About
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It is Rooftop Films mission to create the most unique film viewing experiences in NYC and beyond -- we don't screen in theaters, we screen in communities. We showcase groundbreaking independent films -- not in cold, isolating, movie theaters but in the open air -- and we make each screening a participatory community experience that includes live music, Q&A’s, panels and after parties. In order to continue to make our events bigger and better while also keeping them low cost therefore accessible to all, we need your support at this crucial time.
Make a donation and help Rooftop Films to continue to thrive or — better yet — become a Rooftop Films Member and get free access to over 45 amazing events in spectacular locations next summer and all year-round.
THE MORE YOU GIVE, THE MORE YOU GET!
For 17 years Rooftop has been a unique fixture on the New York cultural landscape connecting venues, audiences, filmmakers, musicians, communities and causes, and creating magical unique experiences. More than a film festival, Rooftop brings a vibrant, memorable experience to rooftops and scenic spots all over the city. Some say that our screenings are the best thing about summer in New York. Just ask Rooftop fan Yujin M:
“New York has plenty of fantastic events, but Rooftop Films is by far my favorite. Spend an evening under the stars on a graffitied rooftop of a chartered school on the lower east side with an opening performance by a local band, an awesome selection of independent films, and free beer at the after-party at a bar nearby. The very fact that they're offering all this in NYC for $13 makes you want to donate to the organization.”
Thanks Yujin! In addition to the kind words, Yujin makes a great point: Have you ever been to a Rooftop Films event and wondered, “How can they afford to create such unique and amazing events and still charge so little for admission?”
Well, the truth is we can’t — not without your additional support.
Ticket sales from our screenings account for less than 15% of our overall budget. Even if we sold our tickets for $100 we would still not be able to cover the cost of programming, planning and producing these events in 12 different locations across the city. One of the most vital sources of support is YOU. Without memberships and donations from our biggest fans, Rooftop can’t survive, which is why we are asking for your help this winter.
If you believe that Rooftop Films is important to you, your neighborhood, your city, and the independent film community, please make a donation or become a member today. Check out all the great rewards you can earn by making a donation, and help Rooftop Films in these cold winter months so that you can join us next summer for dozens of amazing events.
More Than Just A Film Festival
As a small non-profit organization, Rooftop accomplishes a great deal with a small, passionate staff. Every penny we earn goes back into the Rooftop community and towards providing a quality experience for our audience and members. We want to help you discover new up-and-coming bands and unforgettable locations, show you films you might never have heard about otherwise, and give you the chance to mingle with your fellow audience members and filmmakers after the films. We believe everyone should have equal access to the arts and it is our mission to keep these shows and these experiences accessible to all. That is why each year we add more free shows and keep our admission prices as low as possible for our ticketed events.
And Rooftop Films does more than simply exhibit films. By supporting Rooftop you also help independent filmmakers finish their new films. One dollar from every ticket we sell goes into the Rooftop Filmmakers Fund, and we raise tens of thousands of additional dollars in cash and services to help our alumni filmmakers to produce their latest films. Over the years, Rooftop has helped more than 100 filmmakers complete their films, including Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints), Lucy Walker (The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom), Shaka King (Newlyweeds), Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and Gillian Robespierre (Obvious Child, coming very soon!).
Support Rooftop Films this winter and you help to guarantee that we will be able to continue bringing daring new films to big screens all around New York City.
The more you give, the more you get. Rewards!
Rooftop Films is all about getting big things done with the resources available at hand, so we know the value of a dollar. For that reason, we wouldn’t ask you for help without offering a lot in return. To thank you for your support of Rooftop we are offering many great rewards, including DVDs and blu-ray discs from Magnolia, Oscilloscope, IFC Films and more, as well as tickets to Rooftop shows, and the best reward of all: Rooftop Membership.
And membership offers great benefits! Sign up today and you get free access to every regularly priced Rooftop Films event in 2014. If you bought all those tickets individually that would cost more than $500.00 per member. But make a donation today and you get access to more than 45 outdoor events for just $75.
Membership also makes for a great holiday gift!
Rooftop Films Members receive:
First Look at the Events that New York Will be Talking About
Rooftop shows are the unique events that are defining New York film culture. We are never content to simply show movies outdoors — we turn our screenings into unforgettably unique evenings. Last summer we didn’t just screen a documentary about a brass band -- we hosted a whole brass band festival (Brasslands). It was not enough for us to simply show a moving portrait of modern strongman (Bending Steel) -- we presented that film on the beach at Coney Island preceded by an exhilarating live exhibition featuring horseshoe bending and crowbar twisting.
Access to the Best Independent Films and Filmmakers in the World
In 2013 Rooftop Members got to hang out with the filmmakers and actors at the premieres and sneak previews of such films as Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha (starring Greta Gerwig), Sebastian Silva’s Crystal Fairy (starring Michael Cera and Gaby Hoffman), and David Lowery’s Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara).
First Access to Surprising Sites All Over the City
Rooftop shows consistently sell out but Rooftop members get in free and have priority entry. Plus you’ll receive VIP tickets to panels, and after parties too. You and your friends also receive invitations to off season screenings and exclusive programs curated for members only, and all of this will take place in unconventional spaces and special locations that you might never have discovered without Rooftop Films.
If you love Rooftop Films, and want to be part of the Rooftop community, take advantage of these offers. Together we will keep building something bigger, keep our program fresh and accessible year after year and in 2014, we’ll be able to go further and do more, BUT we can only do it with your help.
Risks and challenges
As a non-profit organization we will always face the challenge of relying on the support from our backers to sustain Rooftop Films. This Kickstarter project is not a means to an end. It is a stepping stone for us to grow and expand. And with that growth comes greater responsibility, challenges, and needs. We are a hard-working team of six year round and we work tirelessly to provide a unique experience for all who come to our shows. There is still work to be done and we are glad that you are on this journey with us.
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Funding period
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