Coney Island Film Festival's SUNDAY Line-up

Today, with over 35 shorts and 3 features, the Coney Island Film Festival wraps up its weekend run.

Here are some of the features being presented at 7th Annual the Coney Isalnd Film Festival for the season of 2007.


See the full schedule of programs for the shorts and features.
The features:

Llik Your Idols

Angelique Bosio, Paris France
Documentary Feature

70 minutes.

New York City Premere!

Blood, Boobs & Beast

John Kinhart, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Documentary Feature
75 minutes
New York City Premiere!

Mathematically Alive: A Story of Fandom

Joseph Coburn, Katherine Foronjy
New York, NY, USA
Documentary Feature

90 minutes




7th Annual Coney Island Film Festival
Sunday, September 30, 2007
12pmSideshows by the Seashore3006 W.12th St. @ Surf Ave.
Tickets are $6.00 (cash only).
Tickets are available at the box officebeginning at 11:30 am. 3006 West 12th street off Surf Ave.Phone
718-372-5159.This program is kid friendly, suitable for

all ages!

Coney Island Film Festival's SATURDAY Line-up

Yesterday the festival's opening film and party enjoyed a "huge turnout and a sold-out screening", said festival director Rob Leddy. Today the short films kick off at the 7th Annual Coney Island Film Festival with 42 shorts - all in five programs packed with short films throughout the day. As well as five other programs with a feature length film preceded by an opening short. The festival day wraps up with a special screening of the "Warriors".

See the full schedule of programs for the shorts and features.

The features:

'Indian Larry Memorial Field Tribute'

Gary Planken, Long Beach NY. USA Documentary Feature.
80 minutes
New York City Premiere!

King of Sorrow (U.S. Premiere)

Kim Coates and Lara Daans will be in attendance for a Q+A.
Damian Lee, Toronto, ON, Canada. Narrative Feature.
94 minutes

Kim Coates who's starred in dozens of films said, "Doing 'King of Sorrow' was highly rewarding"

Visit the official website here.

Two Tickets To Paradise
D.B. Sweeney, Santa Monica CA, USA. Comedy Feature.

91 minutes

Visit the official website here.

Mathematically Alive: A Story of Fandom (World Premiere)
Joseph Coburn, Katherine Foronjy, New York, NY, USA, Documentary Feature.
90 minutes
This screening has been sold out.

Visit the official website here.

Celluloid #1
Steve Staso, New York, NY USA. Narrative Feature.
78 minutes.

Visit the official site here.






SEE THE FULL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE HERE FOR SCREENING TIMES.

7th Annual Coney Island Film Festival
Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 12pm
Sideshows by the Seashore
3006 W.12th St. @ Surf Ave.
Tickets are $6.00 (cash only).
Tickets are available at the box office
beginning at 11:30 am. 3006 West 12th street off Surf Ave.
Phone -718-372-5159.
This program is kid friendly, suitable for all ages!

Coney Events: The Upeats LIVE at the Surf & Turf Grill

Swing on by to Coney Island Surf & Turf Grill; the hottest new restaurant in Coney Island, and treat yourself to some live music for the debut of The Upbeats as they play nothing but the oldies and goodies with Daddy O!

No Cover charge! Outstanding Seafood! BE THERE, OR BE SQUARE!!!

The Upbeats LIVE at the Coney Island Surf & Turf Grill
October 6th
9 PM - Midnight!!
at the Coney Island The Surf & Turf Bar & Grill
Located across the street from Nathans Famous!
718-513-6491

Video" Return to Coney Island:One man's Message to the People!

Here's another of Byron The Traveler's Documentary films on Coney Island, This one is "Return to Coney Island: One man's message to the people!" which he posted on YouTube as MechWarrior58.

Return to Coney Island:One man's message to the people!


Description:
This is it everyone!The climax in the Astroland saga is reaching it's climax as Mrs.Carol Albert, who sold Astroland to developer Joe Sitt last year,is giving Thor Equities two weeks to renew her lease for the 2008 summer season.Ms. Albert has apparently "reached a limit to her patience" and that if a new lease is not forthcoming by mid-September she will be putting the Astroland rides "up for sale for good.Yet there is still time to stop the key from turning , as the people of Coney Island make their last stand to save the community they love.One wise man has an important message to all you cool people & folks out there! including Mr.Joe Sitt and Thor Equities.

