February 25: DocuClub at The Tank

An intimate crowd gathered during February’s DocuClub to watch Our House by filmmakers David Teague and Greg King at The Tank. Moderator Brian Geldin expertly guided the discussion. The documentary depicts the various members living in an alternative housing community in the midst of gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The filmmakers were keen to hear how the structure of the piece was working, and specifically, how the end of the film played out since an unpredictable event throws the residents into momentary chaos. To learn more about DocuClub, please go to our website.

Published on March 03

Arts Engine Survey

MediaRights.org member Stacey Brook says, “Filling out this survey was actually pretty enlightening.  It’s interesting to see the issues that are on my fellow media makers’ minds, distilled and categorized.  And thanks for keeping it short and sweet.  Also, I will happily fill out any survey in the future in which you award a Flip camera to a random participant.  Did I win??!!”

Published on February 25

December 17: Rose Mapendo Discusses Congo with Actor Ben Affleck at the United Nations

A distinguished panel gathered by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) announced a new campaign to raise awareness and financial support for North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Violence has again erupted in this already troubled region. The panel included Rose Mapendo, the subject of our upcoming film, Pushing The Elephant. To find our more about the film, or to make a donation, please click here.

Published on December 17

December 4: Arts Engine Presents an Asexuality: The Making of a Movement Fundraiser in New York, NY

You are invited!

Please join us for a fundraiser for Arts Engine’s next Big Mouth Film, Asexuality: The Making of a Movement. The film will profile four people who are trying to live their lives as asexuals.  What’s an asexual, you might ask?  An asexual is someone who does not experience sexual attraction.  Unlike celibacy, which is a personal choice, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who asexuals are. It is their identity.

Curious? Come learn about the film.

We are currently in production and need funding for some additional shoots in Vancouver and San Francisco. Please support this documentary film. It all comes back to you!

WHEN:
          Thursday, December 4
          6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

WHERE:
          Flatbush Farm
          76 St. Marks Avenue
          Corner of Sixth Avenue and Flatbush
          Park Slope, Brooklyn

PROGRAM:
          Featuring emcee Giulia Rozzi (CNN, Stripped Stories)
          Plus, a super-duper raffle and even a bake sale!
          6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour and a Half
          7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Comedy, Raffle and New Scenes Trailer

COST: Tickets are $25

Please RSVP to Jolene Pinder 646-230-6228, x222, jolene@artsengine.net.

For more information on the film, please visit Big Mouth Films. And to find out more about everything we do, check out Arts Engine.

Published on November 20

NOW AVAILABLE! Arts Engine’s Ten Year Anniversary Box Set

Arts Engine’s Ten Year Anniversary Collection celebrates the power of film to create positive change. The new DVD box set showcases the highly acclaimed, yet previously hard-to-find, feature-length documentaries and short films of the past decade.

Highlights of the box set include: Deadline, an Emmy-nominated look at capital punishment in the United States; Outside Looking In, which explores the complexities of trans-racial adoption; Election Day, a timely and powerful look at the state of democracy in the U.S. today; and Laurie Collyer’s directorial debut Nuyorican Dream, which chronicles a Puerto Rican family struggling to overcome poverty in Brooklyn. Collyer recently wrote and directed Sherrybaby starring Maggie Gyllenhaal. 

While the films have been hits at festivals around the world–from Sundance to Berlin to South by Southwest–and broadcast by outlets such as NBC, HBO, and P.O.V., several of the films in this box set were not available on DVD until now. 

The two Media that Matters DVDs included in the box set are: Media That Matters: Good Food, a collection of festival shorts focused on food and sustainability, and the eighth annual Media That Matters Film Festival, featuring 12 shorts from the 2008 festival. 

Visit our store or find out more about our Ten Year Anniversary.

Published on October 13

Call for entries - Ninth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival

Media That Matters: More than a festival.

Arts Engine’s Media That Matters is the premier showcase for short films with big messages.

Submit your film now for the chance to be one of the final twelve jury-selected films and become part of our outreach and distribution efforts to create social change through film.

