New York City’s scariest film festival, FEARnyc, will conclude its 2019 festival tonight at Film Noir Cinema (122 Meserole Ave) with a tingly, sensational, and sneakily immersive screening. But who’s the man behind the madness? Get to know festival founder, advocate, and horror film fanatic John Capo in this week’s Thursday Spotlight. And remember, if you’re looking to join the spooky fun, Greenpointers get a 20% discount on tonight’s Halloween Night Tingler Event with code GREENPOINTERS20.
Greenpointers: I see that this is your third FEARnyc; how long have you been affiliated with Film Noir Cinema?
John Capo: I founded the festival in 2016 but we took 2018 off to reassess our model. This is our first year at Film Noir Cinema! We were previously in Manhattan but we moved to Greenpoint this year because I love the neighborhood’s vibrant community. We love Greenpoint.
Are all of the film entries original ones? I love that you are spotlighting underrepresented groups in your programming.
We’ve had over 60 films, events, and other activities over the past eight days. Most of them are premieres although we did show some retrospectives including the 35th anniversary screening of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Fritz Lang’s M, a program of surreal short films by David Lynch, and the premiere of the new 4K restoration of George A.Romero and Dario Argento’s Two Evil Eyes. We always spotlight underrepresented groups in our programming. That’s a big part of our mission. This year we focused on queer horror with a discussion on queer themes and characters in horror films curated by The New York Times‘ Erik Piepenburg and the world premiere of the LGBT thriller Hurricane Aaron. We also had films centering on the Native American and Latinx communities.
Now in its fourth year, how do you think FEARnyc has evolved?
We’ve matured just as horror filmmaking has matured. Almost all of our films this year focused on the horrors of real life, whether that’s the dark underbelly of Instagram culture, beauty obsession, conversion therapy, Grindr hookups gone deadly. We even had a film about a mass shooting. I know these topics sound dark, but they really show that horror filmmakers are focusing on relevant issues and moving away from the stereotypical “let’s kill a bunch of pretty girls” tropes that have defined the genre.
Tonight’s the Tingler event! What can audiences expect?
It’s going to be insane. So when The Tingler came out in 1959 its producer William Castle knew that even thought it was a Vincent Price movie it wasn’t the greatest film so he marketed it by staging all these gimmicks in the theater. Buzzers on seats to jolt people, fainting audience members being carried out on stretchers, a monster jumping off the screen and into the theater. We’re recreating that experience at Film Noir Cinema just like it happened in the ’50s. We have showings tonight at 7pm and 9pm. People can get tickets in advance at FEARnyc.com or at the door.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Just a big thank you to the people of Greenpoint for embracing our festival and to all our filmmakers who’ve come from everywhere from Brooklyn to LA to Germany who’ve made this experience incredible.
Still from In Case of Emergency, the opening night film at the 2017 Bushwick Film Festival. L-R: Stefanie Sparks (as Sarah), Jenni Ruiza (as Melinda) and Phoebe Robinson (as Charlene).
October 12th was the 10th Annual Bushwick Film Festival‘s opening night, which showcased the film “In Case of Emergency,” directed and written by Stefanie Sparks. Sparks has been working in film for half her life; In Case of Emergency is her second feature film.
Entering the film festival was a bit daunting for me—I don’t usually attend these types of events. To celebrate the opening night, there was a red carpet reception at the well known House of Yes (2 Wyckoff Ave). Photographers, journalists, and other press and filmmakers were in attendance and mingling amidst bright flashing lights. I was mostly looking forward to the film screening and hadn’t thought about networking, but was approached by a director/producer and a couple of artists. It was a pleasant surprise but also appreciated. Once I entered the theater, I was taken aback by the grandiose scene. The night started off with an emcee and an interview with the founder and CEO of Bushwick Film Festival, Kweighbaye Kotee. She’s an 11-year resident of Bushwick with a passion for independent films.
