The Reeler

NY, NY Narrative Feature Competition

The NY, NY Narrative Feature Competition presents New York Stories ranging from the creation of a cult, to familial re-connection, to urban follies, to films that use experimental ideas and push the boundaries of technology. Includes thirteen films, all of which are World Premieres:

Brother’s Shadow, directed by Todd S. Yellin, written by Yellin and Ivan Solomon (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. A family's black sheep (Scott Cohen), once imprisoned and now on parole, returns home to Brooklyn after 15 years. But his return home packs more surprises than he bargained for. His brother has died, his father (Judd Hirsch) and sister-in-law don't trust him, and the family business is on the brink of being sold.

East Broadway, directed by Fay Ann Lee, written by Fay Ann Lee and Karen Rousso (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Grace is a Chinese American who longs to be a part of New York's high society. At a socialite event, she is mistaken for a Hong Kong heiress and meets her Prince Charming. Nothing is as it seems absorbing drama. What will happen to this Cinderella when the clock strikes midnight? Featuring Fay Ann Lee, Margaret Cho, Gale Harold, and Christine Baranski. In English and Cantonese.

Fifty Pills, directed by Theo Avgerinos, written by Matthew Perniciaro (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. College student Darren (Lou Taylor Pucci) has just lost his scholarship because of his partying roommate's antics. Now, in order to make his tuition payment, he needs to sell 50 tablets of Ecstasy-graciously supplied by his roommate-over the course of just one day. Avgerinos' directorial debut features Kristen Bell of Veronica Mars as Darren's girlfriend.

H.C.E., directed and written by Richard Sylvarnes (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. In this rapid-cut, experimental, tragicomedy collage of mythology, history, literature, and comic books, Sylvarnes bounces us through a fragmented, impressionistic history of the world from Napoleon to Jesus, from Socrates to Superman and back again with a 6-year-old girl as our guide.

Just Like the Son, directed and written by Morgan J. Freeman (U.S.A.) - World Premiere. A petty thief's mentoring of an apparent orphan takes a profound turn when he kidnaps the boy from a foster home and drives him cross-country to his sister's house in Texas. This charming road movie logs plenty of poignant moments without cloying sentiment. Starring Mark Webber and Rosie Perez.

Kettle of Fish, directed and written by Claudia Meyers, (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. A lifelong bachelor (Matthew Modine) confronts his intimacy issues when he sublets his apartment to a fetching biologist (Gina Gershon). His heartsick fish and his wise best buddy are on hand to provide perspective in this winsome feature debut that will appeal to romantics of any species. Presented by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Kiss Me Again, directed by William Tyler Smith, written by Smith and J.D. Hoxter (U.S.A.) - World Premiere. Kiss Me Again is a witty and provocative portrayal of a married couple that decides to test the boundaries of their relationship with a seductive Spanish woman. When an unlikely relationship ensues, all three are forced to rethink their definition of love. Starring Jeremy London, Katheryn Winnick, Darrell Hammond, Elisa Donovan, Mirelly Taylor, and Fred Armisen.

“Marvelous”, directed and written by Siofra Campbell (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. A sharp and shrewd satire of the celebrity generation, Síofra Campbell's "Marvelous" chronicles the rapid rise and fall of Gwen as an unlikely celebrity "healer," and how her life and the lives of her sister and brother-in-law are slowly twisted, first into a publicity machine and then, unexpectedly, a cult. Starring Ewan Bremner, Martha Plimpton, Amy Ryan, Michael Shannon, and Annabella Sciorra.

Metro, directed and written by Adolfo Doring (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Doring takes a rigorously observational approach to chronicling the relationships that a group of young, creative women form with one another over a period of months in New York City. By avoiding any trace of artificiality, he uncovers intimate character details that other films usually shy away from, making Metro truly unique.

New York Waiting, directed and written by Joachim Hedén (Sweden) – World Premiere. Hedén's debut film sensitively illuminates the effects of lovesickness and wanderlust. After Sidney sends his lost love a plane ticket and a letter, asking her to meet him at the top of the Empire State Building, he unexpectedly meets a lovesick woman. Together they wander the streets of New York, lamenting their lost loves while secretly wondering if they're falling in love with each other. In English.

The Treatment, directed by Oren Rudavsky, written by Daniel Housman and Oren Rudavsky (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Jake Singer is a frustrated, confused, and recently dumped New York schoolteacher who enters into therapy in an attempt to find guidance in his life. The treatment appears to be working, but when he suddenly falls in love with a beautiful widow, Jake is forced to battle his therapist's alarmingly strong influence. Starring Chris Eigeman, Ian Holm, and Famke Janssen.

A Very Serious Person, directed by Charles Busch, written by Busch and Carl Andress (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Actor/writer/drag performer Charles Busch makes a disarmingly effortless transition from high camp to conventional comedy-drama with this sweet-natured coming-of-age tale about a showtunes- and old Hollywood-obsessed boy and his effete Danish mentor. The two bond and teach each other lessons about self-acceptance over the course of one magical summer on the Jersey Shore.

