee to further develop his short, same name, into this feature. A timely cultural commentary, this story is about two friends who make a time machine to go back in time to save her brother from being wrongfully killed by a police officer. This feature film will be released on Netflix this year.
4.TRIXIE MATTEL: MOVING PARTS (Nick Zeig-Owens, 2019, World Premiere)
Calling all RuPaul’s Drag Race fans! Your Drag Race All-Star winner, Trixie Mattel gives you a behind the scenes look at what it’s like to be a folk singer, host your own talk show, relationships that falter and the trials of being on the road after winning Drag Race. A for attending audiences is a performance by Trixie Mattel treat after the screening!
5. LUCKY GRANDMA (Sasie Sealy, 2019, World Premiere)
Tsai Chin, (who has also been in two Bond films, one as a Bond girl) stars as a gambling grandmother who finds herself in trouble between New York gangsters. Directed by Sasie Sealy, a Tribeca alum winner of two film awards is sure to showcase this dark comedy of an immigrant woman with a punch of striking visuals. This film was the winner of the 2018 Untold Stories, a pitch in presented by AT&T and Tribeca Film Institute with a $1 million prize. The film celebrates women of color, on and behind camera.
6. GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH (David Charles Rodrigues, 2019, World Premiere)
This documentary chronicles the journey of 300 members of the Gay Men's Chorus of San Francisco traveling in the South. If you want to see a 100-minute film about bravery, friendship, and acceptance you’ve found it here. In Rodrigues’ feature documentary debut, viewers are introduced to members’ stories of being ostracized, relationships with the church and community and the transformation of common humanity. If this film doesn’t open your heart to sing, I don’t know what will!
7. TUCA AND BERTIE (Tribeca TV, 2019, World Premiere)
Get ready to laugh. Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong voice this animated episodic series about two 30-year-old friends. Did I mention they are also birds? If you like the humor and style of Bojack Horseman, you are in for a treat! Paulie, wanna cracker? (I’m sorry, I had to throw in a pet bird joke #sorrynotsorry). This Netflix show is debuting at the festival and will be available to watch at home on May 3. Stay after the screening for an conversation with Ali Wong, Tiffany Haddish and creator, Lisa Hanawalt.
8. THE REMIX: HIP HOP X FASHION (Lisa Cortes and Farah X, 2019, World Premiere)
Rewind to a time where 80s and 90s hip hop fashion was dominated by men, standout voices like Mary J Blige, Missy Elliot and Lil’Kim expressed themselves through fashion to be heard. This film from two women of color looks at the journey of female hip hop artists and their influence as fashion icons. Cortes is known for her work as producer on MONSTER’S BALL (Marc Forster, 2001) and PRECIOUS (Lee Daniels, 2009). Farah X has worked with high profile brands including Calvin Klein, Coach and music icons like Prince, Mariah Carey, and J.Lo.
9. LOST TRANSMISSIONS (Katharine O’Brien, 2019, World Premiere)
Juno Temple and Simon Pegg star in this commentary about the mental healthcare system and homeless landscape in LA. Pegg plays a music producer who stops taking his schizophrenia medication while Temple’s character gathers her friends to find him to get into treatment. I am looking forward to seeing how Pegg portrays this character alongside the backdrop of this urban cityscape. This is O’Brien’s feature debut.
10. Tribeca Pride
A whole day dedicated to LGBTQ conversations, I am squealing with excitement! From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. you can enjoy a full day of discussions about activism, representation in politics and Hollywood, being multi-creative and much more. The whole day is a preamble to the evenings World Premiere of the documentary, WIG (Chris Moukarbel, 2019) a film about the drag movement through archival and contemporary footage.
This is going to be a night to remember! Screening also begins with 7 specially selected LBGTQ+ shorts. Following the feature is a drag performance hosted by Lady Bunny including Charlene Incarnate, Bobby Samplsize, Flotilla and many more. The full day will be sprinkled by community members and big screen actors like Neil Patrick Harris and John Cameron Mitchell and community leaders like Alok Vaid Menon and Jacob Tobia.
