The eight shorts in the NSF19 OPENING NITE program feature documentaries on New York communities, Brooklyn drag queens, and a firefighter’s love of cinema along with narrative stories about immigration, coming of age, sex, and self-pleasure.

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS
PROGRAM

SYMPHONY
JAI MOSELEY / U.S.A. / 2019 / DOCUMENTARY / 4 MIN
A kaleidoscopic film of unencumbered moments between people and places, centered in feelings, memory, and experiences that are intrinsic to us all. Filmed in Harlem, Inwood, and Washington Heights, New York.

FEATHERS
A.V. ROCKWELL / U.S.A. / 2018 / DRAMA / 20 MIN
Elizier, an emotionally-dejected new enrollee at The Edward R. Mill School for Lost Boys, must overcome memories of a tragic past and the present hazing by his peers in order to tackle larger issues dominating his young life.

A LINE BIRDS CANNOT SEE
AMY BENCH / U.S.A. / 2019 / DOCUMENTARY, ANIMATION / 9 MIN / NEW YORK PREMIERE
Separated from her mother by smugglers, a determined 12-year-old sets out across a desert with only a plastic sack for cover, survives starvation on the streets of Ciudad Juarez, and escapes kidnappers to seek her mother and a place where they can be safe again.

NARMIN’S BIRTHDAY
JENNY GROZA & LYDIA CORNETT / U.S.A. / 2018 / DOCUMENTARY / 18 MIN
The story of Narmin, an Azerbaijani teenager living in Brooklyn, and her grandmother Ismat, as Narmin plans her 16th birthday party to be as “American” as possible–much to the dismay of Ismat.

MEMORY XPERIMENT: KATHY ACKER
AIDA RUILOVA / U.S.A. / 2019 / DRAMA / 16MM & VIDEO TO DIGITAL / 7 MIN / WORLD PREMIERE
A short film based on the literary work of author Kathy Acker. Set in the 70’s, the film is a coming of age story of a young female writer exploring her identity through sex and her writing.

HOW DOES IT START
AMBER SEALEY / U.S.A. / 2019 / DRAMA / 16 MIN
It’s 1983 and 12-year-old Rain wants sex, the only problem is she has no idea what that means. With her self-absorbed parents distracted by their recent divorce, Rain is left alone to navigate the complexities of love and adulthood, and learns to do it her own way.

THE MAKING OF PANTHERA
SAVANNAH O’LEARY & RENEE MAO / U.S.A. / 2019 / DOCUMENTARY / 5 MIN
Weaving cinéma vérité and choreographed drama, this short documentary follows Brooklyn-based drag queen Panthera Lush and her chameleonic friends to take a closer look at the creative process behind the ever-evolving art form of drag.

ME TIME
IYABO BOYD / U.S.A. / 2019 / COMEDY / 11 MIN
After a stressful work day, DEBORAH settles in for some intimate “me time” at home until three other aspects of her psyche appear, dredge up deep-seated inhibitions, and threaten to derail her plan.

BEST PICTURE
JAY GIAMPIETRO / U.S.A. / 2019 / DOCUMENTARY / 6 1/2 MIN
Surprises are in store for a movie-obsessed firefighter who hosts an annual Academy Awards party.