It’s almost time for Rooftop’s annual New York-centric doc program, New York Non-Fiction. Friday’s lineup spotlights a poetry-writing cab driver, skateboarders-turned-picklers, and Buffalo-based Juggalos, among others. Interested? Here are a few New York Non-Fiction highlights from previous years.
Odysseus’ Gambit (Dir. Alex Lora, shown in 2012)
In chess, a gambit is a strategic pawn sacrifice that hopefully leads to greater control of the board. This applies in Odysseus’s Gambit, which tells the story of a Cambodian-American chess player in Union Square. Alex Lora’s film was a Documentary Finalist at the 2012 Vimeo Awards, and also won the Golden Dragon for Best Short at the Krakow Film Festival.
We Will Forget (Dir. Garret Harkawik, shown in 2013)
Robert Fitzpatrick poured his life savings into publicizing the May 2011 Rapture via public transportation advertisements. In this Vimeo Staff Pick, Garret Harkawik films Fitzpatrick while he prepares for the Rapture and processes its quiet passing.
The Apartment (Dir. Josh Freed, shown in 2014)
Yossi Rosenberg’s chronicle of finding a roommate is compelling in its own right, but it’s his dynamic delivery and range of audiences that really make this short film memorable. Josh Freed masterfully edits together this sketch of NYC apartment living.
Hope to see you at New York Non-Fiction this Friday at Industry City!
**Keep an eye out for more posts from Short Cuts, where we’ll be spotlighting short films from Rooftop Films Summer Series filmmakers.**