Greenpoint is a hub for filmmaking, boasting countless production companies and film facilities, in addition to the oft-maligned and very frequent film shoots that tend to clog our slender sidewalks and historical streets. We would argue that Greenpoint’s been culturally interesting and relevant for many years, but some have said that Girls being filmed here helped put Greenpoint on the map. Our neighborhood’s own Greenpoint Film Festival returns for its sixth year, from this Thursday May 4th through Sunday May 7th, presenting a diverse range of shorts and feature-length films, many with a local slant. A panel of six judges curated the fest after receiving hundreds of submissions in set categories: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental and Animation. The GFF’s ongoing mission is to show the imperative ties between art and the public. All the screenings will be held at the Wythe Hotel Screening Room (80 Wythe Ave).
There’s a local environmental slant to some of the pieces, and the first film in the fest, Greenpoint 2017, chronicles the toxic remediation of Brooklyn’s waterfront areas. Greenpoint 2017 continues the journey started by filmmaker Coleen Fitzgibbon, whose Greenpoint 2016 was screened last year. The film explored Newtown Creek’s contamination via boat. Fitzgibbon also has a short film in this year’s fest, Bushwick Inlet Park, which chronicles the activism required to make the park a reality. Another environmental piece, Waterways of Hope by Robert DiMaio, focuses on the individuals involved in environmental projects along Newtown Creek.
Aside from the environmental pieces, there’s a full range of work being shown throughout the weekend, including animation and narrative features. Tickets ($10-56) can be purchased online and at the door. Check out the schedule for full details and film summaries.