Coney Island Film Festival's FRIDAY Line-up

Coney Island Film Festival opening night screening:
AMERICAN SCARY
[from the Coney Island Film Festival website)

Available tickets can be purchased day of (cash only), 30 minutes before the screening. If this program sells out in advance we will post it here, prior to the day of screening.

American Scary is a look at the nation's tradition of horror hosting, from Zacherley to A. Ghastlee Ghoul.

For ticket information click here.
See the trailer here.

Attending from the film:
Sandy Clark - Creator/Writer/Producer
Zacherley (tentative yes, check back for confirmation)
Penny Dreadful
Jimmy Psycho



Coney Island Film Festival
Screening of "American Scary"
Friday, September 28, 2007
7:30pm
at Sideshows by the Seashore
3006 W.12th St. @ Surf Ave.
Tickets for the opening night screening & party are $25.
Tickets for the screening only are $6.
We strongly recommend advance ticket purchase!
There is no extra service charge for advance ticket sales.


The Screening of "American Scare" is followed by the Coney Island Festival Opening Night.

OPENING NIGHT PARTY

American Scary (at 7:30pm) . Advance purchase is highly recommended! There is no extra service charge for advance ticket sales.



Coney Island Film Festival
Opening Night Party!
Friday, September 28, 2007
9:30pm
at the Coney Island Museum
1208 Surf Ave. @ W.12th St.
Tickets to this event are $25 and include admission to our opening night screening

Reminder: 7th Annual Coney Island Film Festival This Weekend!

Screenings start rolling this Friday with over 85 jam-packed films including shorts and features, all brought to you by indiefilmpage.com and Coney Island USA.

Opening night parties start with great performances! (at 9:30pm.) Featuring The Great Fredini (This or That!) with appearances by New York burlesque stars and performers from The Coney Island Circus Sideshow.

The party follows the opening night screening of "American Scary" (at 7:30pm). Advance purchase is highly recommended! There is no extra service charge for advance ticket sales.

7th Annual
Coney Island Film Festival
September 28-30, 2007
at Sideshows By The Seashore and The Coney Island Museum in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood Coney Island, New York!

"Return To Coney Island" Video Part 3

Here's the final installement of Byron The Traveler's Documentary film on Coney Island, "Return To Coney Island" Part 3 which he's posted on YouTube as MechWarrior58.

Return to Coney Island Pt 3


Description:
We embark on our quest to our journey to the far side of Coney Island Beach. While on our way, we explore the old relics of Coney Island's grand past & meet a few tourist who have their say on their first trip to this last piece of old NY.

Coney HOOPLA !

Image by Kreisten Bartley [JPG Photos]

Making Coney Island Green [Gotham Gazette]
Astroland & Coney Businesses May Live Another Year [Curbed]
7th Annual Coney Island Film Festival [MoviesOnline]
$200 Million for Coney Island Boardwalk [Gothamist]
A film blog on classic and modern horror [AMCtv. com]
Time Running Out For Coney Island’s Astroland [CTF blog]
Thor's Coney Island [Weekly Visual Reactions]
$200 Million to Fix the Entire Coney Boardwalk? [Gowanus Lounge]
A Death From the Coney Island Cyclone...Maybe. [TortsProf Blog]
Coney Island Tatto & Motorcycle Festival [Brit in Brooklyn]
Coney Island - the Book [BrklynStories]
The Great Irish Fair This Weekend in Coney Island [Gowanus Lounge]
Coney Vendors Get Stay; Astroland May be Next [Brownstoner]
Coney Boardwalk Strip Open Next Summer [Found In Brooklyn]
Thor Extending Some Coney Leases for 2008: Astroland Saved? [Gowanus Lounge]
The Coney Island arena option (and Newark, too) [Atlantic Yards Report]
Thor Lets Some Coney Businesses Stay For Now [OTBKB]
The Sustainable Future Of Coney Island [Planetizen]
Coney Island boardwalk gets one more summer [The Real Deal]
Coney Island Trippin [Thriving on Happy Accidents]
Making Coney Island Green [No Land Grab]
Save Coney Island Meeting Coming Up [Gowanus Lounge]
Coney Island Changes [Musings from Sumigirl]

