The Downtown Festival At The Roxy Cinema

THE DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL is a celebration of emerging and established independent artists across film, music, art and culture in NYC. These artists and their work contribute to the fabric of “downtown” and the festival reflects that special convergence of various disciplines. The Festival showcases up-and-coming talent alongside established icons through dynamic and exciting film screenings, music performances, panel discussions, and special events. Attendees are invited to experience a diverse array of voices and unique perspectives on the forefront of artistic expression. In the spirit of the energy of lower Manhattan, the Festival acts as a melting pot of ideas, inspiration, and collaboration. Events are taking place all over lower Manhattan and the Festival is partnering with legendary organizations such as The Film-Makers’ Co-Op, Gordon Matta Clark’s Estate, and more.

Roxy Cinema is the home base for the festival’s film screenings — World and NY premieres. The film-heavy weekend is October 4-6, with additional screenings throughout the week. October 11-13 will be more music + art focused and October 18-20 will include some special events.

Here is the screening information for the currently announced films for The Downtown Festival:

https://thedowntownfestival.com/films

Or Something by Jeffrey Scotti Schroeder + Q&A:

Two strangers show up at the same Brooklyn apartment to collect cash they’re both owed. Forced to spend the day together on a journey through New York City, the pair reveal intimate details about their lives. One of them happens to be hiding a harrowing secret. World Premiere.

Q&A with director Jeffrey Scotti Schroeder and cast following screening. Moderated by Jeremy O. Harris.

The Code by Eugene Kotlyarenko + Q&A:

A sexless couple, paranoid about the status of their relationship, embraces surveillance, spying and performance as a means to fall in love again, in this absurd, high-concept comedy.

NY Premiere.

Q&A with Eugene Kotlyarenko following screening.

Shorts Program 1 + Q&A

SHORTS PROGRAM 1

World and New York Premieres

Followed by Q&A with the filmmakers

Third House of Saturn by Jesse Brant Howell

Hi! You Are Currently Being Recorded by Anna Maguire and Kyle Greenberg

All The Words On The Page by Hunter Gause

His Mother by Maia Scalia

Here Comes Kermit Williams by Ryan Terk

And You Had Tourettes by Luis Figueroa Caunedo

Out To Lunch by Miles Emanuel

Los Mosquitos by Nicole Chi

Program runtime: 1hr32

Pet Shop Days by Olmo Schnabel + Q&A:

In an act of desperation, impulsive black sheep Alejandro flees his home in Mexico. On the run from his unforgiving father, Alejandro finds himself in New York City where he meets Jack, a college age pet store employee with similar parental baggage. Together the two enter a whirlwind romance sending them down the rabbit hole of drugs and depravity in Manhattan’s underworld. When Alejandro’s past threatens to catch up with him, Jack is forced to choose between his family and a life on the run. New York Premiere.

Q&A with Olmo Schnabel following screening.

Messy by Alexi Wasser + Q&A:

Messy is a neurotic sex comedy romp about a promiscuous love addict named Stella who moves to New York after a bad breakup, and her quest to find love and purpose – one disappointing date at a time. A coming of age story about a woman who should have already come of age. New York Premiere.

Q&A with Alexi Wasser following screening. Moderated by Chloë Sevigny.

Light Falls by Phedon Papamichael + Q&A: Clara, a Georgian model based in Los Angeles has a job in Greece and takes her girlfriend Ella along for an island holiday. Altin, Veton and Eddy are young Albanian illegals, part of a shadow society of laborers living in an abandoned seaside hotel. Clara and Ella explore the site when an accident occurs. The Albanians don’t speak a word of English. Different worlds collide and misunderstandings lead to the situation spiraling into violence and revenge. Exposing the plight of a social group fundamental to the Greek economy, the story highlights the consequences of fear, prejudice and exploitation. NY Premiere.

Q&A moderated by Beach Fossils” Jack Doyle Smith and Tommy Davidson following screening.

Packers Confidential: Bird of Paradise by Tracey Todd + Q&A:

The Ion Pack, New York City’s once-anonymous Instagram trolls of the downtown film world, talk with filmmakers as they contemplate life, love and longing in the city of 8 million stories. World Premiere.

Q&A with director Tracey Todd, The Ion Pack, Caveh Zahedi and Lucien Smith following screening.

WWW.RACHELORMONT.COM by Peter Vack:

Rachel doesn’t realize she has grown up in captivity working for an advertising agency where her job is to assess Mommy 6.0, her favorite pop star in the whole entire world. New York Premiere.

Q&A with Peter Vack following screening.

Shorts Program 2 + Q&A:

SHORTS PROGRAM 2

World and New York Premieres

Q&A moderated by Special Guest

Films:

The Richest Man in Babylon by Nina Cristante

Rest In Peace by Rachel Amodeo

Soul City by M. Henry Jones

Zopa – A Still Life by Victoria Imperioli

500 Flowers by AC

Afterparty by Kava Gorna

The Method by Rick Rocha

The Date by Avery O’Rourke

Film-Makers’ Co-Op Program:

A Special Film-Makers’ Co-Op Program presented by Stephanie LaCava, Daniel Arnold, and Alex Ross Perry.

 

Food by Gordon Matta-Clark + Q&A:

Presented with The Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark.

Food (1972) is a film by Gordon Matta-Clark that documents a day in the life of the legendary SoHo artist-run restaurant Food, which opened in 1971.

Followed by a conversation with artist Lucien Smith, who is opening a new Food restaurant, and filmmaker Zachary Graves-Miller, who is currently making a documentary about Food. Moderated by Jessamyn Fiore, Co-Director of the Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark.Program curated by Sophie Kaufman.