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Nitehawk Shorts Fest 2022 Recap

Announcing Awards Winners and Encore Screenings

We continue to revel in the joy of last week’s Nitehawk Shorts Festival, which took place from March 2-6 at both our Williamsburg and Prospect Park locations. Over the course of six sold out shows with nearly all films represented by directors, crew and/or cast in person, plus an Opening and Closing party with three incredible cocktail specials, there was such warmth and good spirits to share.

If you missed out, we have good news: we have a couple of Encore programs including this year’s award winners and other programmer favorites! Tickets are now on sale for:

Prospect Park
Jury Favorites, Saturday, March, 19
Audience Award Winners, Sunday, March, 20

Williamsburg
Jury Favorites, Saturday, March, 26
Audience Award Winners, Sunday, March, 27

Below are winners for this year, and a selection of pictures from Opening and Closing Nite shows and parties.

Jury Prize Winner
NYC Tips and Tricks / Amber Schaefer

Jury Prize Runner Up
Cousins / Mandy Marcus

Music Driven Winner                   
Mercy / Nalani Williams

Midnite Winner                   
Inheritance / Annalise Lockhart

New Filmmaker Award
In Loving Memory (Of Who We Used to Be) / Vicky Lee

Audience Award: Opening
The Soldier / Sam & Trip Cullman

Audience Award: Matinee
Threads of Desire / Bianca DiMarco

Audience Award: Music           
Nuevo Rico / Kristian Mercado

Audience Award: NoBudge
Please Enjoy Your Stay / Tynan Delong

Audience Award: Midnite
           
El Extraño en la Casa Rivera / Esteban Bailey

Audience Award: Closing
You and Me This Summer / Emily Berge, Spencer Thielmann

PRIZES

Thanks to our sponsors for providing incredible prizes to our incredible filmmakers! Here’s what each prize winner receives.

FESTIVAL JURY WINNER
Post-production sound services from HEARD CITY ($16k value)
Post-production coloring services from IRVING HARVEY ($20k value)
One year Artist Membership from the VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS, New York ($200 value)

FESTIVAL JURY RUNNER-UP
Boris FX Bundle (featuring Boris FX Sapphire, Boris FX Continuum, Boris FX Mocha Pro) one-year subscription from BORIS FX ($1195 value)
One year Artist Membership from the VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS, New York ($200 value)

MIDNITE PRIZE
Boris FX Bundle (featuring Boris FX Sapphire, Boris FX Continuum, Boris FX Mocha Pro) one-year subscription from BORIS FX ($1195 value)
One year Artist Membership from the VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS, New York ($200 value)

MUSIC DRIVEN PRIZE
Prize package featuring GS1000e headphones and photo cartridge from GRADO LABS ($1350 value)
One year Artist Membership from the VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS, New York ($200 value)

FIRST TIME FILMMAKER AWARD
Post-production coloring services from NICE SHOES ($20k value)
$500 awarded to a selected debut short film by a filmmaker screening in NSF19
One year Artist Membership from the VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS, New York ($200 value)

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
Pro-Accounts from VIMEO (eligible during Opening Nite, Midnite, Music Driven, Matinee One, NoBudge and Closing Nite – $199 value each).

Nitehawk Celebrates National Tater Tot Day

Coming to watch THE BIG GAME at Prospect Park or Williamsburg? Well, we’ve got a treat for you!

February 2nd is not only football’s biggest day, it’s also National Tater Tot Day! Our chefs have created a special sure to make your mouth water (and hopefully help your team win)!

Totchos
tater tots, queso, black beans, pickled jalapenos, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream $13
add house made chorizo $2

See you on game day!

Celebrate Fabulously and Showcase Your Pride at Nitehawk Cinema

On June 28, 1969, riots broke out in response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, which is now the country’s first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ rights. To honor the 50th anniversary of The Stonewall Riots, NItehawk Cinema celebrates representation, inclusiveness, and the LGBTQ community with special screenings of queer films and events in association with NewFest and Queer Soup Night. The Pride program will run at both Nitehawk locations between May 25th – June 9th and will showcase a diverse range of stories to open hearts and eyes to the queer experience.

Cult classic BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER will be the first 35mm print to screen in Prospect Park

Caryn Coleman, Director of Programming/Special Projects at Nitehawk divulges, “We’re extremely proud to celebrate the LGBTQ community by highlighting iconic and contemporary independent films directed by women and people of color.” To kick off Pride at Nitehawk Williamsburg is Wanuri Kahiu’s vibrant and tender love story between two young women set in Kenya, Rafiki. Followed by Caroline Berler’s documentary Dykes, Camera, Action which features commentary on how Stonewall, the feminist movement, and the experimental cinema of the 1970s helped to build visibility around lesbian filmmakers that completely transformed society’s imagination about queerness. “To be able to honor LGBTQ experiences in film with the directors, partners like NewFest and Queer Soup, and our audiences this June fills us with, pardon the pun, PRIDE,” proclaims Caryn.

Alice Wu’s directorial debut and beloved romance film Saving Face is presented on 35mm as Shayana Filmore leads an intimate conversation with the director after the film. Collaborating with NewFest, New York’s LGBTQ Film & Media Arts Organization, Nitehawk is thrilled to screen a rare 35mm print of a legendary film that depicts the vivacious romantic lives of African-American gay men while candidly exploring the universal aspects of friendship. The special screening requires the purchase of a $15 voucher as each audience member will receive a copy of the book, PRIDE: Fifty Years of Parades and Protests, courtesy of Abrams Books. “NewFest is delighted to be working with Nitehawk this June to celebrate our community on the momentous 50th anniversary of Stonewall, bringing contemporary queer cinema to Brooklyn to expand the visibility and reach of LGBTQ stories throughout New York City,” affirms Nick McCarthy, Director of Programming at NewFest, New York’s LGBTQ Film & Media Arts Organization.

