Metropolis Competition

There are 8 million stories in the naked city. This section showcases six of them. The appeal of these films radiates far beyond their backdrop of New York City. The subjects include the passing of an era in “Lost Bohemia” (pictured), the emergence of young talent in “To Be Heard,” the life of a writer in “Mother of Rock: Lilian Roxon,” the life of a play in “Puppet,” the theater director Richard Foreman in “mindFLUX,” and the musician David Byrne in “Ride, Rise, Roar”.

Each film individually exhibits a high degree of artistry. Watching several or all, viewers will experience a rich tour of innovators, subcultures, and inner circles.

The jury will honor one film that stands out to them as exemplary not just for New Yorkers, but audiences far and wide. We urge you to join the jury in watching all six films to remind yourself what makes NYC such a transformative place.

• Lost Bohemia (Josef Birdman Astor) World Premiere – Director Josef Birdman Astor, a resident of the artists studios above Carnegie Hall, gives an insider’s account of the protracted battle to save the apartments and pays homage to their rich heritage.
• mindFLUX (Ryan Kerrison) World Premiere – This profile of visionary theater director Richard Foreman draws upon interviews with F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe, Yoko Ono, Lou Reed, Suzan-Lori Parks and others to pay tribute to his career.
• Mother of Rock: Lilian Roxon (Paul Clarke) U.S. Premiere – Witness to New York’s music scene of the 1960s and 70s, Lillian Roxon was a trail blazer of rock criticism while mingling with the likes of John and Yoko, the Velvet Underground and Janis Joplin.
• Puppet (David Soll) World Premiere – Taking us behind the scenes as theater director Dan Hurlin  collaborates with master puppeteers for his play “Disfarmer,” Puppet explores why the this art form has been misunderstood in America.
• Ride, Rise, Roar (David Hillman Curtis) A David Byrne concert film that blends riveting onstage performances with intimate details of the creative collaborations that make the music and performance happen.
• To Be Heard (Roland Legiardi-Laura, Edwin Martinez, Deborah Shaffer, Amy Sultan)  World Premiere – Three teenagers Karina, Pearl and Anthony cope with challenges of life in the inner city and find transformation from the radical poetry workshop Power Writing that gives them tools for expression.