Windows, directed and written by Shoja Y. Azari, (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Azari weaves together a loosely-constructed narrative based on 10 choreographed, single-shot scenes framed by windows. Preceded by 25 Letters, Grahame Weinbren's interactive project based on his one-minute films that generate the letters of the alphabet.

NY, NY Documentary Feature Competition

The NY, NY Documentaries Feature Competition section includes stories about immigration, reality TV flops, and the birth of a New York charitable institution. Includes thirteen films, all of which are World Premieres:

American Cannibal: The Road to Reality, directed by Perry Grebin and Michael Nigro (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. In this unflinching, behind-the-scenes look at a doomed reality show, a pair of novice TV writers team up with the distributor of the Paris Hilton sex tapes to create a reality show in which contestants are starved on a desert island. More than just gripping entertainment, this documentary poses important questions about how far people will go in pursuit of fame and fortune.

The Cats of Mirikitani, directed by Linda Hattendorf (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Jimmy Mirikitani is a fiercely independent, homeless 80-year-old Japanese-American artist who lost family and friends to both WWII internment camps in the U.S. and Hiroshima's atomic bombing. In this intimate and funny portrayal of the healing power of art, Mirikitani makes peace with his past and journeys from homeless to home. In English and Japanese.

Dorothy Day: Don’t Call Me A Saint, directed by Claudia Larson (U.S.A.) - World Premiere. Leftist writer and activist Dorothy Day had an abortion, got a divorce, and bore a daughter out of wedlock. She also co-founded the Catholic Worker movement, leaving an important social legacy. This film explores the complex life of a woman who has already been placed on the official road to sainthood by the Vatican.

Follow My Voice: With the Music of Hedwig, directed by Katherine Linton (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Jonathan Richman, Sleater-Kinney, Rufus Wainwright and a host of other musicians record a benefit album of songs from Hedwig and the Angry Inch for the Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, the first LGBTQ high school in the nation. While the doc follows four students, the music creates a soundtrack for their lives.

Golden Venture, directed and written by Peter Cohn (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. The merchant ship Golden Venture was intercepted near New York City in 1993 with 300 undocumented Chinese immigrants onboard. Many of them went to jail for up to four years, and they're still seeking amnesty today. An engrossing chronicle of immigrants and their struggles for recognition and a better life. In English and Chinese

Jack Smith & the Destruction of Atlantis, directed and written by Mary Jordan (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Jordan creates a mesmerizing collage of images and audio from the life and work of Jack Smith, the underground filmmaker, photographer, performance artist, and anti-capitalist, who worked in New York from the '60s until his death in 1989. Highlights include the story behind the Supreme Court case over the banning of his 1963 classic Flaming Creatures.

Lockdown, USA, directed by Michael Skolnik and Rebecca Chaiklin (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. This powerful doc chronicles Russell Simmons' quest to repeal the Rockefeller Drug Laws and how it effects the convicted's families. Simmons gives it his all; from assembling a rally with celebrities like 50 Cent and Mariah Carey to help raise awareness with New York City's youth, to meeting with New York Governor George Pataki.

The One Percent, directed by Jamie Johnson (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Money can buy everything except social justice in this hard-hitting and hilarious documentary. By examining the lives of the rich and the poor, Johnson, heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, uncovers frightening realities. Featuring a full spectrum of interviewees: Steve Forbes, members of Johnson's family, cab drivers, and victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Saint of 9/11, directed by Glenn Holstein (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. A loving tribute to Fire Department Chaplain Father Mychal Judge: parish priest, streetwise New Yorker, recovering alcoholic, and proud homosexual who gave his life on September 11 after administering last rites to a fallen firefighter. Saint of 9/11 traces the journey and struggles of a man whose compassion touched the world.

A Stadium Story: The Battle for New York’s Last Frontier, directed by Jevon Roush and Benjamin Rosen (U.S.A.) World Premiere. When a plan is unveiled to build a football stadium in Manhattan for the New York Jets, an epic battle ensues. The grassroots campaign against the stadium starts small, but when Cablevision, which owns Madison Square Garden, gets involved, what started as a David-and-Goliath battle soon becomes a clash of the titans.

Tell Me Do You Miss Me, directed by Matthew Buzzell (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. For over a decade, New York darlings Luna played lullabies for the indie set, but in 2004 they hung up their guitars for good. This documentary charts their bittersweet final tour as they travel around the world, down memory lane, and into the uncertain future.

Toots, directed by Kristi Jacobson (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. The '40s and '50s were a classic period in New York City nightlife, when the saloonkeeper was king and regular folks could drink with celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason. In this warmly nostalgic doc, Jacobson profiles her grandfather, the king of kings: Toots Shor of the eponymous restaurant and saloon, which was once the place to be seen in Manhattan.

When I Came Home, directed by Dan Lohaus (U.S.A.) – World Premiere. Iraq War veteran Herold Noel suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and lives out of his car in Brooklyn. Using Noel's story as a fulcrum, this doc examines the wider issue of homeless U.S. military veterans-from Vietnam to Iraq-who have to fight tooth-and-nail to receive the benefits promised to them by their government.