This year we hit 31 film festivals and film series. This year we got a film out at Sundance, went international with Hot Docs, Toronto and Fantasia, found some new friends and visited with some old favorites. All the festivals gave us a ton of films we fell in love with.
There is no way to recount every festival, there were simply too many, with too many films and too many neat things happened. Since I can't recount it all I'll give you some highlights (in order of occurrence):
New York International Children's Film Festival every year the festival year gets going with the first jewel in my top five must attend film festivals. Why do I feel like I'm the only one who realizes how good this festival is? My god every year two or three of the best films of the year come from its screenings (Ernest and Celestine and Day of the Crows this year). and no one seems to notice until way after the fact. It says Children in the title but the films are for everyone and just damn good. If the festival made any missteps its that its now so big its too scattered to get from the multiple locations. Still I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Tribeca We covered 80 features films this year. 80 features- plus lots of shorts. Its insane. However since I and the rest of Unseen Films are insane film nuts this festival is perfect for us. I think this may have become my favorite festival of the year. Its 6 weeks (Press screening start in March) and its lots of movies and lots of talk and lots of insanity. Hell, Mondocurry has us considering all going in on an apartment for this year. For me the best part is this is the one New York Festival where you get to see tons of movies without any preconceived notions since many of the films have never been shown anywhere before. This year I saw so many great films (The Rocket, Red Obsession, Frankenstein's Army, Before Midnight...) I can't wait for next year..
New York Asian Film Festival/Japan Cuts What can I say? JACKIE FREAKING CHAN . Thank you guys. Yea I know it was two weeks early but JACKIE FREAKING CHAN. I love this festival. I love the guys who run it. We hit almost every movie and we all had a blast. I know Japan Cuts isn't really part of NYAFF but they crisscross and I can't see them as anything other than one festival. My one fear about the fests is that Samuel has left the building and his ability to pick good Japanese films may be impacted, I know the influx of Asian film toward the mainstream has impacted their selecting process, but then again they found some winners like Bad Movie, The black films, Countdown, Juvenile Offender. I got to see Eric Kot prove he was the funniest man in the world and I saw this which made me cheer and proved Grady is no longer the greatest intro man going.
Fantasia was something we backed into. We had no intention of covering it, but the oppurtunity arose and I dove in with both feet. Wow Wow and wow. I had so much fun just seeing the movies I'm considering going to the festival in person next year. I loved the mind expanding nature of the choices, from Burning Buddha Man to Across The River to Thanatomorphose to Jack Attack and one of my favorite films of all time Decelerators. Yea there were some clunkers but even those were intriguing.
New York Film Festival is the longest running of the fests listed here and it's a great deal of fun. This year we had the joys of Captain Philips and The Immigrant and Costa De Morte. While this year was very up and down, it still was more up then down and the downs were better than most other festivals ups. My only real complaint with this grand old girl is more and more she's showing things that have screened elsewhere. Still if you're not elsewhere its great to see the films.
Doc NYC latest addition of the big five of must see New York festivals is non-fiction manna from heaven. I love it. Its possibly the best programmed New York festival- I mean the bad films are only bad when compared to the best of the films screening. This is also a must ATTEND festival. you have to go. Most of the filmmakers are there so you get to listen to their thoughts and even talk with them. Truly a festival for and by film lovers. This year it gave me the chance to see my best film of 2014- Things Left Behind. You have to make time and attend next year.
Rocks Off Pro Wrestling- I went to one screening but this is old school. Its a film festival by fans for fans and it felt like home. I had such a good time that should it have the same vibe next year- where I'm planning on going to everything- I'll make the big 5 a big six. And oh yea- the Q&A that followed the film was one of the best I've ever attended.
The South Asian International Film Festival opened my eyes last year to South Asian film. I who knew nothing last year I suddenly saw the wonderful things that was coming from the region. This year the collection of films impressed the hell out of me. There were some winners and even the not so much winners were really good. I can't wait for next year.
Lastly I have to say that I don't know what to make of The New York Chinese Film Festival. Yes I got to meet Donnie Yen, but I'm not sure what to make of the festival. Its got great films, great guests but ran at an odd time (3 days midweek) and seemed to be badly managed (people were milling around waiting for Donnie Yen, did anyone really know this was happening? and the ticket screw up on opening night). This could and should be one of the best festivals of the year. I'm hoping it gets better next year since this should be truly great.