Images:
Coney Island [JPG Photo]
Coney Island Swann Song [Last Exit Magazine]

Video:
Coney Island To Lose Astroland [CBS News via AOL@Video]

"Return to Coney Island" Video Part 2

Here's Part two of Byron The Traveler's Documentary film on Coney Island, "Return To Coney Island" which he's posted on YouTube as MechWarrior58.

Return to Coney Island Pt 2


Description:
As the Traveler's epic quest for the truth about Coney Island continues,we search for the real truth behind the controversy of Thor Equities plan to turn Coney Island into a Las Vegas style haven for the wealthy ritch people."We need to know the real facts."Who else would know about the recent changes & development?The locals would.

New Coney Island Poster Available At Lola Staar

This dazzling 2007 Coney Island poster comes direct from the Lola Staar boutique:

Michal Michael Motorcycle has dreamt up another Coney Island wonderland for this year's 2007 poster and we think it's love at first sight!

Screen printed poster is 18” X 24”, and is part of a series offered exclusively by Lola Staar. $20

Boardwalk Businesses To Get 2008 Leases! Astroland Could Be Next!

According to some buzz created at Monday night's Save Coney Island meeting which was held in Williamsburg, Dianna Carlin of Lola Staar boutique who organized the meeting, mentioned that she received word from Thor Equities that "all was good" regarding the possibility of 2008 lease extensions for her business.

Wednesday night after the Community Board 13 meeting Dianna Carlin told Kinetic Carnival that she received official word that her business, along with others under Thor Equities like Ruby's Bar and Cha Cha's, have been offered leases for 2008. She also mentioned that she had asked whether the lease would include a gag order like the one that was forced upon her with the original lease version for 2007 and which was later removed. She said she did not get a definite answer. Even though she and the other business operators have yet to examine actual leases for signing, Dianna was very optimistic and excited about staying in business for next year.

Also last night at the Community Board 13 meeting Astroland owner/operator Carol Albert seemed unusually positive yet tight-lipped - which in light of this news leads one to believe that Astroland has been offered a reasonable lease offer for next year. Official details will most likely hit the news stands in the morning, since there probably has been some press release sent to the media.

This does not come as too much of a surprise since it would be a bad move on the part of Thor Equities and Joe Sitt to leave empty lots for next year since they'll be no construction. Even if this would be their tactic to press this administration or the next to rezone, time seems to be necessary to reconfigure a new strategy.

Carlin also mentioned that buzzing around is the possibility that Michael Bloomberg or someone in his administration will be making some sort of important announcement very soon.

On another note: The Community Board 13 meeting did not have attendees bring up much of the issues regarding concerns to save Coney Island from the rezoning that could hurt its amusement district.

Coney Events: The Classix LIVE at the Surf & Turf Grill

The very versatile Classix Band will perform their classic rock, blues, and originals at the Coney Island Surf & Turf Grill in Coney Island this weekend.




The Classix Band
Saturday Sept 22nd
10pm-1am
at the Coney Island Surf & Turf Grill

1315 Surf Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11224
(718) 513-6491

Return To Coney Island Video Part 1

Documentary film on Coney Island by Byron The Traveler. This is part one of three.

Return to Coney Island. Part 1


Description:
In this epic adventure of one man's return to Coney Island, the real truth is revealed behind the controversy of Thor Equities' plan to turn Coney Island into a Las Vegas style haven for the wealthy rich. The only thing standing in their way is the valiant fight by the locals and city officials to save Astroland and the area from total devastation. Will Thor Equities be successful in destroying Coney's amusement district or will the city and the people of Coney Island win over the developer's iron fist? The answer to this huge question has yet to be found.

Community Board 13 Meeting Tonight

A meeting for Community Board 13 in Coney Island will be held tonight in the 2nd floor auditorium at Coney Island Hospital.

