The New York United Film Festival, bringing art and creativity together to create a united film community, will be held at the prestigious Millennium in the East Village on September 5th – 7th. The festival’s focus is to bring together talented filmmakers from diverse backgrounds, thus creating a “United” showcase of creative energy and talent. This is a film festival for everyone, a place where art and community converge. A Tulsa native filmmaker, Jason Connell and his production company Connell Creations founded New York United Film Festival and recently completed their first feature length film “Strictly Background.” This heartfelt and compelling award-winning documentary is based on the trials of 10 movie extras trying to make it big in Hollywood. Although he now lives in LA, Connell continues to run Tulsa United Film Festival – now entering its 6th year – and launched Los Angeles United Film Festival in ’07. The rich tradition of screening humorous, touching and sometimes provocative films is reaching even more people than ever. This is one film festival you won’t want to miss!
NY United is proud to present an amazing list of Award-Winning Documentaries & NY Premieres. “Last Cup: Road to the World Series of Beer Pong” covers this fascinating underground sport and will kick off the festival followed by a “Beer Pong Party.” Next the weekend line-up begins with a “Cultural Awareness” series which consists of “2nd Verse: The Rebirth of Poetry” which focuses on teen poets from all over the world, “The Listening Project” uncovers what 14 different countries think about America, “2 Turntables and a Microphone” is based on the life and death of RUN DMC’s famous DJ, Jam Master Jay, the film includes various artists such as Jay-Z & 50 Cent, closing out the day is “Eleven Minutes” which chronicles Project Runway winner Jay McCarroll’s first fashion show from conception to completion.
The festival concludes on Sunday with an “Inside Hollywood” series starting with “Lights! Action! Music!” which covers the art of composing motion pictures and includes many famous directors such as Ang Lee, Spike Lee & Francis Ford Coppola, “Strictly Background” uncovers the intriguing world of background actors (a.k.a. extras) as they try to stand out from the crowd, “Hollywood Dreams” is the only narrative film in the festival but is the 15th from famous director, Henry Jaglom, and is about a young actress (Tanna Frederick) from Iowa trying to make it in the movie business, other cast includes Justin Kirk (“Weeds”) & Melissa Leo (“21 Grams”), and closing out the festival is “The Reinactors” which documents the individuals who dress as Hollywood film icons in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
