Rooftop Films has been showing films outdoors in some of the most stunning outdoor rooftop venues around NYC for the past 16 years. One of those rooftops is right here on Grand Street at Open Road Rooftop at New Design High School. If you weren’t able to attend the opening of Rooftop’s 16th Annual Summer Series two weeks ago, here’s another chance to experience ‘al fresco film watching’ in the heart of the LES.
Just in time to kick off Memorial Day weekend, Rooftop Films returns with two programs that will surely help get you into that ‘summer’s coming three-day weekend mood.’ Friday’s Dark Toons line up features eleven short films programmed to deliver an night of “enjoyably evil animation.” They note, “this year’s filmmakers use just about every trick in the book to conjure up their visual magic.” The band Softspot opens the evening with their hauntingly meditative music.
If full-length features are more your fancy, be one of the first in line on Saturday to see Indian-American filmmaker Virkam Gandhi’s SXSW-acclaimed satirical documentary, Kumaré, before its theatrical release. The premise: a somewhat autobiographical story, (in 2010 Gandhi traveled to Phoenix and invented a spiritual workshop from scratch and ended up with actual followers) Kumaré recounts Gandhi’s experiences through the story of a man who impersonates a wise Indian Guru and builds a following in Arizona, only to have to reveal his true identity and unveil his greatest teaching of all.
Brooklyn-based torch-song singer Doe Paoro opens the show. Open Road Roof is a truly unforgettable place to watch films. Luckily for us LESers, Rooftop Films has landed here!
Dark Toons: Friday, May 25 // 350 Grand Street // 8:00pm // $12 // After party @ R Bar, 218 Bowery
Kumaré: Saturday, May 26 // 350 Grand Street // 8:00pm // $12 // After party @ Fontana’s, 105 Eldridge St.
Rooftop Films notes: NO REFUNDS. IN THE EVENT OF RAIN, SHOW WILL GO ON INDOORS AT THE SAME LOCATION. SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. NO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED.