For all locals who live in the district of CB13, come show your support and express your opinions on saving Coney Island from the kind of rezoning that can lead to eradicating the amusement zone in Coney Island forever.

Community Board 13 Meeting
September 19, 2007
7PM
at Coney Island Hospital
Auditorium, 2nd Floor

Save Coney Island Video

Carol Albert, owner/operator of Astroland talks about the very small chance that Astroland can come back for 2008. You can also hear the Save Coney Island theme song played by

Save Coney Island

22nd Annual Coney Island Tattoo & Motorcycle Festival

From the Coney Island USA website:

Coney Island has a long history as of one of the greatest tattoo centers in New York City and the world. Coney Island USA's Tattoo and Motorcycle Festival celebrates the great blue collar arts of tattooing and of motorcycle customization. Started in the bad old days in 1986 when tattooing was still illegal in NYC, the Coney Island Tattoo and Motorcycle Festival is both the oldest gathering in New York City and brings together cutting edge New York City artistic innovation and attitude in the traditional home of the tattoo.

Every year, entrants compete for trophies as they show their tats in the Sideshow by the Seashore Theater or parade their motorcycles on West 12th Street before our panel of judges. Tattoos are judged in the categories of Black and White, Color, Tribal, Back and Butt, while Motorcycles compete in the categories of Custom, Stock, Oldest and Ugliest.



New York City's Longest Running Tattoo Festival!

Sunday, September 23, 2006
6pm to 10pm
Hosted by Dick Zigun and Little Jimmy!
Guest Tattoo Artist Jon Jon from Cutting Edge Body Art

Schedule:
12pm - HotRod Parking
6pm - Motorcycle Parking
7pm - Tattoo Contest
9pm - Motorcycle Contest
Motorcycle Review: Free to enter
Tattoo Pageant: $5 per entrant, but all entrants get a free beer!

at Sideshows by the Seashore Surf and West 12th Street

Coney Island Lager Video

Here's a video about the Coney Island Lager found on the Coney Island USA bulletin board by Indie Rob Leddy.

SAVE CONEY ISLAND MEETING!

Posted on the Coney Island USA bulletin board:

Everyone is welcomed to attend a meeting by the Save Coney Island group! Come and help organize a group of active Save Coney Island members. Together we can brainstorm ideas about future events, petitions, fund raisers & exhibitions!

Conspire! Brainstorm! Organize! Dream!


Monday, Sept 17th
Save Coney Island Meeting
7:00PM
The City Reliquary Museum & Civic Organization
in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
370 Metropolitan Avenue

New Space For Astroland in Coney Plan Is Dumped!

Image by betty_86 (Flickr.com)

The plan to relocate Astroland somewhere else in Coney Island has been mutually ended by both parties: the City and Astroland, according to an article in the New York Post, by Richard Calder.

President of the Coney Island Development Corporation, Lynn Kelly, told the Post that a new site near the boardwalk large enough to house a reassembled Astroland theme park could not be found in time to make it possible and feasable. The time has come where owner and operator Carol Albert needs to make a decision as to sell the rides now or not. If Albert waits, she could suffer significant financial loss.

Richard Calder writes:

Albert's lease runs through January, but she said she must begin selling her 23 rides by the end of the month or risk massive financial losses.

The Post reported last month that Thor is seeking $3 million in rent for Astroland to help recoup some of the $30 million it paid Albert for the 3.1-acre park property last year. Albert, however, wants to continue paying $170,000.

A Thor spokesman said the $3 million figure is now lower but declined to
elaborate.

According to a recent discussion Albert was heard being quoted that she will wait no more and corner Thor Equities into coming up with an answer as to weather to give Astroland another year or not. A few Carnies from Astroland as well as an administrator from Astroland's office have all said that Albert will only be waiting up until the 23rd of this month.

Now is the time to rally up in support to demand Thor Equities to offer Astroland a lease to open another year at its current location - which has been its home for the past 45 years.


