Rooftop Films Continues In New York This Week With FREE Films, Music and More

Rooftop’s annual Summer Series continues this week with more of those Underground Movies Outdoors. The series has been running since May and will continue to run through Saturday, August 18th. The Summer Series consists of feature-length films or shorts, ranging from documentaries, dramas, comedies, animation and much more. Sometimes the filmmaker may show up for some Q & A. Alternatively, you may be serenaded by some live music. It’s this unpredictability that makes most of these FREE events so memorable. You never know exactly what you’ll get, and it makes for a cheap date or a nice way to relax during these scorching summer days in the city.

This week’s lineup is as follows:

Monday, July 23rd – The Muppets (Rescheduled for Monday, August 13th because of Rain Delays)

Unfortunately, because of yesterday’s thunderstorms, the screening of The Muppets has been rescheduled for Monday, August 13th. It looks like Kermit just couldn’t handle the rain. Check the Rooftop Films website for details of the make-up date.

Tuesday, July 24th – The Waiting Room

This FREE screening of The Waiting Room will take place at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. The Waiting Room is a film that examines the selfishness of the politics and big business aspect of a medical system that continuously overlooks the patient’s health. Working with The Fledging Fund, the Center for Health Media Policy, and the film’s own interactive website, Rooftop Films is pleased to present this event committed to positive health care activism.

The Waiting Room Screening
Tuesday, July 24th Doors: 7:30pm Film: 8:30pm
FREE
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
2nd Ave & E 47th St
[Midtown East]

Wednesday, July 25th – Her Master’s Voice

On Wednesday night, Rooftop Films will be taking us to Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens. There, we’ll be serenaded by music by Shenandoah and the Night, before we witness a screening of Her Master’s Voice. The documentary is a gutsy and sidesplitting self-examination of conflicted ventriloquist Nina Conti. She takes the bereaved puppets of her mentor on a pilgrimage, where they will be laid to rest at a place for deceased performers’ puppets in Kentucky. If that’s not freaky enough, just check out the trailer.

Her Master’s Voice Screening
Wednesday, July 25th Live Music: 7pm, Film: 8:30pm
FREE
Socrates Sculpture Park
3134 Vernon Blvd
[Long Island City]

Thursday, July 26th – The Natural

On Thursday, we exit The Twilight Zone and enter The Field of Dreams, as a FREE screening of The Natural will be shown at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island. You baseball enthusiasts might want to celebrate Ichiro Suzuki’s addition to the Yankees by watching this feel good movie about a naturally gifted ballplayer that struggles with his personal demons as he attempts to lead his team to a World Series.

The Natural Screening
Thursday, July 26th Doors: 7:30pm, Film: 8:30pm
FREE
Richmond County Bank Ballpark
75 Richmond Terrace
[Staten Island]

Friday, July 27th – Microphone & Animation Block Party

Friday looks to be a little busier. Queens Museum of Art New York City Building of Flushing Meadows Corona Park will host a FREE screening of Microphone, a film that follows KhaledAbol Naga as he returns to Alexandria, where he dives into a thriving underground music and arts scene.

However, you could also attend the Animation Block Party in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Hey, as the description says: Some call it punk rock, some call it grass roots, but labels aside, NYC-based Animation Block Party is the premier animation festival of the East Coast. For only $12 you can jam to some live music, watch more than 10 animated shorts and go crazy at the after party. Not bad.

Microphone Screening
Friday, July 27th Live Music: 6:30pm, Film: 8:30pm
FREE
Queens Museum of Art New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
[Flushing Meadows]

Animation Block Party
Friday, July 27th at 8pm
Price: $12
Automotive High School
50 Bedford Ave. at North 3th St.
[Williamsburg]

Saturday, July 28th – Grandma Lo-Fi

Grandma Lo-Fi rounds out this week for Rooftop Films. Yes, you read that correctly. Someone’s grandmother, Sigríður Níelsdóttir to be exact, began making music in her living room at the age 70, recording 59 albums and becoming an Icelandic cult hero. Be honest with yourself. You never thought that you’d read that statement, but you did. Filmmakers will be in attendance for a Q & A after the screening, and I’m sure there will be plenty of questions.

Grandma Lo-Fi Screening
Saturday, July 28th at 8pm
Price: $12
The Old American Can Factory
232 Third St. at 3rd Ave.
[Gowanus]

For more info on Rooftop Films or to view the schedule for the rest of the summer, you may do so by visiting their website here.

Photo Credit: rooftopfilms.com