19th Annual Coney Island Film Festival: Animation, Horror Shorts, ‘The Warriors’ & More
CONEY ISLAND – Movie lovers will gather on Coney Island this weekend for the 19th Annual Coney Island Film Festival showcasing more than 100 films from around the world.
The Coney Island Film festival will screen a wide range of features, documentaries, shorts, animation, horror, sci-fi, and experimental films, as well as works made in Coney Island.
The fest kicks off on Friday at 7:30pm with the documentary feature Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace. Directed by April Wright, the work documents the evolution of the movie industry over the past century, “from penny arcades and nickelodeons, to the grand movie palaces built by the studios, and what happened over the decades as they were challenged by television, decaying downtowns, multiplexes, and cell phone cinema.”
An Opening Night Party ($25) will take place after the screening at 9:30pm at the Freak Bar and Sideshows by the Seashore, with sideshow acts, magicians, and burlesque performers.
Some highlights of the weekend festival include:
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6pm & Sunday, Sept. 15 at 6pm: Coney Island Films – short films shot in and around Coney Island. See Saturday’s schedule here and Sunday’s lineup here.
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8pm: Horror Shorts – nine bizarre and frightening short films
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 10:30pm: The Warriors – a screening of the 1979 cult classic
Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1pm: Animation – a program featuring 14 animated films
Sunday, Sept. 15 at 3pm: Last Stop Coney Island: The Life and Photography of Harold Feinstein – this documentary explores the life and photography of Coney Island native Harold Feinstein. “It’s a portrait of a true artist who unerringly followed his muse, for better or worse, and despite early acclaim from the nascent photography scene in New York in the 40s & 50s…is largely unknown today.”
Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8pm: An Awards Ceremony at the Eldorado Auto Skooter Bumper Cars & Arcade (1216 Surf Ave.) will honor the filmmakers. Full Festival Pass ($50) holders will have access to the event as well as to the bumper cars!
The Coney Island Film Festival will take place at the Coney Island USA building at 1208 Surf Avenue. Screenings will be presented in two spaces: at Coney Island USA’s Sideshows by the Seashore on the ground floor and the Coney Island Museum on the second floor.
Learn more at coneyislandfilmfestival.com.
19th Annual Coney Island Film Festival
Friday, September 13 – Sunday, September 15
Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Avenue (between Stillwell Avenue & West 12 Street)
Tickets for individual screenings start at $8. Click here for ticket info.