Following a New York City Premiere, Awards Ceremony and industry networking events in June 2009, your film will take part in the Media That Matters international, multi-platform campaign with DVD distribution, broadcasts, streaming and hundreds of screenings across the globe!

All finalists will be awarded $1000 to assist in future filmmaking efforts.

Visit the Media That Matters Film Festival submit page for more information.

Published on October 01

ELECTION DAY Broadcast Premiere July 1st on P.O.V.!

Arts Engine’s Election Day will have its national broadcast premiere this summer as part of the award-winning PBS series P.O.V. The film will air on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 10 p.m. (check your local listings).  To receive an email reminder the week of Election Day‘s broadcast, click here.

Celebrating its 21st season on PBS in 2008, the award-winning P.O.V. series is the longest-running showcase on television to feature the work of America’s best contemporary-issue independent filmmakers. Airing Tuesdays at 10 p.m., June through September, with primetime specials during the year, P.O.V. has brought more than 250 award-winning documentaries to millions nationwide, and now has a Webby Award-winning online series, P.O.V.‘s Borders. Since 1988, P.O.V. has pioneered the art of presentation and outreach using independent nonfiction media to build new communities in conversation about today’s most pressing social issues. The Arts Engine team is proud that Election Day will make its broadcast debut on such a compelling series. More information about P.O.V is available online at www.pbs.org/pov.

Published on June 17

Arts Engine’s Eighth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival WORLD PREMIERE!

Arts Engine is pleased to announce the world premiere of the eighth annual Media That Matters Film Festival in New York City!

WORLD PREMIERE - IFC Center

Join us for the world premiere of the eighth annual Media That Matters Film Festival! Be among the first to see the 12 inspiring short films we selected this year. There will be Take Action tables AND a chance to meet the festival filmmakers!

Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Time: 7 - 9 p.m.
Location:
IFC Center
323 Sixth Avenue (at West 3rd Street)
New York, NY
Get Directions | Buy Tickets!

Buy your tickets today at movietickets.com!

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SECOND SCREENING - Tribeca Cinemas

We are pleased to announce that due to popular demand, this year we have added a second screening to our growing festival event line-up! Don’t be left without a ticket for the Wednesday, May 28 Premiere at the IFC!  Book your tickets for the Friday evening screening at Tribeca Cinemas. There will be Take Action tables AND a chance to meet the festival filmmakers!

Date: Friday, May 30, 2008
Time: 7 - 9 p.m.
Location:
Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick Street
New York, NY
Get Directions | Buy Tickets!

Buy your tickets today at brownpapertickets.com!

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OFFICIAL FESTIVAL PARTY - Rose Live Music

Join us for the official Media That Matters after-party as festival winner African Underground: Hip Hop In Senegal’s filmmaker and featured artists spin tracks and lay down beats at the Rose Live Music center in historic Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Rose Live Music & Nomadic Wax Productions presents:
The Waaw Band - Live Senegalese Afro Beat
& DJ Ben Herson spinning Global Hip Hop, Afrobeat, Reggae & more

Date: Saturday, May 31, 2008
Time: 10 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Location:
Rose Live Music
345 Grand Street (between Havemeyer & Marcy)
Brooklyn, NY
Get Directions

There is no cover charge but you must be 21+ to attend!

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YOUTH PREMIERE - Paley Center for Media, NYC

On June 6 there will be an additional free screening for youth as part of the annual Media: Overseas Conference, an international celebration of youth and film.

This three-day conference will include screenings and panels from a host of international participants, brought together to discuss today’s current media landscape. Panelists from Afghanistan, Australia, China, Egypt, Korea, Kuwait, Spain, Sweden, UK, and the USA will lead the conversations. Attendees will include media industry professionals, educators, students, and the general public.

Date: Friday, June 6, 2008
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Location:
The Paley Center for Media
25 West 52nd Street
New York, NY
Get Directions

While this event is free for youth, participants will not be admitted without sending an RSVP to: rsvp@mocnyb.org.

This event will also be a part of Internet Week NY! 
For more details visit internetweekny.com!

For all these events, make sure to buy your tickets now, as they sell out fast.

We’ll see you there!

Published on May 21