This Election Night, join Rooftop Films and Thom Powers for a special Stranger Than Fiction screening of Shola Lynch's revealing documentary, Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed.

In 1972, when Shirley Chisholm, a brilliant black congresswoman from Brooklyn boldly bid for the presidency, women had barely made it out of the kitchen, and the Civil Rights Act was still new. But, here was eloquent, composed, audacious Shirley Chisholm -- not only the first black woman in Congress, but the first woman to run for the nation's highest office -- demanding that the body politic actually represent all of the American people.

Director Shola Lynch in Attendance

Before the films, we will be showing the final episode of Sparrow '08. Produced by Rumur Inc. and Rooftop Films, Sparrow '08 is comprised of six webisodes chronicling Sparrow's hilarious 2008 non-campaign, from his heaven-sent inspiration, to his rousing appearance in front of thousands, to his desperate attempts to keep genuine activists from voting for him.

Watch the comedic documentary series about Sparrow at www.sparrowforprez.com.

Sparrow and co-director Michael Galinsky will be in attendance.

An after party follows at Fat Black Pussycat, where we will all go to watch the election results.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008
CHISHOLM 72: UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED
35 years before Obama and Hillary Clinton, Shirley Chisholm ran for president of the United States.

Venue: IFC Center, 323 Sixth Avenue (Between 15th and 16th Streets, Manhattan)
Directions: A, B, C, D, E, F or V to W. 4th Street
8:00 PM: Film Begins
9:30 PM: Watch the election results at Fat Black Pussycat
Tickets: $15.00

By Rooftop Films in Political Films, Rooftop News, Sparrow | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (2)

Tags: Chisholm, Election Night, IFC, Rooftop Films, Rumur Inc., Sparrow, Stranger than Fiction, Thom Powers

Comedy • Politics • Documentary Film • Drink Specials • Drinking Games

A serious forum for political debate, with drinking games and radical outsider hijinks.

Wed., October 15, 8-11PM
Watch the Debate with Sparrow! Lunatic Comedian Poet Presidential Candidate!

At Sound Fix Records and Bar
110 Bedford Ave at N11th St. (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Drink Specials all night long! 2 PBRs for $5, $5 pint size Bloody Marys and Pickletinis

8-9:00 PM - Comedy Free Williamsburg
9-10:30 PM - Mainstream Presidential Debate (on the Big Screen), with drinking games!
10:30- 11 PM - Alternative Debate with Sparrow (Live!)

Like Ralph Nader and Dennis Kucinich before him, Sparrow has been barred from the "official" Presidential Debates. So Rooftop Films, Rumur Inc. and Sound Fix Records are holding our own Debate, with our own candidate -- Sparrow. Hosted by Comedy Free Williamsburg, this will be a great time to kick back and giggle to stave off deep feelings of despair. A time to rally around the candidates we believe in, ridicule the candidates we despise, and celebrate the American political discourse which allows everyone to have their say -- even fringe crazies like the the Alaska Independence Party, Focus on the Family, Paris Hilton, and Sparrow.

Come join us for this seriously funny debate party.

ABOUT SPARROW
Watch the comedic documentary series about Sparrow!
Read Sparrow's Daily Political Blog!

WRITE ABOUT SPARROW
Sparrow is available for interviews, media junkets, spamming, and attention-grabbing political stunts. Photos and clips available upon request. If you're interested in covering Sparrow's non-campaign, please contact info@sparrowforprez.com.

• Watch Episodes 1-3 now at http://sparrowforprez.com/

• Look for updates on Sparrow's run away from the presidency at the Rooftop Films Blog.

• Become Sparrow's friend on Facebook and MySpace

By Rooftop Films in Sparrow | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (6)

Tags: Andrew Boyd, Billionaires For Bush, Horns and Halos, Michael Galinsky, Republican Like Me, Rooftop Films, Rumur Inc., Sander Hicks, Sound Fix, Sparrow'08, Vox Pop

Award-winning veteran Rooftop filmmakers tackle thorny issue of presidential politics with a comic outcast.

Rooftop Films and Rumur Inc., the filmmakers behind Horns and Halos, announce the release of six webisodes about the poet Sparrow's fifth attempt to lose the presidential election. The comedic documentary series can be seen at www.sparrowforprez.com and www.rooftopfilms.com.

Filmmaker Michael Galinsky says, "We came to know of Sparrow because Soft Skull Press, the publisher we chronicled in Horns and Halos, had published his campaign diary, Republican Like Me. He has a very unique take on politics and we thought that amplifying his work could inspire a broader discussion about the politics in this country."

Produced by Rumur Inc. and Rooftop Films, these six short episodes chronicle Sparrow's hilarious 2008 non-campaign, from his heaven-sent inspiration, to his rousing appearance in front of thousands, to his desperate attempts to keep genuine activists from voting for him. Guest stars include Sander Hicks (founder of Vox Pop) and Andrew Boyd (founder of Billionaires for Bush). Also included are Sparrow's "campaign commercials," the uniquely bizarre Wisdom of Sparrow pledges and poems.

In 1996, Sparrow ran as a revolutionary communist within the structure of the Republican Party and lived to write a book about it, Republican Like Me. A cross between Lenny Bruce and Stephen Wright, Sparrow doesn't really want you to vote for him but he likes having a reason to speak on your behalf.