For Tickets and passes to the 18th Annual Tribeca Film Festival visit: www.tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets
If you are attending and watching any of these films let us know what you think and share a picture of you at the screening. Tag @BushwickFilmFest.
Enjoy the show!
This article was written by BFF contributing writer Amanda Lederle. Amanda is a film enthusiast that has dedicated her life to mental health awareness, CreateBeing.com. Amanda has a background in Film Studies and lives with their partner and chinchilla, Chewbacca in Toronto, Canada.
New York’s Finest Soccer Film Festival Celebrates its 10th Edition Next Week!
One of New York City’s amazing perks for film lovers is its many specialty film festivals. One of these gems is the Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival which will be held from May 22-25 at the Scandinavia House (58 Park Ave). Now in its 10th edition, Kicking + Screening highlights the world’s game in all its facets, showcasing a diverse selection of stories. While all revolve around the beautiful game, they also touch on many broader issues such as women empowerment, LGBTQ discrimination or how to deal with loss.
The opening night film “Football For Better or For Worse” highlights FC Rosengård, one of the world's top women’s clubs with Brazilian star player Marta, and their struggle to survive in a male-dominated industry. It’s followed by “I Love Hooligans”, a short doc about a gay hooligan that is trapped between the love for his club and his sexual identity. Another fantastic feature doc is “Nossa Chape” which celebrated its world premiere at SXSW 2018. Directors Jeff & Michael Zimbalist and co-director, Julian Duque, provide a compelling documentary that follows the Chapecoense club beyond the tragic demise of all but three players in an airplane crash, and how fans, their city, and the club itself are trying to move on.
We have secured a 15% discount for you with code KSNY. To buy tickets and view the full program visit http://www.kickingandscreening.com/ks-ny-2018. This year’s world cup may be without team USA but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your soccer fix this summer!
Written by
Tilo Zingler
Festival Review - Berlinale 2018
The Bushwick Film Festival loves when independent films and filmmakers are put into the spotlight, and few festivals shine it brighter than the Berlinale. The festival offers an intriguing mix of Hollywood glamour, international powerhouses and up-and-coming filmmakers, as well as one of the largest film markets in the world. But what really sets the festival apart, is its accessibility and public acceptance, with audiences lining up venue after venue and independent films drawing crowds of up to 1,000 people. At ten in the morning, mind you. Another aspect filmmakers and audiences can appreciate alike, is the high standard of presentation. While some festivals may seem to think louder is better or simply lack the infrastructure (yes, Bushwick needs a proper movie theatre!), the Berlinale excels with high-end hardware, crisp sound and amazing venues like the Friedrichstadt Palast, Kino International and many more. As Steven Soderbergh pointed out before his world premiere of Unsane at the Berlinale Palast: “This movie may never look as good again as here.” He may be right. Read our take on a few more films we caught, follow the Bushwick Film Festival on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and don’t forget to submit your film!
Photo Credit: T. Zingler, BFF
'Isle of Dogs' directed by Wes Anderson
The Berlinale’s opening night film comes with a lot of star power and fanfare. In a somewhat dystopian Japan all dogs have been banished to remote Trash Island. A young boy named Atari sets out on a rescue mission for his beloved Spots and crashes on the island. Complicating matters is the fact that Atari is the adopted child of the mastermind behind the K9 exile. The film struts with detail and is another masterpiece of stop-motion style animation. It’s quirky and the story has its moments, letting the viewer temporarily look past the animation onslaught and indulge into the characters, a huge achievement for a film that is visually so different. Still, overall, there aren’t too many surprises and it feels like the film runs out of time at the end, rushing towards a conclusion. Nevertheless, this is a must-see for Wes Anderson fans.