ASTROLAND DOOMED AT CONEY IS. [New York Post]
Follow the discussion at the CIUSA board

Astroland (Last Day?) Picture Slideshow

Here's a really nice photo slideshow posted on Flickr by AKinloch.

Coney Events: Rockinghams LIVE at Surf & Turf Grill

Kick back to the groove of the sixties at Coney Island Surf & Turf Grill as the fab and far out band The Rockinghams, pay tribute to sixties as they take you through a wondrous decade playing many 60's hits, near misses, and forgotten gems with the harmonies, arrangements, and energy that are an inextricable part of these classic songs.

Experience rock's halcyon days all over again with the Rockinghams, live in Coney Island. Click on the Rockinghams website to watch a samplings of their videos or their MySpace to hear a few of their songs.


Rockinghams LIVE at the Surf & Turf Grill
Saturday, September 15th
at the Coney Island Surf N' Turf Grill
1315 Surf Avenue - Coney Island, Brooklyn
across the street from Nathan's
9pm to midnight
call 718-513-6491 for info!

Coney's Season-End HOOPLA !

Image by brandonj74 (Flickr.com)

Last Ride at Astroland [Village Voice - Runnin' Scared by Neil DeMause
CONEY ZONEY FUROR - CHICKEN KING CLUCKS [NY Post]
Some Coney Island Rides Pack It Up...For Good [Gothamist]
Coney Island's Zipper and Spider sold to Honduras [NewYorkOlogy]
Coney Island's Loss Is Honduras' . . . [Bridge and Tunnel Club Blog]
Coney Island Folklore: Alive on the Inside [Icky in Brooklyn]
Who Will Front for Thor in Coney Island Now? [Curbed]
Long Island Woman [Long Island Woman]
Coney Island [Glob]
Coney's Astroland Closes [The Real Deal]
Today is the Last Day of Coney Island's 2007 Season [Gothamist]
Goodbye, Astroland? [T-Sides]
Last Train To Astroland [Dan Dickinson: The Primary Vivid Weblog]
Astroland Coney Island [The Rix Mix]
Weekend Wisdom [NewMRadio]
Coney Island Fireworks * Rally on Sunday [Found In Brooklyn]
Astroland's Last Day [NY Magazine - Daily Intelligencer]
Coney Island Carousel RFP Due Oct. 17 [The Carousel News and Trader Magazine]

Images:
Coney Island in the 20th Century: In pictures [The Bowery Boys]
Coney Island: Last Day for Astroland [Brit in Brooklyn]
Coney Island [AMG Photography]

Audio:

As Change Nears, Coney Islanders Keep Dreaming [Posscope]
Coney Island [Ann Heppermannn and Kara Oehler]

Astroland's Carol Albert To Give Thor Two Weeks To Offer Deal

According to sources by those on the inside and close to Carol Albert, (which will remain nameless) there was an ultimatum overheard that Albert has given to Thor Equities. It appears Carol Albert has reached a limit to her patience. She is giving Thor Equities two weeks to make an offer to give Astroland a lease for 2008 or she will be putting the Astroland rides up for sale for good.

The discussion was heard while the group was dining at Coney Island's Surf & Turf Grill; Coney's 'commissary' for the cast of personalities who play "behind the scenes" in Coney Island.

Saving Astroland!

Demonstrators, marching bands, the media, and Coney fanatics will all descend on Astroland today in hopes of persuading developer Thor Equities into a summer's-end decision to give Astroland one more year, for the 2008 season.

On hand will be the Hungry March Band at 6pm. And from 4-6pm, mariachi bands will play. All in support of keeping Coney Island from becoming a blighted area for the next few years if Astroland were to close and not open for the 2008 season.

The demonstration was organized by Community Board 13 Chairman Brian Gotlieb who leads the demonstration as well as starting a petition to save Astroland.

Other posters for Save Astroland demonstration:

Astroland #1: Protest, Rides & Reporters Today [Gowanus Lounge]
Rally to Save Coney Island's Astroland [Gothamist]

Coney Performer Richard Eagan Is Back And Alive on the Inside.