Those are the highlights of this year. With 2014 only days away we're already working on next year with The New York Jewish Festival getting heavy coverage starting next weekend, and we're talking about covering a horror festival in Syracuse and another in Boise (no seriously). Who knows where we'll end up...
Showing posts with label Pro Wrestling Film Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pro Wrestling Film Festival. Show all posts
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Rocks Off Pro Wresting Film Festival: Barbed Wire City
If you didn't manage to make to down to the Kraine theater over the past few days you missed the First Annual Rock Off Professional Wrestling Film Festival. Had I know what it was going to be like I would have made damn sure I could have attended more of the films.
My trip to the festival was fraught with complications including my inability to find the theater. Actually had I not been told it was at KGB I would still be looking for it.
Inside the small entry way was filled with the smell of popcorn. The organizers were right on target and providing free popcorn to ticket holders. Definitely a plus.
When I went into the the theater wrestling music videos were playing on the screen. Since the footage was ECW matches I thought I had arrived late and missed the start of the film so I hustled to my seat. I hadn't missed anything and I had time to relax, unwind and chat briefly to the people around me, Everyone was friendly and talkative.
The Kraine is a multi-purpose black box theater generally is used for regular theatrical performances. It has about 100 seats and is cozy with stadium seating. Wandering into the the theater for the first time with the video images and dim lights I suddenly was flashing back to the grindhouse days of old. This wasn't a legit theater but some old dive house back in the bad old days and for me it was like coming home.
Before the film Mr C, Chocko and Hubert arrived enmass. They plopped down into seats and we waited for the movie to arrive. Mondocurry had said that he might make an appearance and he managed to arrive just as the film was introduced.
BARBED WIRE CITY is an unauthorized look at the ECW. This was a more extreme wrestling organization that made its mark with violent and bloody matches that whipped the crowds into frenzies. When the ECW shows played on cable TV they played late at night in many markets because they were so out there.
The film charts the course of the organization from its founding in the backroom at at sports bar on to it's cult status, its TV and pay per view days and to its ultimate demise thanks in large part never being able to generate enough cash to cover costs (the big name ECW wrestlers frequently were stolen by WCW and WWE for large and regular pay checks)
An excellent documentary on the subject this is a film that will tell you everything you want to know about the once third biggest game in town.
After the film was an almost one hour long Q&A that had not only the filmmakers, but writers fans and wrestlers all of which were there. This was one of the best Q&A's I've ever seen since not only did the MC ask all the right questions so did the audience. There wasn't one bad question. This was the sort of thing you didn't want to end. (Chocko recorded the Q&A and I'll link to it if he posts it.)
After the Q&A we all headed into the night. I had a family matter to take care of and everyone else had places to go.
For my money I had a great time. I had such a good time that I emailed the festival to tell them so and to plead for a repeat next year. Honestly this was one of the best times I had at the movies all year and I want a chance to repeat it more time next year. Hopefully they'll repeat next year and I can keep it on my list of must attend NY film festivals.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
The First Annual Rocks Pro Off Wrestling Film Festival is happening NOW!
I know that we’ve been all DOC NYC all the time, but earlier tonight the Rocks Off Pro Wrestling Film Festival started at the Kraine Theater in Manhattan. The festival is full of films about and starring professional wrestlers.
Running through Saturday the festival is one of the best deals in New York this weekend with most tickets only five bucks. Five bucks for a movie? That’s unheard of in this day and age.
The Unseen crew is planning on descending on the festival on Saturday with a bunch of us coming and going through the day.
Details can be found here.
My advice is you should get out and see it lest someone give you a big body slam.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
More news from the Rocks off Pro Wrestling Film Festival
SADERMANIA, BARBED WIRE CITY JOIN SLATE OF FILMS SCHEDULED FOR FIRST ANNUAL ROCKS OFF PRO WRESTLING FILM FESTIVAL THIS NOVEMBER IN NYC
The first annual Rocks Off Pro Wrestling Film Festival is proud to announce two additional films that will screen as part of our celebration of pro wrestling this November at the Kraine Theater in New York City:
Special NYC Screening!SADERMANIA (2013, Director Adam Gacka)
SATURDAY November 23rd - 11 AM, Doors 10:30 AM
Even if you have a passing casual reflection on the world of professional wrestling, you know who the red & yellow emblazoned Hulk Hogan is. Icon of the 1980s national wrestling explosion, Hogan remains one of the most well known celebrities of his era, parlaying that success into reality TV, feature films and much more. But, despite the hype, the prayers, the training, the vitamins and the larger than life persona he's cultivated, Hulk Hogan is just another mortal man - but one that has inspired countless others with his exploits.
