New York City’s Nitehawk Cinema Relaunches With Two New Programmers, Safety Protocols, Festival Plans And More
One of the most devastating consequences of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic saw the massive closures of theaters around the world, including New York City’s Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg and Prospect Park in Brooklyn last Spring.
That all changes this year with a relaunch in full affect along with the additions two new veteran programmers, Cristina Cacioppo and Desmond Thorne. The two join Nitehawk’s Director of Programming and Acquisitions, John Woods, in overseeing q return of beloved film series, as well as the debut of new and exciting titles and film festivals, and all manner of first-run indies going forward.
“Joining the Nitehawk team has me in such incredible company. The alchemy of Desmond, John, and my distinct tastes melds together perfectly, and we’ve only just gotten started,” says Cacioppo of the new collaboration.
Thorne adds, “I am so thrilled to be Programming at Nitehawk and honored to be working with Cristina and John! The three of us collaborating together has been such a joy and I can’t wait to unleash our mutual brilliance on to the cinema audiences of NYC.”
More on screenings and events:
Nitehawk Cinema boasts the return of some of their beloved series and film festivals, as well as the debuts of a few new ones. Mainstay series include ‘Anniversary Party’ (screening films on the anniversary of their theatrical release) which will feature the 20th anniversary screening of the film that inspired the series name, THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY, followed by a Q&A with co-director/star Alan Cumming, ‘In Case You Missed It 2020’ (films that might have slipped under your radar during COVID), and ‘Weekends with Wes’ (a brunch journey through the oeuvre of Wes Anderson). Many of the theater’s original series will return as well, including ‘Live Sound Cinema’ (your favorite films with a live-orchestra soundtrack), ‘Music Driven’ (the latest music-focused features and bonafide classics), ‘Spoons, Toons & Booze’ (your favorite cartoons with an all-you-can-eat cereal bar), ‘No Budge’ (a partnership with the streaming platform, bringing focus to emerging filmmakers), and ‘Future of Film is Female’ (a partnership with the non-profit organization that amplifies the work of all women and non-binary filmmakers).
The new programmers bring with them fresh, new monthly series including ‘Re-Consider This!,’ a series that begs the audience to “reconsider” films that were considered “bad” upon release. Upcoming screenings include GOTHIKA (35mm), JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS and THE FAMILY STONE (35mm). There will also be ‘Adventures in Black Cinema,’ a series coinciding with Thorne’s podcast of the same name. Upcoming titles include TALES FROM THE HOOD, SOUL FOOD (35mm), and THE PREACHER’S WIFE (35mm). There will also be the new series ‘nostalgia, ULTRA.’ throwing it back to your favorite childhood movies from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early aughts. Upcoming titles include THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991), WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT (35mm), and HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000).
Rounding out the new series are ‘Nitehawk Diaries,’ an erotic thriller series kicking off with the Mark Wahlberg/Reese Withespoon rollercoaster ride FEAR, followed by a steamy Antonio Banderas and Rebecca de Mornay in NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS, and then the Alec Baldwin/Nicole Kidman/Bill Pullman trio in MALICE. Each screening includes a game of “Erotic Thriller Tropes Bingo.” There will also be the ‘Recent Restorations’ series, featuring Marcell Jankovics’ animated classic SON OF THE WHITE MARE in September and Paul Morrissey’s BLOOD FOR DRACULA in October.
Film festivals will once again grace the Nitehawk Theater screens, with the Williamsburg location hosting the Brooklyn Horror Festival from October 14-21 and the Prospect Park location hosting NewFest from October 16-24. The Nitehawk Shorts Festival is also set to return from March 2-6, 2022, with submissions opening up September 20, 2021.
Accordingly, the relaunch of Nitehawk will accommodate an amalgam of safety precautions for those attending, including mask mandates and proof of vaccination before entry, including for children under 12 with mask removals allowed once seated with food and drinks. Staff is also obliged to adhere to strict protocols, with details and more available on the official website.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!