After a long hiatus in performance art, Brooklyn artist and performer Richard Eagen takes us on a journey behind the scenes of his Coney Island life of the 1980's in a colorful presentation by The Coney Island History Project as part of their Coney Island Folklore Program, entitled "Alive on the Inside"

The Coney Island History Project website
writes:

During his years there, Eagan continues to discover the fantastic beneath Coney's painted fun house exterior, finally realizing that escape proves eerily difficult once, like many before him, he "gets the sand in his shoes".

PROGRAM (from the CIHP website)

2:00
Introduction and historic photo presentation by Charles Denson, director of the Coney Island History Project.

2:15
Coney Island Stories.

2:30
Richard Eagan performs Alive on the Inside, a solo show that offers a colorful journey behind the scenes at Coney Island, from Eagan’s childhood discovery of this surreal playground through his return to Coney as an artist in the 1980s and his mission to save his beloved haunt from oblivion.

Saturday, August 9, 2007
2PM
New York Aquarium’s Education Hall
Boardwalk at West 8th Street
Admission: Free
Parking:
$22 at the Aquarium parking lot. (Includes one adult admission to Aquarium.
Free at Keyspan Park.
Public transportation:
F or Q subway to West 8th Street. Take pedestrian walkway to
Boardwalk. Entrance is at right.

Presented by the Coney Island History Project in cooperation with the NY Aquarium Education Department.

Eak the 'Freak Lawyer' Geek

The popular former Coney Island Sideshow performer, Ed Arrocha A.K.A. Eak the Geek, who's been traveling across the country performing his shtick has been eloquently writing about his travels on his MySpace blog. He has landed back to his law studies to follow in the steps of his father and brother. He told the AM New York newspaper that he wants to be a 'freak lawyer' and work with 'alternative' people, "the so-called riffraff, to give them legal representation that is not judgmental." He said 'Eak the Geek' is the performance but that he is also a person.

AM New York writes:

"The people here are very curious about me," he said. "I'm the new zoo animal here." Arrocha, a burly six feet tall with tattoos from his shaved head to his toes, acknowledges that his new career will bring a fashion challenge: "I've never had to tie a tie before."

Coney HOOPLA !

Image by Manzari (Flickr.com)

Labor Day Pains [by Neil deMause - Village Voice - Runnin' Scared]
Coney nets volleyball event [No Land Grab]
One Thing Leads to Another, or, Excuses, Excuses [Last Year at Coney Island]
Brooklyn council members to vote down far hike over F express plan [2nd Ave Sagas]
Thor Spokesperson Says Developer Needs "Defending" [The Gowanus Lounge]
Coney Island Hosts the World's Top Volleyball Players [The NY Sun]
Astroland Negotiations For 2008 "At a Standstill" [Gothamist]
Astroland Negotiations "At a Standstill" [Hollywood-Jester]
Beloved Coney Island [Cooler than Stupid]
Beautiful Badass Brooklyn Redux [Erica's Blog]
Coney Island with Charles Denson [Jeremiah's Vanishing New York]
"Sands of Time" & Coney Island [The Gowanus Lounge]
Checking in on Coney Island's Childs Building [The Gowanus Lounge]
Real Estate Round Up, August 15, 2007 [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
Coney [Cliffhanger]
The future of Coney Island will not look quite like this [No Land Grab]
Robbery in Brooklyn-I from the New Yorker, 1939 [The Coney Island Reporter]
Straight From The Bleachers: Smashing Success [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
Coney Island’s pathway to nowhere - Money’s there, but plan for new walkway stalls [Courier Life]
I-Report: Your photos, memories of Coney Island [CNN.com]
Future up in air for Coney Island fixture [inRich.com]
The Coney contrast: the city sticks to its guns, challenges developer [No Land Grab]
Coney Island and circus prices too high for Berbicians [The Coney Island Reporter]
Coney Island Shark! [Swim At Your Own Risk]
The Clock is Ticking on Coney Island [The Observer]
Coney Baloney (Updated) [Erica's Blog]


Video:
Check Out a Pretty Coney Night Vid from the Astrotower [The Gowanus Lounge]

A Coney Picture Slide Show

Here's a nice slide show of Coney Island found on YouTube and posted by ny2nj08