The documentary DYKES, CAMERA, ACTION! screens at Nitehawk Williamsburg

Nitehawk Prospect Park is excited to present its first ever screening on 35mm with the cult-classic film But I’m A Cheerleader by Jamie Babbit. The award-winning director will participate in a Q&A after an introduction by drag performers Brie Y.O.B. and Maddelynn Hatter/MaDd. In partnership with Queer Soup Night, the Brooklyn born queer party with soup at its center, Chefs Jenn de la Vega, Blessing Schuman-Strange and Caroline McAuliffe serve up a fabulous selection of soups to raise funds for interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth. Liz Alpern, Creator of QSN, expresses, “Hosting QSN at Nitehawk is a dream come true! We can’t wait to sip on soup surrounded by community while watching the setting sun over Prospect Park.” Donations for interACT will be collected by QSN, while tickets for the film screening portion are strongly encouraged to be purchased in advance.

In classic Nitehawk flair, a special Pride cocktail has been created so a portion of the proceeds raised during the month-long celebration will support local LGBTQ organizations. As WorldPride takes over New York City, Nitehawk Cinema is thrilled to elevate the global event with additional entertainment offerings to the estimated 4 million visitors expected to celebrate the historic and citywide festivities. Tickets are available at www.nitehawkcinema.com.

Full schedule includes:

Nitehawk Williamsburg

May 25 and 26 – RAFIKI
Jun 1 and 2 – DYKES, CAMERA, ACTION with Q&A with director Caroline Berler on June 1st
Jun 6 – SAVING FACE with Q&A with director Alice Wu; Hosted by Shayana Filmore (35mm presentation)
Jun 7 and 8 – A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY’S REVENGE (35mm presentation)
Jun 8 – QUEER BRUNCH WITH NEWFEST and NITEHAWK (35mm presentation)

Nitehawk Prospect Park

Jun 5 – HIGH ART
Jun 6 – MIDNIGHT COWBOY
Jun 8 – BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (35mm presentation)
Jun 9 – BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER with Queer Soup, Drag Show, and Q&A with director Jamie Babbit (35mm presentation)

Plan Your Next Special Event at Nitehawk Prospect Park

Nitehawk Cinema, New York’s original curator of dinner and a movie, launches private event rentals at its new Prospect Park theater which showcases breathtaking views of Brookyln’s flagship park.

“We are now offering customizable, private events at Nitehawk Prospect Park. We have had huge success with these at Nitehawk Williamsburg, from world premieres, corporate outings, birthday parties to weddings and proposals. We have a dedicated events team that handles all the details in putting these together, and we’re excited to offer these memorable experiences at Prospect Park.” states Deanna Nokes, Event Director at Nitehawk.

Nitehawk Prospect Park features seven state-of-the-art screens, hosts two bars and is a Brooklyn landmark with design elements that date back to 1928. Once known as the Sanders Theatre, the 650 seat cinema is located in the historic and completely redesigned Pavilion Theater. Situated on Bartel-Pritchard Square, the theater is easily accessible by public transport and the restored mezzanine is the perfect place to celebrate a birthday, happy hour or professional function.

The catering menu, which utilizes locally-sourced ingredients, features a delectable selection of platters including Grandma’s Meatballs, Jerk Chicken Dumplings, and Chorizo Patata Brava Taquitos. A queso fountain is also available that comes flowing with Nitehawk’s staple tater tots, chips, a toppings bar, and a dedicated chef. The beverage choices include signature cocktails, local beers, and specialty drinks that may be crafted to thematically align with a special event hosted at the cinema.

Nitehawk Prospect Park theaters vary in size from 48 to 194 seats and are available Mondays through Thursdays for screenings, birthday parties, graduations, and corporate meetings. Rental prices vary based on the specifics of the event and can be personalized to create an ideal way to commend any occasion. If you wish to book a private event at Nitehawk Prospect Park, please email events@nitehawkcinema.com.

Special Benefit Screening of THE FLORIDA PROJECT to Aid Win

On Wednesday, February 13th, Win (formerly Women in Need) and Nitehawk Williamsburg will be the first in New York to screen a new 35mm print of Sean Baker’s The Florida Project to increase public awareness and build momentum around Win’s mission to help support homeless women and children.

The Florida Project stars Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe and follows a precocious six-year-old and her ragtag group of friends whose summer break is filled with childhood wonder, possibility and a sense of adventure while the adults around them struggle with hard times. $7 of each movie ticket sold will benefit Win. In addition, Nitehawk will be offering a specialty cocktail during the screening and $1 from each drink sold will go directly to the organization.

The event will begin with a short film and introduction by Chris Valens, Director of Special Events at Win. “Women and children in need make up more than 70 percent of New York City’s homeless, and we’re grateful for Nitehawk Cinema’s support to help Win break the cycle of homelessness and put families on the path to stability,” said Christine C. Quinn, President and CEO of Win. “The proceeds from this benefit screening will help further our efforts to provide the solutions and services needed to support this vulnerable population.”

Caryn Coleman, Director of Programming at Nitehawk states, “We’re thrilled to be one of the first theaters to screen a brand new 35mm print of Sean Baker’s The Florida Project, one of the best films in recent memory, the way it was intended. More crucially, the issues of hidden homelessness and the impact on single-parent families explored in the film provides a perfect opportunity to partner with Win in order to highlight and support the important work that Win does within the New York community.”

The need to expand social services for homeless children and women is a dire one. Nitehawk Cinema is beyond humbled to support Win in helping decrease the number of homeless families in New York City’s shelter system and will continue to advocate for important community issues surrounding homelessness.