Illustration from "Bravo, Zan Angelo! A Commedia dell'Arte Tale" (1998) by Niki Daly
Illustration from "Bravo, Zan Angelo! A Commedia dell'Arte Tale" (1998) by Niki Daly
Sparrow Film Project 14 Screenings, Crawl, & Gala

(released 11/14/2017)


The Sparrow Film Project, like winter, is coming. The project has three events to start the 12th month that will climax with the Gala on December 7, 2017. The project is based on an assignment that challenges filmmakers to create a 3 minute film in 3 weeks. 

This 14th edition's challenge focuses on character development. Character archetypes were drawn by participants representing stock from commedia dell'arte. Next, filmmakers picked wishes. The wishes were compiled from patrons of the Sparrow Tavern from May through August. Finally, teams had to draw a character flaw that is the conflict surrounding the wish a character must endure. Keeping the above challenge in mind when making the assignments, teams of filmmakers submitted their films.

Here is what is coming next for the 14th edition of the Sparrow Film Project and how you can participate:

Saturday, December 2, 2017 // Museum of Moving Image, Bartos Screening Room - Blocks of the 50 films that were submitted, will run. Following each block, an audience vote for the favorite film will be polled. Filmmakers will be present for after screening question and answer sessions. The wild card is the audience favorite for the day based on your votes. The Wild Card winner will be given a spot being held at the gala just for the audience favorite film that was not previously added to the gala.

Sunday, December 3, 2017 // SPF14 Bar Crawl will start at 1:30p.m. throughout northern Astoria. Like the Saturday MOMI screenings, the bar crawl participants will also have a say in the Wild Card Film that will be added to the gala. Cast your vote at the following bar crawl locations:

2p.m. Mosaic Craft Beer Cocktail Wine Bar
3p.m. Q.E.D.: A Place to Show and Tell
4p.m. Flattopps
5p.m. The Ditty
6p.m. The Bonnie

The bar crawl concludes at the Sparrow Tavern.
Detailed schedule of blocked films can be found on the event page here: facebook.com

Thursday, December 7, 2017 // Sparrow Film Project 14 Awards and Gala. The Museum of Moving Image, Sumner M. Redstone Theater will screen the films nominated by the judges and one film selected by your votes collected at the MOMI Screenings and BAR CRAWL. The following films are nominated for awards at the Gala as published by The Sparrow Film Project:

1 BR by Brazen
A Happy Ending by Blood Pheasant
A Spin In Time by Pickford's Follies
Absolution by Hoff Kilter
Bonbon by Locked in the Attic
Bright Lights, Bad City by Team Larry
Buyer's Remorse by No Frills
Deutschland by Flutter Puppy
Dumb Nachos by Brutalkind
Fool Intentions by Come Out Swinging
Knock and Kiss by Petros
Madame's Birthday by Meandering Quail
Margarita Kill by The Misfit Toys
Mister Warren's Neighborhood by Suit Up
Pulcinella's Opus by GKL
Silks Class by Hair Eagle
Styx & Stones by Effie Productions
Super Nova by Astoriocracy
The Curse by Bolts and Blunder
The Gnomen by Drunk Nerd Sober Nerd
The Professor's Lesson by Voyeuartistic
The Sig Daniels Show by Seltzer Party
There Will Be Nog by Flint Day
Uncertainty Principle by Evening Squire Productions
Uptight by 2
Vision Quest by Sparklebaby Barbecue
Wa-Wa-Watch Dog by Five Ohm
Who Fights Bears? by Loaded Bearing
Zimbabwe 2 by Guaranteed Tremendous

Tickets to the gala include champagne reception, nominated films screening, hors d'oeuvre with open bar intermission, and awards ceremony and are available here:  https://sfp14.brownpapertickets.com

The Sparrow Tavern birthed the film project when a rag tag group of artists drew made-up film names from a hat and challenged themselves to make a three minute film in 3 weeks. Each edition of the project over the years has altered the challenge in some way but keeping the structure of 3 minute film in 3 weeks. The first awards was held at the Sparrow Tavern in Astoria, Queens, corner of 24th avenue and 29th street. The project editions evolved into an internationally participated event that includes and honors filmmakers, hosts a gala emceed with live music, food and awards, and has established a community forum to create, invent and share ideas with film as the medium.

For more info on the Sparrow Film Project go to: www.sparrowfilmproject.com


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