OBIT is a first-ever glimpse into the daily rituals, joys and existential angst of the New York Times obit writers, as they chronicle life after death on the front lines of history. 

Q&A with director Vanessa Gould following the screening.

Within the storied walls of The New York Times, a team of writers is entrusted with reflecting upon the lives of luminaries, icons, and world leaders of our day. Often hours before newspaper hits doorstep—and the world’s eyes devour words marking the end of a momentous life–endless detail is gathered and impossible choices must be made. Vanessa Gould’s fascinating documentary, Obit, introduces us to the unseen women and men responsible for crafting the unequaled obituaries of the NYT. As we’re taken through their painstaking process of digging through years of accomplishments, we learn about the particular pressures that accompany a career spent trying to elegantly and respectfully shape the story of a life for an audience of millions. From notorious politicians and beloved musicians to unknown personalities who have advanced the worlds of science, literature, and sports, the obit writers are in the unique and often unenviable position of spotlighting individuals whose impact and influence is near impossible to measure. —Liza Domnitz

Part of Nitehawk’s TRIBECA SUMMER DOC SERIES.

ALL THIS PANIC takes an intimate look at the interior lives of seven teenage girls as they come of age in New York City.

Q&A with filmmakers Jenny Gage and Tom Betterton following the screening.

A potent mix of high art portraiture and vérité, All this Panic follow the girls as they navigate the ephemeral and fleeting transition between childhood and adulthood. Shot over a three-year period in a lush and cinematic style, all this panic is a meditation on the mysterious, often painful, yet ultimately exhilarating period of a teen’s life. In a world where, as one teen remarks ‘they want to see us, but they don’t want to hear us’ this film is comprised entirely of young women speaking to their own experiences.

Part of Nitehawk’s TRIBECA SUMMER DOC SERIES.

Nitehawk’s ART SEEN welcomes writer/director Li Lu as she brings her debut feature THERE IS A NEW WORLD SOMEWHERE for a New York City premiere. 

Supported by the New York Foundation for the Arts, Out of the Binders, and Film Fatales .

Come experience an award winning film that critics call “indie, off-the-beaten path, and mesmerizing” and “cinema, by and about women, that strives to capture a new look on the American South.” Q&A with writer/director Li Lu.

There is a New World Somewhere is a coming of age story about self-revelation and the solitary struggle of an artistic soul. An unsuccessful artist, Sylvia escapes New York City and problems of mind and money to attend her friend’s wedding in her Texas hometown. In Austin, Sylvia meets Esteban, an electrifying stranger. Instantly, they are enamored with each other. He proposes a road trip back to New York and dares her to leave town with him. Eager for a careless adventure, Sylvia is forced to trust her heart, even if it leads her down dark and mysterious paths. It is the debut feature film by writer/director Li Lu.

Starring: Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph

An important example of innovative and daring filmmaking, Eraserhead remains brilliant to some, indecipherable to others, and always, it seems, provocative. – Senses of Cinema

David Lynch’s Eraserhead is a dream of dark and troubling things telling of a man named Henry, who lives surrounded by an industrial otherworld, who is thrust into a horrific nightmare when his wife gives birth to a deformed baby. The product of an earlier fling, Henry did the right thing by marrying Mary X but their lizard-like newborn won’t stop wailing and other disturbing figures, like the disfigured woman who lives inside the radiator, inhabit his new apartment and further complicate this already bizarre life. Lynch’s visionary debut feature was trashed by critics, but soon became a smash on the midnight movie circuit. It’s one not to miss.

Nitehawk’s LIVE SOUND CINEMA presents Philippe Garrel early and most incendiary films, LE REVELATEUR, with a live score by harpist Mary Lattimore and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Zeigler.

The performance is in celebration of the duo’s new limited LP release on Thrill Jockey featuring music inspired by the film.

For those who favor the hallucinatory and the abstract, start revving your psychedelic engines for a dose of French master Philippe Garrel’s potent, shimmering physicality. Tragically unknown in the U.S. despite a significant global following, Garrel has charted an unlikely course from avant-garde provocateur to festival favorite in a revelatory four-decade career. Le Révélateur — made during Garrel’s youthful “Zanzibar Collective” period spent on the Paris ‘68 frontlines — “is a fractured and elliptical, but instinctive, elemental, and haunting rumination on the process of awakening, maturation, psychological trauma, and transformation of childhood memory” (Strictly Film School)

Mary Lattimore and Jeff Zeigler weave an elaborate web of picturesque synth-scapes for Le Révélateur that will be featured on new album released by Thrill Jockey this July. The duo debuted the score live at the renowned Marfa Ballroom and have since performed to sold-out audiences at the Getty Museum and Cinefamily in Los Angeles, Constellation Chicago, and at the International House in the duo’s hometown of Philadelphia. Le Révélateur was recorded by Zeigler (War on Drugs, Kurt Vile) at his studio, Uniform Recording.

COMEDIANS IN FILM takes a look at the king of comedy, Don Rickles, in John Landis’ documentary MR. WARMTH: THE DON RICKLES PROJECT.