'Black 47' directed by Lance Daly
British Imperialism has been the backdrop for a lot of blockbuster movies from Braveheart to Gandhi, but the English involvement in the Great Famine in Ireland has largely gone unnoticed cinematically, according to the makers of Black 47. An Irish Ranger desserts from British forces and after finding his loved ones deceased and wronged upon his return, goes on a killing spree, working his way up from local henchman to British lord. Not even Hugo Weaving as the good antagonist gone bad and good again, can salvage this very predictable film. While some of the imagery is indeed disturbing and effective in portraying the unfathomable plight of the people, the film does little to transform the viewers disgust into a more meaningful emotion.
'Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot' directed by Gus Van Sant
A Berlinale darling, Gus Van Sant delivers an autobiographical film about John Callahan, a dark humored quadriplegic turned cartoonist. Much like the main character played by Joaquín Phoenix, the film rolls along the lines of humor, disgust, fright and amazement. Phoenix delivers a heartfelt and believable performance without guilting audiences too much for a man that has brought a lot of his misery on himself. After an intoxicated night out with fellow alcoholic Dexter played by Jack Black, John ends up paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Having to finally face his demons, John finds a way back into a meaningful life with the help of a few friends, most notably guru-like Donnie played by Jonah Hill. Van Sant finds a good balance between dramatic and comedic moments and creates a thoroughly entertaining film that matches well with the twisted humor of Callahan.
'Unsane' directed by Steven Soderbergh
This film may be something of an experiment, considering it was shot exclusively on an iPhone 7 Plus. Purist may shudder but the good news for independent filmmakers is: you can make a stylish film with just that! Looking past the gear, the film has an interesting premise — SPOILER ALERT — of a woman accidently checking into a closed mental facility and than more or less legally being held there against her will, as part of an insurance scam. Claire Foy turns in a feisty performance as the female lead, yet it seems that the film can’t decide whether it should take a turn for a John Grisham-esque type of suspense or just plain shock survival flick. For the former, it lacks a feasible antagonist with depth and it’s also at times visually violent. Yet for all the blood spilled, it’s still far far away from the likes of Saw. Nevertheless, a good pick for anyone that likes a suspenseful thriller that doesn’t simply celebrate brute violence.
'Khook' (Pig) directed Mani Haghighi
If you have a chance you should see this film, based alone on offering a glimpse into a country that has been ostracized like few others, yet people barely know about it. But if you’re expecting one of those heavy, food-for-thought, pressing international dramas, you will be in for a surprise. The leading man, Hassan Majooni, constantly wears metal and rock icon t-shirts, smokes like a chimney, destroys tennis rackets with a passion and is in a constant state of crisis. He’s been blacklisted by the government, his muse wants to work with his enemy, and a killer is decapitating everyone in the Iranian film establishment — everyone except for him, the most relevant director of them all! Khook is a dark comedy that is visually loud and lavish, politically incorrect and often reminds viewers of Tarantino’s/Rodriguez’ escapades. The film boldly deviates from what you typically see in the Iran news and media, and for that, we highly recommend a viewing.
'Las Herederas' (The Heiresses) directed by Marcelo Martinessi
Las Herederas is a true gem of independent filmmaking. The story overflows with strong women, each represented in their very own particular way. It centers around an aged lesbian couple (Chiquita and Chela), both from wealthy families that have to start selling off their belongings when funds become scarce. But while not even a stint in prison can quench the outgoing Chiquita’s lust for life, the introvert Chela struggles mightily with their dilemma. Slowly, she starts to accept the challenge of being temporarily on her own and after meeting the young and vibrant Angy, she outright embraces her new situation. The film strikes a pleasant and gentle tone and builds suspense from Chela rediscovering life with all its ups and downs - no artificial plot twists needed. Las Herederas is a beautifully intimate film that goes for the subtle high instead of the dramatic bang and it’s masterfully carried by an extraordinary performance from Ana Brun, which deservedly won her Best Actress at the Berlinale.