“Stories are the best way to bring people together,” Kweighbaye says. Her hope with BFF is to inspire women; in particular, women of color. She chose Stefanie Sparks’ film In Case of Emergency to kick off the opening night and the festival itself. “What I’m looking for is diversity on and off camera. An extra bonus with this film is that it was local,” Kotee says. Continue reading →
Last weekend, I attended the second annual Picture Farm Film Festival. It was held at the Picture Farm gallery. Just like last year, it offered a mixture of short films of all stripes and the occasional feature. And just like last year, it was a great event. Here’s a recap of the first day. Continue reading →
I had a great time at the very first Picture Farm Film Festival last year (which I previewed and recapped for Greenpointers). I am looking forward to attending this year’s edition. It takes places this weekend, Saturday 2/7 and Sunday 2/8. I highly encourage you to come see a bunch of great films for free at the Picture Farm Gallery (338 Wythe Avenue). To get you excited, read on for more information and some interviews with the festival organizers and some of the filmmakers. Continue reading →
Back after a successful debut last year, Nitehawk’s second shorts festival kicks off tonight and features programming through Sunday. If you are looking for a diverse array of works from up-and-coming filmmakers, this event is not to be missed! Continue reading →
Who likes Short Shorts? Crest likes Short Shorts! Crest Hardware is proud to announce the Quickie Crest Film Fest, a celebration of local film talent with a fast-paced twist.
They want to see what local movie makers have to offer in the playful, “short short film” format. Participants submit on the theme of “community” – be it personal community, local community, or universal community for the truly ambitious. Any genre will be accepted as long as it can reasonably be tied to the theme.
And they are worth seeing. Like this year’s 17th Brooklyn Film Festival. It’s a keeper. Nothing can compare to watching a movie in an intimate theater (like IndieScreen on Kent) with a bunch of people so open to new (or old) ideas. Continue reading →
Over the weekend, I attended the first day of the first Picture Farm Film Festand I greatly enjoyed it. The team at Picture Farm, long used to holding art exhibitions and other community events at their space at 338 Wythe Ave, decided to launch a free film festival this year. The schedule mixed features, shorts, and documentaries. Continue reading →
This is shaping up to be a big weekend full of cool stuff to do in North Brooklyn. Besides our very own Valentine’s Day Market, Gallery Night, and tons more, there is an exciting new film festival taking place February 8th & 9th hosted by Picture Farm – and it’s FREE. Read on for more details and some interviews with the festival organizer and film makers.
• Window Facing Inward @ Active Space (566 Johnson Ave, Bushwick) Opening Reception: Saturday (8/3) 7-10pm, FREE, Hilary Doyle’s recent work is centered around often unnoticed objects and moments in our daily lives. Doyle’s paintings calls reality into question—some objects may appear real from afar and upon closer inspection, look wobbly, hand-made, and even grotesque, More info
