New York Indian Film Festival

The festival highlights films from all over the world based on cultural Indian themes. Directors hail from all over the world - New York, Vancouver, India, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and more. Many films have been selections to other prominent film festivals such as SXSW and Montreal, as well as the Oscar Winning short documentary film Saving Face. Find a window into contemporary Indian culture as it is experienced and disseminated around the world.

When: May 23-27, 2012
Where: Paris Theatre: 4 West 58th St, NYC (between 5th & 6th Ave).
Tribeca Cinema Theatre: 54 Varick St, NYC (at Laight St, 1 block west of Canal).
Skirball Center: 566 La Guardia Place, NYC (corner of La Guardia Place & Washington Square South).
Michelson Theatre: NYU Tisch Department of Cinema Studies, 6th Floor, 71 Broadway, New York City.Website:  http://www.iaac.us/NYIFF2012/schedule.htm

2012 Tribeca Film Festival Tickets On Sale!

The 11th Annual Tribeca Film Festival ticket packages are on sale now. This is the best way to get tickets to the most anticipated films premiering at the festival. Or, be adventurous and choose the "Programmer's Picks" package: 2 tickets to 6 different films based on answers you give in a questionnaire.  A great choice if you don't have any one thing you want to see.

If you only want to see one film, you'll have to wait til Monday, April 16, when single film tickets go on sale. If you buy with an American Express card, you'll get a 6-day head start and can purchase on April 10.  The Tribeca Film Festival lineup looks great this year! FestivalBuzz WILL be there!

Information about free Tribeca events such as the Industry events and Tribeca Drive-in (free movies projected outdoors) can now be found on the website.

When: April 18-29, 2012
Where: Movie Theaters throughout Downtown Manhattan
Website: http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org

BAM CInemafest Starts This Weekend

BAM hosts its annual CinemaFest at its historic building near the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues in Brooklyn.  25 features curated by the incredibly smart people at BAM, which curate some awesome retrospectives year round.

When: June 16-26, 2011
Where: BAM Rose Cinemas on Fulton St off Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn
Website: http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=1193

CRAICFest: Irish Cinema and Music Festival

An Irish themed music and film festival, the CRAIC features the best coming out of Ireland, with their unique sounds and perspective on life.  Films screen at Tribeca Cinema (54 Varick Street) while musical acts (a steal at $15 per night) perform at Mercury Lounge. March 9th, the festival's musical opener  -  internationally acclaimed Julia Feeney - will perform at Joe's Pub.

Kids are not forgotten. The Kid's Fleadh (pronounced FLAH) will go off March 12 at Tribeca Cinemas. Featuring the best of Irish short films, this event is free.

When: March 10th-14th, 2011
Where: Tribeca Cinemas (Film) 54 Varick Street, Joe's Pub (Music) Lafayette Street at Astor Place, Mercury Lounge (Music) 217 E Houston Street
Website: http://www.thecraicfest.com

Get Free Tickets Now: Fordham Film Festival

Fordham Law School hosts this legal-themed week of films, including current and past narrative and documentary works. Each night a special guest (from Jack Kevorkian to Sonia Sotomayor) will appear to comment on the film.  The event does require tickets, most of which are already down to rush (but which you can still register for... after the rush gets a certain amount of reservations, a waitlist begins), but the documentary Worse Than War still has general admission seating available. Get tickets now!

When: October 15-21
Where: Fordham University Law School 

140 West 62nd Street

Website: fordhamfilmfestival.org

2nd annual BAM CinemaFest

Lovers of the latest indie films will enjoy the lineup at BAM CinemaFest, running through next Tuesday. General screenings admission is $12 with discounts to BAM Cinema Club members. There will be one 3D movie as well - Cane Toads, The Conquest, a documentary about an invasive toad species in Australia.

Also part of CinemaFest is a free outdoor screening of Tiny Furniture, which won the South by Southwest Film Festival Jury Award this year. The screening will be held in the parking lot of the Mark Morris Dance building on Lafayette and Ashland place - diagonally across from the main BAM building - on Sunday June 13 at 9PM, with a rain date of June 17.

Where I'll be: The screening of Zodiac, the director's cut on Monday at 7PM. A post-screening discussion is planned.

When: June 9-13
Where: BAM Cinema, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lafayette Street and Ashland Place
Website: http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=1193

Newfest - LGBTQ Film Festival through June 13 at SVA

I like the SVA theater because it's clean and comfortable. So if your a/c is broken, pick a screening at Newfest and check out some cutting edge films. Screenings go from Noon to 10:30 PM most evenings. Documentaries and narrative features focus heavily on LGBT issues. Topical and film industry panels are also being held.

When: June 3-13
Where: SVA Theater 333 West 23rd Street
Website: http://www.newfest.org

For Next Two Weeks: Tribeca Goes from Battery Park to 23rd Streets

Yes, that's right, Tribeca Film Festival is in full swing. The latest Shrek movie debuted last Thursday at Borough of Manhattan Community College's Tribeca Performing Arts Center. (No, I was not on the guest list).  But an amazing slate of movies is on tap this year, playing mainly at three different theater complexes around town: the Village East Cinemas at 2nd Ave and 12th Street, Clearview Chelsea Cinemas at 8th Ave and 23rd Street, and the School of Visual Arts Theater building at 23rd Street between 8th and 9th. Tickets go fast, especially for the films with the  most recognizable names, but there are still tickets left for lots of great shows.

Top of my list: The Infidel, Metropia, Gerrymandering, and Sons of Perdition.  View the entire lineup and schedule at http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival.

People who think the $16 general admission ticket is too pricey can opt for a late night or early matinee tickets for just $8 (limited b availability). If you just HAVE to see a particular film that's sold out, RUSH tickets are usually available for at least the first five people in the rush line. But be aware that seats are harder to come by later in the festival, so book early or come early.

Or, check out the Virtual Pass lineup on-demand from your local cable company. 8 of the feature selections and several shorts are available for an amazing $45 price. That's just 3 regular screenings with enough left for a bottle of water!  These and additional features will continue to be available after the festival on demand and on the large(r) screens of the Tribeca Film Center.

Low on dough?  Head south to the Tribeca Drive-in at the World Financial Center Plaza, where you can find free outdoor screenings and activities.  SVA Theater and Barnes & Noble at Union Square are hosting the Tribeca Talks series:  industry panels in writing distribution and production. And the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair will be on Greenwich Street north of Chambers 10AM-6PM Saturday May 1.  In the past, many celebrities have been spotted at this event!

If you're tired of schlock in 3D and want to see some good films, come down to Tribeca, support independent film and have a little fun!