AT&T: Helping Rooftop Films Build Something Bigger

“Each year, we hope to expand Rooftop’s events and produce bigger, better, and more uniquely memorable screenings,” said Dan Nuxoll, Program Director for Rooftop Films. “AT&T’s assistance has helped us to achieve our goals more spectacularly than ever before, and the tremendous growth of the last two years is largely attributable to AT&T’s support. Further, their support of the Rooftop Filmmakers Fund is tremendously helpful to independent filmmakers. In a time when indie filmmakers sometimes struggle to get their films made, AT&T’s grant is making it possible for a few of them to get their movies made and made well.”

This year, AT&T returns as Presenting Sponsor of the Rooftop Films Summer Series, helping Rooftop to enhance, reinvent and reinvigorate our outdoor screenings all summer long, with more than 45 screenings of new, independent films in stunning locations all across New York City. Rooftop Films does more than show movies—we’re building a community. To do that, Rooftop must engage, inspire, and show the community something they’ve never seen before. To make something that matters, Rooftop events must be unique, engaging and memorable; and Rooftop could not do that without the generous support of AT&T. In 2013 AT&T will be supporting the New York based not for profit and the independent film community in a variety of ways.
“AT&T is thrilled to continue supporting Rooftop Films Summer Series, a cultural touchstone in New York City” said Marissa Shorenstein, President, AT&T New York. “The independent and not for profit film community is culturally and economically vital to New York City and our support will ensure that these artists can continue to flourish right here. From the Feature Films Grant to community giving to the festival’s first ever podcast series, the Summer Series and AT&T continue to work together to find new and innovative ways to connect this community.”

Artistic Support
The support of AT&T helped Rooftop Films to produce their most spectacular bumper trailer to date, an epic stop motion animation timelapse video shot atop Rooftop’s newest Brooklyn venue, Industry City. Directed by Rooftop Founder and Artistic Director Mark Elijah Rosenberg and produced with the help of acclaimed filmmakers Brent Green (Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then) and Todd Chandler (Floodtide), cinematographer Wyatt Garfield (Ping Pong Summer), and producer Matt Parker (Beasts of the Southern Wild, Bachelorette). The trailer features a spectacular tracking shot of a structure being built out of electronic scraps that eventually form a makeshift projector which projects the Rooftop Films and AT&T logos against the wall of the Industry City rooftop as the Manhattan skyline flicks in the background.

Filmmakers Fund
For the second straight year, AT&T will be sponsoring the Rooftop Films AT&T Feature Films Grant, which will be awarded to a Rooftop Films alumnus filmmaker to help them to produce their next feature film project. In 2012, the grant was awarded to Bill and Turner Ross (Tchoupitoulas, 45365) for their latest documentary, currently in production in Texas. The AT&T Feature Film Grant is part of the Rooftop Films Filmmakers Fund which has awarded grants to dozens of filmmakers over the past decade, including Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints), Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, selected for the 2013 Cannes Director’s Fortnight) Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Lucy Walker (The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom), and many other highly acclaimed films.

The 2013 Filmmakers Fund Winners will be announced in August.

Enhanced Events

AT&T’s support has helped Rooftop Films to enhance the Summer Series and produce a more exciting slate of screenings and special events than ever before. 2013 Screenings with special components will include live performances by a nine-man brass ensemble (Brother’s Hypnotic, May 17), a screening on a boat in Red Hook (Expedition to the End of the World, August 1), a sneak preview of a new hit independent film on a farm in Queens (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, August 15), a special, free, pre-Independence Day screening (Our Nixon, July 3), and dozens of other spectacular events all across New York City.

Community Giving

AT&T is also helping Rooftop Films reach out to their community for support by helping to set up a mobile giving platform that will allow audience members to donate to Rooftop Films via text messages. In addition to providing the service, AT&T will additionally be matching the first $10,000 in donations dollar for dollar.

Filmwax Radio Podcast
For the first time in 2013, Rooftop Films and AT&T will be the presenting sponsors of the Filmwax Radio Podcast, a weekly program that features interviews with the top independent filmmakers in the world. Host Adam Schartoff re-launched Filmwax Radio on May 1st with interviews with Rooftop Films programmers Dan Nuxoll and Mark Elijah Rosenberg, and recent and future guests will include Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig, Reuben Atlas, Jeff Nichols, Amy Seimetz, and many more indie film stars. The support of AT&T will help Filmwax to continue to expand their ever-widening audience and provide a platform for Rooftop Films filmmakers to discuss their latest work.