There is perhaps no one in the world more moved than Chris Sader, the world's number one Hulkamaniac. SADERMANIA tells the story of their inspirational tale, as Sader and Hogan relate how they met and developed a bond through mutual struggles and personal loss that each would have faced alone if not for the unlikely friendship that develops between them.
What happens when fan befriends hero? That's the power of SADERMANIA.
To order tickets to the SADERMANIA screening, click here
Time to Get Extreme!
BARBED WIRE CITY (2013, Directors John Philapavage & Kevin Kiernan)
SATURDAY November 23rd - 4 PM Doors 3:30 PM
"The Most Accurate Telling of the ECW Story" - Joey Styles, the voice of Extreme Championship Wrestling
Utilizing a recipe of over the top theatrics, balls to the wall violence and vibrant characterizations so deep they cut to the bone and an audience so passionate they became part of the show, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) exemplified the excess of its era, becoming the punk rock pro wrestling product.
So what happens when a wrestling promotion so steeped in originality sees its concepts poached by larger, international companies with a far wider audience and far deeper pockets? Co-Directors John Philapavage and Kevin Kiernan's critically acclaimed documentary digs deep into the psyche and history of the ECW culture to examine what made it tick, why so many lived and died by the initials and what happened to these hard-living, hard-performing eclectic personalities when ECW ceased to exist.
Often compared to Nirvana's influence on music, ECW changed the professional wrestling landscape as well as the lives of its performers and fans forever. BARBED WIRE CITY took a decade to film and complete in order to provide a final epitaph on the gravestone of the only pro wrestling promotion in history that saw it's audience rescue it from the brink of oblivion...and then resurrect it.
Following Barbed Wire City's screening, Co-Directors John Philapavage & Kevin Kiernan, Strictly ECW Fan campaign leader Tony Lewis and a number of performers from the original ECW will be on hand for a special Q&A discussion on the film and legacy of ECW.
To order tickets to the BARBED WIRE CITY screening, click here
.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED EVENTS:
Thursday November 21st - To order tickets for OPENING NIGHT MANIA featuring Colt Cabana & Friends, click here.
Friday November 22nd - To order tickets to the World Premiere screening of Adam Pearce's documentary SEVEN LEVELS OF HATE, click here.
Saturday November 23rd - To order tickets to Cody Knott's NYC debut screening of PRO WRESTLERS VS. ZOMBIES, click here.
The first annual Rocks Off Film Festival will take place the weekend of 11/21-11/23 in New York City at the Kraine Theater. The event will feature a number of special events and screenings including live appearances by Directors and wrestling stars for post-screening Q&As, a special comedy event as $5 Wrestling Presents Colt Cabana & Friends Watch Bad Movies and more - all to celebrate, spotlight and exploit the unique sporting genre known as professional wrestling. All events will be hosted by Kevin Gill, the voice of Juggalo Championship Wrestling. For more on all the events scheduled and complete ticketing information, visit www.rocksoff.com/filmfest.
The first annual Rocks Off Pro Wrestling Film Festival is proud to announce two additional films that will screen as part of our celebration of pro wrestling this November at the Kraine Theater in New York City:
Special NYC Screening!SADERMANIA (2013, Director Adam Gacka)
SATURDAY November 23rd - 11 AM, Doors 10:30 AM
Even if you have a passing casual reflection on the world of professional wrestling, you know who the red & yellow emblazoned Hulk Hogan is. Icon of the 1980s national wrestling explosion, Hogan remains one of the most well known celebrities of his era, parlaying that success into reality TV, feature films and much more. But, despite the hype, the prayers, the training, the vitamins and the larger than life persona he's cultivated, Hulk Hogan is just another mortal man - but one that has inspired countless others with his exploits.
There is perhaps no one in the world more moved than Chris Sader, the world's number one Hulkamaniac. SADERMANIA tells the story of their inspirational tale, as Sader and Hogan relate how they met and developed a bond through mutual struggles and personal loss that each would have faced alone if not for the unlikely friendship that develops between them.
