Starring: Rhonda, Jon Cook, Jeff Mueller, Cynthia Nelson, Jason Noble

Made in 1994 in Louisville, Nashville and Chattanooga, Half-Cocked follows a group of kids who steal a van full of music equipment and pretend to be a band in order to stay on the road. The film features Ian Svenonius and members of Rodan and The Grifters, playing versions of themselves. With music by Unwound, Slant 6, Freakwater, Versus, Polvo, Smog, Helium and others. After completing the film Hawley and Galinsky took the film on tour showing it rock clubs across the US and Europe.

The film was largely funded by a small advance for a soundtrack that was released by Matador Records. Shot over 10 days in 3 different cities in Kentucky and Tennesse. Conceived as a document rather than a documentary, the fimmakers set out to document the Undergound Music scene that they were a part of. They wrote parts for friends who were in bands and had them basically play versions of themselves. The intent was to have each person change the script so that it felt like what they would say. Ian Svenonious showed his genius by changing his parts in extreme ways that expanded the scope of the film, and forced major changes to the script.

“It doesn’t seem too bold to say Half-Cocked is an Easy Rider for the 90’s and deserves as much attention.”-ERIC GLADSTONE, ALTERNATIVE PRESS

“Bracing in it’s dry humor and first hand accuracy” -VARIETY

“Hawley and Galinsky know how to make pictures shudder with feeling” – MANOHLA DARGIS

Starring: E.G. Daily, Christine Cavanaugh, Kath Soucie, Cheryl Chase, Tara Strong, Jack Riley

This animated comedy finds Tommy Pickles (E.G. Daily) trying to return his baby brother to the hospital after being warned by his mean-spirited friend, Angelica (Cheryl Chase), that once his new sibling is born his parents won’t care about him. But, soon after they embark on the mission, Tommy and his friends lose their way in the woods and get into trouble with a pack of wild monkeys who have escaped from the circus. The kids begin to think that maybe things weren’t so bad at home after all.

Co-presented by Screen Slate. Choose the “Repertory Reserved + $5 donation” ticket to add on a $5 donation to support Screen Slate with your ticket purchase!

Reminiscent of early Errol Morris films Vernon, Florida and Gates of Heaven, director Jamie Meltzer’s Off the Charts: The Song-Poem Story introduces us to the variety of players in the world of the song-poem, from the aspirational songwriters to studio musicians who translate the words into music. Ads placed in poetry magazines entice readers to send lyrics, dangling potential radio play and royalties, maybe even a breakthrough into the industry, for a low fee. Common subjects include religion and Elvis, but every so often a special individual puts an unexpected combination of words to paper to express their particular set of interests.

This documentary presents a few of these people with affection, even creating makeshift music videos to accompany the songs. We meet Caglar Juan Singletary, who favors songs about martial arts, ladies, religion and sci-fi, swirled together nicely in his “Non-Violent Taekwondo Troopers.” Then there is Gary Forney, who is so pleased with his output, he and his son go on a one-day only tour to perform, overcoming his jitters as he takes the stage to sing before a sparse crowd. On the receiving end, we see the array of styles each studio offers. Nashville-based Ramsey Kearney has that classic country twang; Art Kaufman at Magic Key Productions is your synth-pop guy, and Sunburst Recording Studios will get you more of a Sinatra sound.

Off the Charts thankfully doesn’t feel exploitative of the unusual personalities it portrays, but rather seems to celebrate their inimitable qualities.

This screening will include some outtakes provided by director Meltzer.

Ronnie James Dio’s story transcends the standard rock documentary. Beautifully highlighting both his powerful voice and his gentle heart, Dio: Dreamers Never Die delves deep into the singer’s incredible rise from ’50s doo-wop crooner to his early rock days in Elf and Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, to replacing Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, and finally cementing his rockstar status with his own band, DIO.

The first documentary to be authorized by the artist’s estate, the film incorporates never-before-seen footage and personal photos from Dio’s archives as well as offering intimate scenes with his closest peers, family and friends, among them Wendy Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Glenn Hughes, Vinny Appice, Lita Ford, Rob Halford, Sebastian Bach, Eddie Trunk and Jack Black, as they bring viewers inside the life of one of the most beloved figures in rock.

Before the movie, we’ll have a pre-party in Lo-Res starting at 7pm with DJ Ben Smith.

Starring: Viola Davis, John Boyega, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Thuso Mbedu, Jayme Lawson

The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. Some things are worth fighting for….

Starring: Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson, John Vernon

When teenagers Mike (Grant Cramer) and Debbie (Suzanne Snyder) see a comet crash outside their sleepy small town, they investigate and discover a pack of murderous aliens who look very much like circus clowns. They try to warn the local authorities, but everyone assumes their story is a prank. Meanwhile, the clowns set about harvesting and eating as many people as they can. It’s not until they kidnap Debbie that Mike decides it’s up to him to stop the clowns’ bloody rampage.

Starring: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty, Stephanie Corneliussen, Alana Boden, Hugh Skinner

After the death of her mother and having no other known relatives, Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel) takes a DNA test and discovers a long-lost cousin she never knew she had. Invited by her newfound family to a lavish wedding in the English countryside, she’s at first seduced by the sexy aristocrat host but is soon thrust into a nightmare of survival as she uncovers twisted secrets in her family’s history and the unsettling intentions behind their sinful generosity.

Starring: Linda Fiorentino, Peter Berg, Bill Pullman, J.T. Walsh, Bill Nunn

Sponsored by MUBI. Co-hosted by Marie Bardi (Producer and Social Media Manager for Blank Check Podcast).

“Anyone check you for a heartbeat lately?” quips lawyer Frank Griffith (J.T. Walsh) to client Bridget Gregory (Linda Fiorentino) as she gives him detailed instructions that will ruin her husband Clay (Bill Pullman, cucked again). Ruthless and determined, Bridget is a master at playing men – a femme fatale who doesn’t feign weakness to get her way, but rather uses the persuasive power of mind and body to manipulate. After pinching her husband’s drug deal cash and hiding out in a jerkwater town, Bridget makes use of townie Mike Swale (Peter Berg), a man just smart enough to recognize her superiority to him. Mike can’t resist the excitement she brings into his dull life, and is an easy mark for the schemes she draws him into, including a murder plot.

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Nitehawk audience gets a special offer of a custom trial with MUBI. Learn more at mubi.com/nitehawk.

Street Heroines is an award-winning feature-length documentary celebrating the courage and creativity of women who despite lack of recognition have been an integral part of the graffiti and street art movement since the beginning. Following TooFly, Fusca and Magrela, and punctuated by historical anecdotes from pioneering NY-based artists Lady Pink, Swoon, and iconic photographer Martha Cooper, Street Heroines captures the collective outcry of female street artists, from NYC to Mexico to Sao Paulo, Brazil and beyond, who are indisputably a part of the worldwide movement.

Starring: Will Brill, Madeleine Morgenweck, Scott Friend

New York premiere

Dennis and Mia’s weekend getaway becomes a hallucinatory nightmare after Dennis’ estranged brother arrives unannounced and begins toying with their senses.