WEDNESDAY 7/31 ♥ Red Hook Firefighter Cook-Off @ Fairway (480-500 Van Brunt St) noon-3pm, FREE, Teams of firefighters will compete to see who can cook the best BBQ! ♥ Goonies Screening @ McCarren Park Summer Screen (Bedford & No. 12th) 6pm, FREE, Screening begins 8pm, Music by Hector’s Pets / The Numerators / Juniper Rising ♫ Melvins / Baroness / Honky @ House of Vans (25 Franklin St) 7pm, FREE ☺ Heavy Metal Laser Plane Comedy Show @ Legion Bar (790 Metropolitan Ave) 8pm, FREE, RSVP ♫ M. Ward / Kami Lyle Trio with Joey Spampinato & Tad Price @ Union Pool (484 Union Ave) 9pm, $15
THURSDAY 8/1 ♦ OMG Webcats: A Retrospective @ Brouwerij Lane (78 Greenpoint Ave) Opening Reception 7-10pm, Arwork by Scott Chasse, OMG Webcats regurgitates mundane yet humorous internet chatter in the form of simple text blurbs along side a seemingly never-ending supply of line drawings of cats, RSVP ♫ Manawi Thorn / Oneironaut / Black Smoke / Alcian / Look a Fang @ Bar Matchless (557 Manhattan Ave) 8pm, $8, RSVP ♫ The Love Language / Eternal Summers / Nightdogs @ Glasslands Gallery (289 Kent Ave) 8pm, $10
FRIDAY 8/2 ♦ To Paint With Fire @ Gallery 1205 (1205 Manhattan Ave, #241) Opening Reception 6-9pm, works by Jennie Jieun Lee and David Bratton, two Greenpoint-based artists who both mix the materials and processes of painting and ceramics, Curated by Ulrika Strömbäck ♦ Pop-Up: The Art of Johnny Rizzo @ Bunny Cutlet (158 Roebling St) 7-10pm ♦ Rural Route Festival Begins @ Museum of Moving Image (36-01 35th Ave, Astoria) 8pm, highlights works that deal with unique people and places outside of the bustle of the city, thru Sunday 8/4 ♦ A Summer’s Tale Screening @ Transmitter Park (Greenpoint Ave & East River) 8:30pm, FREE, More info ♫ Tijuana Panthers / Le Yikes Surf Club @ Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Ave) 8pm, $10 ♫ DJ Bengey Asse’s Soul & Funk Dance Party @ Manhattan Inn (632 Manhattan Ave) Midnight, Free, RSVP
SATURDAY 8/3 ♦ As You Like It by William Shakespeare @ McGolrick Park, 3pm, Free, Bring the kids, pooch and a seat ♥ Blood Drive @ Williamsburg Church (231 Ainslie St) 11:30am-4pm ♫ Wildflower Music Festival @ 106 Emerson Pl, Clinton Hill, 3-11:30pm, Happy Lives / Fan Tan / Ghostess / The Meaning of Life / Spirit Plate / Dog Water / Clouty / Rae and Adam James / Sullied Accolades, RSVP • Kickstarter Film Festival @ Havemeyer Park (So. 3rd bet. Kent Ave & Wythe Ave) 7pm, FREE, selections from some of our favorite features, docs, shorts, animations, and works-in-progress from the past year, all funded on Kickstarter ♦ Window Facing Inward @ Active Space (566 Johnson Ave, Bushwick) Opening Reception 7-10pm, FREE, see above description, More info ♫ Jay Arner / Suā / Sweethearts @ Coco66 (66 Greenpoint Ave) 8pm, $7, More info
SUNDAY 8/4 ♦ As You Like It by William Shakespeare @ McGolrick Park, 3pm, Free, Bring the kids, pooch and a seat ♦ Find Waldo Party @ Word (126 Franklin St) 3pm, after searching for Waldo all over Greenpoint in July, children and families are invited to enjoy snacks, drinks, and prizes ♥ Terrarium Class with Claire “Succulents Edition” @ Brouwerij Lane (78 Greenpoint Ave) 5-7pm, $50, includes all plants and material plus a beer, 4 tix left • Wet Legs / Judson Claiborne / Dead Painters @ North Brooklyn Boat Club (49 Ash St @ McGuinness) 6-9pm, Free, RSVP • Sunday Supper #8 @ North Brooklyn Farms (Havemeyer Park) 7-9pm, $45 – SOLD OUT ♫ Roots 66 Live Reggae Party with Radicators / Daredevil @ Coco 66 (66 Greenpoint Ave) 7-11pm, RSVP
MONDAY 8/5 • Surf and Health Workshop @ [email protected] (33 Nassau Ave) 6:30-8pm, $20, learn surf specific exercises, basic sports nutrition, how to look after your body so you can surf better and keep surfing forever, email info at humanatease.com
♫ Music ♥ Pheremones likely ♦ Art Event ☺ Comedy Event # Foodie Event
