goings ons, comings ups

We are heading towards some pretty hectic times in New York City for followers of interesting films. Depending on your attitude about movie-related events, you will be pleased with the many choices at hand or yanking out tufts of hair in frustration over not being able to catch it all.

At the center is the New York Film Festival, for which Dbborroughs has been providing the lowdown. Making its home within the NYFF this year is a self contained series that takesa look at films released through Nikkatsu Studios over the years, with plenty of yakuza, rebellious youth, and erotic content. There is also New York Comic Con, which will again share its space with the New York Anime Fest, coming mid October in its biggest 4 day configuration yet. Not exactly a film event perhaps, but it is sure to include some interesting tie-ins.

Here are a few more events that will be orbiting Manhattan this Fall:

Sion Sono: The New Poet @ MAD Museum

This very interesting and timely (as Sono has been on a streak of recognition lately) retrospective comes to a relatively new resource for film, The MAD Museum (MAD being an acronym for Museum of Art and Design, although personally I would love to see a museum devoted to anger). There is a chance to once again see his two latest works, LOVE EXPOSURE and COLD FISH, which both explode with the sort of vivid imagery deserving of a large screen. Other highlights include two movies that have rarely if ever been available to see in the US: Sono's first feature film BICYCLE SIGHTS and 2005's INTO A DREAM. There is also a rare opportunity to see his cult favorite piece of provocation SUICIDE CLUB on a big screen.

The series takes place on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from October 7 through November 11. http://www.madmuseum.org/series/sion-sono


Yeonghwa: Korean Film Today, 2011 @ MOMA

While a bit more studious and reserved than other more free wheelin' Korean film fests going on internationally (No Bikini Aliens here nor any crime thrillers by Ryoo Seung-Wan, although the New York Asian Film Festival had the latter covered), there are some interesting screenings on hand. Kim Ki-Duk's latest, an introspective reaction to his own recently stilted activity, AIRRANG will be shown. So will a 30 minute short film by Bong Joon-Ho (Memories of Murder, The Host, Mother) called INFLUENZA. There is also a recent thriller from 2010, MIDNIGHT FM, and three dramas that comprise the intriguing TOWN trilogy.

From September 22 to October 2. http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/1205


SCARY Movies @ Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center

Right in time for Halloween, Film Linc will continue its annual celebration of the macabre. In the past, this has been a short but jam-packed series. Last year's event gave us classics (Carrie, Hellraiser), left by the wayside exploitation anomalies (The Mutations, Messiah of Evil), and premieres (Stake-Land, Black Death). There is also promise of an eye towards the international, as last year included the premiere of French film Village of Shadows with the director on hand for a Q & A. Look forward to this event, which will probably begin about a week before October 31.

The Korean Cultural Service brings more free screenings on Tuesday nights at Tribeca Cinemas with its next being a dark future vision, END OF ANIMAL, and a horror movie right on Halloween night, MOSS.

Indeed there is no lack of things to see. Enjoy!