Every night when I go out on stage, there’s always one nagging fear in the back of my mind. I’m always afraid that somewhere out there, there is one person in the audience that I’m not going to offend! – Don Rickles

Renowned director John Landis offers up a portrait of legendary comedian Don Rickles (in an Emmy-winning role) by blending clips of Rickles’s appearances at the Dean Martin celebrity roasts and on “The Tonight Show” with footage from his stand-up routine and interviews. A slew of celebrities — including Martin Scorsese, Christopher Guest, Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, Sidney Poitier and Clint Eastwood — offer their insights on the man known as “Mr. Warmth.”

Part of Nitehawk’s summer program COMEDIANS IN FILM.

Comedian Kevin Maher presents a two-hour video variety show all about death.

Anniversary Note: Kevin first Geeked Out at Nitehawk in October 2014 with zombies!

Comedian Kevin Maher celebrates his one-year anniversary at Nitehawk Cinema with an evening dedicated to dying. This two-hour video-variety show features guests sharing memories of the scenes that most disturbed them. Plus murder motifs, death-as-a-character, Hollywood’s love affair with the dying girl, and a collection of unforgettable “dummy deaths” (ranging from haunting to hilarious.) Featuring clips from 80s action movies to romantic dramadies, cult horror and dark comedies.

With special guests:

Doug Bost & Adam Bernstein (from the “Grown Ass Men” podcast)
Travis Alexandra Boatright (award-winning costume designer)
Caroline Fulford (host, “Loose Canon” podcast)
Matt Glasson (editor, filmmaker)
Al Kievsky (Man of Mystery)
Kseniya Yarosh (“I Love Bad Movies” zine, “Bonnie & Maude” podcast)

As part of Nitehawk’s 5th anniversary celebration, LIVE SOUND CINEMA is proud to present Sergei Eisenstein’s BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN with an original live score performed by MORRICONE YOUTH.

Anniversary Note: Morricone Youth first performed at Nitehawk for a LIVE SOUND CINEMA screening of Jean Rollin’s Fascination in June 2012. Battleship Potempkin marks their 15th performance here.

Sergio Eisenstein’s Battleship Potempkin, centered by revolutionary rhythmic editing, is now considered one of the greatest films ever made. After the success of Strike, he was commissioned by the Soviet Government to make a film commemorating the 1905 Odessa uprising and so he focused on the loyal crew of the battleship Potemkin. The film shows the sailors stage a violent mutiny seizing control of the ship to raise the red flag of revolution as they are fed up with the deplorable conditions and extreme cruelties of their officer. This, in turn, sparks a citizens’ revolt under the boot heels of the Czarist Cossack regime. When the ruthless White Russian cavalry arrive to crush the rebellion on the sandstone Odessa Steps, one of the most famous and quoted film sequences in cinema history is born.

Morricone Youth is a New York City band formed in 1999 dedicated to performing and recording old film and television soundtrack and library production music.

NOTE: This will be an experimental soundtrack featuring a new original score. The original soundtrack or audio will not be played.  

Nitehawk’s LOCAL COLOR hosts a screening of the best underdog shorts by New York filmmakers with SCREW IT, WE’LL DO IT OURSELVES!

Anniversary Note: Nitehawk’s series that highlights independent New York filmmakers, LOCAL COLOR, began in August 2013 with Flex is Kings. Nitehawk became committed to short films with our annual NITEHAWK SHORTS FESTIVAL in November 2013.

A collection of short films that delve into the darker side of human nature – in darkly comedic and twisted ways. Inspired by Bill O’Reilly’s now-legendary freakout and viral sensation, Screw It, We’ll Do It Ourselves!, stubbornly brings you a program short films made by emerging New York filmmakers that, for whatever reason, did not receive their desired film festival platform – and have a real hankering to have their shorts screened in all of their underdog glory!

After-party for Screw It! will be in Lo-Res with drink specials courtesy of Jameson Irish Whiskey. 

PROGRAM: SCREW IT, WE’LL DO IT OURSELVES!

DEAD-END
Jose F Rodriguez | 2015 | 13 minutes
An out-of-shape young man goes on a run one evening and quickly finds himself lost in a deserted neighborhood – where he is confronted by his innermost fear.

THE HAMSTER
Ryan Barger | 2015 | 11 minutes, 17 seconds
A father buys his young daughter a pet hamster. When it dies, they have a frank discussion about death, life, and humanity’s futile search for meaning in the universe.

RAMONA
Mikaela Martin & Richard Vallejos | 2015 | 14 minutes, 14 seconds
An elderly woman comes to terms with the loss of a close friend. Through her grief she discovers the true nature of their friendship, and perhaps her own sexuality.

CONSOMME
Catherine Fordham | 2015 | 5 minutes, 40 seconds
A young woman’s fiercest self takes over to fight for her life when she’s attacked.

A GOOD FISH
Nicholas Payne Santos | 2014 | 8 minutes, 37 seconds
Left with nothing by their recently deceased father, two aimless brothers head home to face his funeral.

GO TO HELL
Jacob Bittens | 2015 | 20 minutes
When David winds up in Hell for being too boring, he must vie for a second chance at Heaven by becoming the most interesting man in the underworld.

Total Run Time: 72 minutes