What happens when fan befriends hero? That's the power of SADERMANIA.
To order tickets to the SADERMANIA screening, click here
Time to Get Extreme!
BARBED WIRE CITY (2013, Directors John Philapavage & Kevin Kiernan)
SATURDAY November 23rd - 4 PM Doors 3:30 PM
"The Most Accurate Telling of the ECW Story" - Joey Styles, the voice of Extreme Championship Wrestling
Utilizing a recipe of over the top theatrics, balls to the wall violence and vibrant characterizations so deep they cut to the bone and an audience so passionate they became part of the show, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) exemplified the excess of its era, becoming the punk rock pro wrestling product.
So what happens when a wrestling promotion so steeped in originality sees its concepts poached by larger, international companies with a far wider audience and far deeper pockets? Co-Directors John Philapavage and Kevin Kiernan's critically acclaimed documentary digs deep into the psyche and history of the ECW culture to examine what made it tick, why so many lived and died by the initials and what happened to these hard-living, hard-performing eclectic personalities when ECW ceased to exist.
Often compared to Nirvana's influence on music, ECW changed the professional wrestling landscape as well as the lives of its performers and fans forever. BARBED WIRE CITY took a decade to film and complete in order to provide a final epitaph on the gravestone of the only pro wrestling promotion in history that saw it's audience rescue it from the brink of oblivion...and then resurrect it.
Following Barbed Wire City's screening, Co-Directors John Philapavage & Kevin Kiernan, Strictly ECW Fan campaign leader Tony Lewis and a number of performers from the original ECW will be on hand for a special Q&A discussion on the film and legacy of ECW.
To order tickets to the BARBED WIRE CITY screening, click here
.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED EVENTS:
Thursday November 21st - To order tickets for OPENING NIGHT MANIA featuring Colt Cabana & Friends, click here.
Friday November 22nd - To order tickets to the World Premiere screening of Adam Pearce's documentary SEVEN LEVELS OF HATE, click here.
Saturday November 23rd - To order tickets to Cody Knott's NYC debut screening of PRO WRESTLERS VS. ZOMBIES, click here.
The first annual Rocks Off Film Festival will take place the weekend of 11/21-11/23 in New York City at the Kraine Theater. The event will feature a number of special events and screenings including live appearances by Directors and wrestling stars for post-screening Q&As, a special comedy event as $5 Wrestling Presents Colt Cabana & Friends Watch Bad Movies and more - all to celebrate, spotlight and exploit the unique sporting genre known as professional wrestling. All events will be hosted by Kevin Gill, the voice of Juggalo Championship Wrestling. For more on all the events scheduled and complete ticketing information, visit www.rocksoff.com/filmfest.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
FIRST TWO SCREENINGS ANNOUNCED FOR FIRST EVER ROCKS OFF PRO WRESTLING FILM FEST THIS NOVEMBER IN NYC
The first annual Rocks Off Pro Wrestling Film Festival is proud to announce the first screenings set for this November's Festival at the Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Sreet) in New York City:
WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING!
SEVEN LEVELS OF HATE (2013, Director Adam Pearce)
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22nd - 6:30 PM SCREENING, Doors 6 PM
"Seven Levels of Hate" takes a deep look into one of the most celebrated feuds in the world of independent pro wrestling of the past several years between throwback villain "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce and everyman hero Colt "Boom Boom" Cabana over the NWA World championship. Originally designed as a film to document the creative evolution of their seven match series, real-life drama forces the film to take a sharp turn as legal battles change the landscape of the National Wrestling Alliance, forcing established creative plans to go to hell. What happens when the wrestlers end up at odds with the promotion they are trying to help build and strengthen? Seven Levels of Hate tells that tale.
"Seven Levels of Hate" director Adam Pearce will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A on the film and his career. The film will be preceded by several "Steel Cage Shorts" to be announced.
To order tickets to the SEVEN LEVELS OF HATE screening, click here.
FIRST NYC SCREENING!