'Twarz' (Mug) directed by Malgorzata Szumowska
Twarz is a merciless tally of the Polish status quo. Jacek is a construction worker, lives with his family on a farm and gets ridiculed by his brothers for being a long-haired Metallica fan. But he embraces the rebel role and even gets the pretty girl. However, when he has a severe accident that requires a face transplant his disfigured appearance pushes him outside what’s socially acceptable. Now an outsider not by choice but by physical manifestation, he’s rejected by his love, his family, his church community and even a pastor that’s more interested in sexual confessions than Jacek’s costly rehabilitation. Malgorzata blatantly tears apart everything sacred in Poland and uses the camera to paint an ugly picture of her country; one engrained with racism, alcoholism, sexism and religious furor. The film will probably not win many popularity contests in Poland but it did win the Jury Grand Prix at the Berlinale.
FESTIVAL REVIEW: 2016 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
The Bushwick Film Festival loves independent film festivals! Especially those, like the Tribeca Film Festival, that take place in our very own city. #Tribeca2016 had its 15th edition last week, and we attended a number of panels, screenings and talks, which we shared with all the indie film lovers out there who follow us on Instagram and Facebook. If you missed the experience on social media, you can read a summary below of the films we liked and didn’t like, along with what inspired us. And remember to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and like us on Facebook so we can stay connected!
Films
Califórnia | Photo by Aline Arruda, courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival
Califórnia
Set in Brazil during the 80s, Califórnia follows a young girl between the time of her first period and her first sexual experience. Estela (Clara Gallo) is desperate to escape her life and embark on a trip with her uncle to California. But she is forced to explore her identity and desires while the looming AIDS epidemic of the era threatens her wishes. Califórnia follows most of the ingredients of a coming-of-age story, except that it is told from the feminine perspective. As director Marina Person noted at a Q&A following the last screening, this is an important difference. It’s hard not to enjoy this movie and even fall for some of the characters. Califórnia proves to be another example of how, no matter the language or setting, humanity has more universal stories than we’d like to admit.
— Moraima Capellán Pichardo
Live Cargo | Photo by Daniella Nowitz, courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival
Live Cargo
Live Cargo (directed by Logan Sandler) offers up a story I couldn’t invest myself in, and yet, I didn’t want to miss a single frame. Early into the film’s runtime, the opaque nature of its storytelling left my mind wandering, but – even without a plot I could attach my concerns to – it still undoubtedly made an impact. Most of the moviegoing public, myself included, probably hasn’t seen an abundance of digital black & white films. It’s possible some audiences have never even seen a single one. Let’s face it, B&W is not “in” and may never be again. What’s special about Live Cargois that it doesn’t look like the 120-year-old The Arrival of a Train, or even Raging Bull. Its textures vary from those films because new cinema in 2016 looks like the present, not the past.
Anti-digital crusaders like Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan will choose death before going digital, but their renouncement of a new era of films and filmmakers is no different than when your parents told your teenage self to turn down that loud and offensive punk rock record that you were really into. Live Cargo’s creative team embraces modern filmmaking techniques, and in the process delivers something that is different from all of the films your favorite auteurs made, but every bit as gorgeous.
— Joseph Willwerth
The Charro of Toluquilla | Photo by José Villalobos Romero, courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival
The Charro of Toluquilla
A few minutes before the screening, I was walking behind a man wearing a black sombrero and a plaid button-down. Given that we were in the Tribeca neighborhood, it was easy to recognize him as El Charro de Toluquilla. I had also been keeping up with the documentary ever since reading about it over at IndieWire, when it premiered at the Guadalajara Film Festival.
The Charro of Toluquilla provides a brief but intimate look at Jaime García, who embodies the image of traditional macho Mexican horsemen (charros), while living unapologetically as HIV-positive. In over three years of production, director Jose Villalobos Romero managed to integrate himself into the life of El Charro, who at a Q&A reassured the audience that his personality is authentic, no matter how over-the-top it might seem to be. (Sidenote: To everyone’s delight, he energetically ran up and down the theater aisles, handing over the microphone for questions). El Charro is hard to forget, and he doesn’t disappoint.