PRO WRESTLERS VS. ZOMBIES (2013, Director Cody Knotts)
SATURDAY November 23rd - 8:00 PM SCREENING, Doors 7:30 PM
If the cast of the Walking Dead could throw dropkicks and arm themselves with steel chairs, their lives would be a lot easier...or would it? Writer-Director Cody Knotts' brand-new meshing of the zombie and pro wrestling genres - "Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies" - sets an abandoned prison as the battlefield when a troupe of professional wrestlers are booked for a private show, only to find themselves face to face with the undead. Unfortunately for the zombie nation, they aren't just facing any group of professional wrestlers, they are facing living legends like WWE Hall of Famers Terry Funk and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Matt Hardy, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, former ECW World champions "The Franchise" Shane Douglas and Raven, Larry Zbyszko and even Olympic gold medalist turned WWE and TNA World champion Kurt Angle!
We are proud to present this special screening of Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies, which will be followed by a special Q&A with Knotts and additional members of the cast and production to be announced!
To order tickets to PRO WRESTLERS VS. ZOMBIES screening, click here.
If you are a director or producer looking to solicit your film for inclusion in the Rocks Off Pro Wrestling Film Festival, email RocksOffProWrestling@gmail.com
. Limited slots are still available but we are seeking complete films, documentaries, short films, animated films and more!
The first annual Rocks Off Film Festival will take place the weekend of 11/21-11/23 in New York City at the Kraine Theater. The event will feature a number of special events and screenings including live appearances by Directors and wrestling stars for post-screening Q&As, a special comedy event as $5 Wrestling Presents Colt Cabana & Friends Watch Bad Movies and more - all to celebrate, spotlight and exploit the unique sporting genre known as professional wrestling. All events will be hosted by Kevin Gill, the voice of Juggalo Championship Wrestling. For more on all the events scheduled and complete ticketing information, visit www.rocksoff.com/filmfest.
WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING!
SEVEN LEVELS OF HATE (2013, Director Adam Pearce)
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22nd - 6:30 PM SCREENING, Doors 6 PM
"Seven Levels of Hate" takes a deep look into one of the most celebrated feuds in the world of independent pro wrestling of the past several years between throwback villain "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce and everyman hero Colt "Boom Boom" Cabana over the NWA World championship. Originally designed as a film to document the creative evolution of their seven match series, real-life drama forces the film to take a sharp turn as legal battles change the landscape of the National Wrestling Alliance, forcing established creative plans to go to hell. What happens when the wrestlers end up at odds with the promotion they are trying to help build and strengthen? Seven Levels of Hate tells that tale.
"Seven Levels of Hate" director Adam Pearce will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A on the film and his career. The film will be preceded by several "Steel Cage Shorts" to be announced.
To order tickets to the SEVEN LEVELS OF HATE screening, click here.
FIRST NYC SCREENING!
PRO WRESTLERS VS. ZOMBIES (2013, Director Cody Knotts)
SATURDAY November 23rd - 8:00 PM SCREENING, Doors 7:30 PM
If the cast of the Walking Dead could throw dropkicks and arm themselves with steel chairs, their lives would be a lot easier...or would it? Writer-Director Cody Knotts' brand-new meshing of the zombie and pro wrestling genres - "Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies" - sets an abandoned prison as the battlefield when a troupe of professional wrestlers are booked for a private show, only to find themselves face to face with the undead. Unfortunately for the zombie nation, they aren't just facing any group of professional wrestlers, they are facing living legends like WWE Hall of Famers Terry Funk and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Matt Hardy, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, former ECW World champions "The Franchise" Shane Douglas and Raven, Larry Zbyszko and even Olympic gold medalist turned WWE and TNA World champion Kurt Angle!
We are proud to present this special screening of Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies, which will be followed by a special Q&A with Knotts and additional members of the cast and production to be announced!
To order tickets to PRO WRESTLERS VS. ZOMBIES screening, click here.
If you are a director or producer looking to solicit your film for inclusion in the Rocks Off Pro Wrestling Film Festival, email RocksOffProWrestling@gmail.com
. Limited slots are still available but we are seeking complete films, documentaries, short films, animated films and more!
The first annual Rocks Off Film Festival will take place the weekend of 11/21-11/23 in New York City at the Kraine Theater. The event will feature a number of special events and screenings including live appearances by Directors and wrestling stars for post-screening Q&As, a special comedy event as $5 Wrestling Presents Colt Cabana & Friends Watch Bad Movies and more - all to celebrate, spotlight and exploit the unique sporting genre known as professional wrestling. All events will be hosted by Kevin Gill, the voice of Juggalo Championship Wrestling. For more on all the events scheduled and complete ticketing information, visit www.rocksoff.com/filmfest.
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