The documentary portrays a refreshing and often laugh-out-loud funny take on a father-daughter relationship and the topic of marriage. It is the type of storytelling we need in a time when Mexican men are often portrayed as caricatures for political gain.
— Moraima Capellán Pichardo
Wolves | Photo by Juanmi Azpiroz, courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival
Wolves
Director Bart Freundlich, piled on more drama and surprises in Wolves than this moviegoer could handle. The film includes a degenerate gambler, an alcoholic, a pervert, a struggling author and a bad father – and that’s only Michael Shannon’s character. Newcomer Taylor John Smith excels on the screen as a high school basketball star at odds with his dad (Shannon), and navigating situations that no 18-year-old should have to be prepared for. Freundlich takes every coming-of-age archetype and pushes it to the extreme, throwing subtlety out the window, but by doing so, he fails to give proper care to such serious subject matter.
— Joseph Willwerth
Talks and Panels
Ira Sachs and Andrea Arnold
During a Tribeca Talk, Ira Sachs (Love Is Strange) spoke with director Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank) about her career of filmmaking adventures and her new film, American Honey, set to debut at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. When Sachs asked what she found most shocking about her time shooting in America, Arnold detailed the horrors of poverty and drugs that the crew witnessed while filming in the South. When he asked her about her fears, she surprised everyone by claiming that she has none. In fact, Arnold seems to thrive on making low-budget independent films and has no qualms about being a woman in an industry dominated by men. Arnold’s secret to achieving her one-of-kind realism on the screen is to make movies like she prepares a meal in the kitchen, “without a recipe.” The auteur consistently challenges her creative self: American Honey was filmed with countless non-actors. who she only gave new pages of the script to just prior to each day of filming. Arnold apparently heeds her own advice to the audience: “Take the reins and go for it.”
Idina Menzel & Marc Platt
A packed audience had the pleasure of catching Idina Menzel (Frozen) in a very different setting during a Tribeca Talk, moderated by producer and friend Marc Platt (Wicked). There wasn’t a person seated who didn’t love hearing about how, when she was younger, the world-renowned singer had actually believed that she would one day be able to star as one of the black leads in Dreamgirls. Ever since her parents brought her to a Broadway show in her pajamas, Menzel has been nothing less than enamored with singing and acting, in all its forms. Though her career is full of successes, she emphasized that there have been just as many lows, just as many rejections, as there were times when she felt acceptance for her work. Through it all, she has appreciated all of the moments in her career and, for the record, would be overjoyed to be CGI’d into the long-in-the-works Wicked movie (if it ever gets made).
Menzel also runs A BroaderWay Foundation, a camp that fosters the creativity of underprivileged young girls and gives them the opportunity to dream big, just like she did when she was their age.
— Joseph Willwerth
Submissions Now Open for the 10th Annual Bushwick Film Festival!
Submissions are open for the 10th Annual Bushwick Film Festival! Filmmakers and web series directors who want the unique opportunity to screen their work in front of Bushwick audiences can now submit their film via Film Freeway through July 15th.
Important dates are as follows:
Early Bird Deadline: February 28
Regular Deadline: March 1 – May 31
Late Deadline: June 1 – July 15
Notification Date: August 15, 2017
Festival Dates: October 12 – 15
This fall, from October 12-15, we will celebrate our milestone 10 year anniversary, marking a decade of bringing independent stories to audiences from all walks of life. The four day weekend will include screenings, panels, workshops, parties, and networking opportunities. To date, the festival has showcased the work of over 300 filmmakers, most of them Brooklyn and New York-based, as well as international films from 30 countries across the globe. In addition to a wide range of genres and topics, we continue to highlight films directed by and starring women, along with stories from underrepresented groups.
Please share this exciting news and help us make this years festival one to remember! If you have any questions about submissions, please feel free to contact us at:programming@bushwickfilmfestival.com
Thanks in advance!