As a country we need Sparrow. We certainly don't want him to run anything but we need him now, just as the 1850's needed Walt Whitman, to force us to look at our political system with a new perspective. Sparrow speaks truth to those not in power, and if enough people listen power might have to pay attention.

In this crucial election season, America needs a ridiculously cartoonish incompetent candidate who won't actually be elected. America needs electoral comedy that doesn't make us weep with fear. America needs Sparrow.

WRITE ABOUT SPARROW
Sparrow is available for interviews, media junkets, spamming, and attention-grabbing political stunts. Photos and clips available upon request. If you're interested in covering Sparrow's non-campaign, please contact info@sparrowforprez.com.

• Watch Episodes 1-3 now at http://sparrowforprez.com/

• Look for updates on Sparrow's run away from the presidency at the Rooftop Films Blog.

• Become Sparrow's friend on Facebook and MySpace

By Rooftop Films in Sparrow | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (5)

Tags: Andrew Boyd, Billionaires For Bush, Horns and Halos, Michael Galinsky, Republican Like Me, Rooftop Films, Rumur Inc., Sander Hicks, Sparrow'08, Vox Pop

Sometimes the Constitution is our best friend.

Brooklyn based filmmaker Andrew Sloat's brilliant short, 22nd Amendment played this summer as a part of Rooftop's Annual 4th Of July "Un-American Films" Program. With the Vice Presidential Debate just around the corner, there is no better time to enjoy this little masterpiece.

Andrew Sloat's newest and equally brilliant short A More Perfect Union can be found by clinking HERE, and many other works by Andrew can be seen by visiting his website.

If you are feeling extra political today, make sure you learn all you can about Rooftop's friend, poet and Presidential Candidate, Sparrow.

Sparrow'08 Campaign information and updates will be coming to the Rooftop Films Blog very soon!

By Rooftop Films in Comedy, Political Films, Rooftop Filmmakers, Sparrow | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (6)

Tags: 4th Of July, Andrew Sloat, Rooftop Films, Sparrow, Summer Series 2008, Un-American Films

FRIDAY: Animation Block Party at Automotive High School
We always have an amazing turnout for our partnership with the exuberant Animation Block Party but this week we set a record: two screens at Automotive High School allowed some 1,000 people to check out the packed program. The night began with comments from AHS teacher Jenny Kessler, who has started a student gardening program at this uber-urban school, growing vegetables on the very lawn we were watching films. She was selling a lush selection of produce to fund student activities, and our wonderfully supportive audience was thrilled to learn a little bit more about this amazing school, where students can grow crops on school grounds and convert your car to bio-diesel, all right in the heart of hipster Williamsburg.

At intermission, Rooftop hosted a public rally for Sparrow, a real live cartoonish presidential candidate. Sparrow's 5th attempt NOT to win the presidency had never before reached so many people, and though he seemed a bit overwhelmed, he also overwhelmed the masses. Screening some of his non-campaign commercials--"The Wisdom of Sparrow"--delivering a unique anti-speech, and engaging in lengthy rambling discourses trying to convince eager supporters to run the other way, Sparrow was a huge hit.

SPARROW AT ROOFTOP FILMS

And, of course, the focus of the evening was the dozens of short animated films, which had the animated audience giggling, gasping and gawking all night long, curated and hosted by the tireless Casey Saffron. After the films, the crowd packed in Matchless Bar for free drinks courtesy of Radeburger Pilsner. As a mid-summer peak for Rooftop, and the kick-off for the weekend-long ABP screenings, we couldn't've rocked a bigger or better night.

SATURDAY: In A Dream at The Old American Can Factory
Despite being a Philadelphia film, the New York premiere of Jeremiah Zagar's stunning documentary In A Dream drew a massive and enthusiastic crowd. Again, we had to set up two screens to accommodate the approximately 600 people who roamed out to The Old American Can Factory to watch the infamous Zagar family on screen. The show started with live music, presented in partnership with Sound Fix Records, and we were really thrilled to have a gorgeous set from Kelli Scarr, who composed the score for the film. The captivating documentary about a family falling apart and rebuilding themselves--using art as part of the rehabilitative process--had the audience completely enraptured.

Ironically, Jeremiah's parents and brother couldn't attend the screening because of a big family reunion. "I'm in the doghouse for missing it," Jeremiah said during the Q & A. But when asked if it was hard exposing his family like this and continuing filming, Jeremiah said, "My friends all think I'm pretentious because I keep quoting Diane Arbus, but it's fitting. She said, 'As long as I've got the camera in front of my face, a tank could roll over me.'" The elated crowd was thrilled that Jeremiah and his family had the courage to let that tank--and camera--roll.

Following the film, hundreds of folks hung out in the outdoor courtyard, dancing and drinking free drinks, courtesy of Brooklyn Oenology, completing another magical weekend at Rooftop.

By Rooftop Films in Animation, Documentary, Drama, Home Movies, Personal Narrative, Political Films, Rooftop News, Rooftop Weekend Recap, Sparrow, Watch Short Films | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (4)

Tags: Animation Block Party, Automotive High School, Casey Saffron, In A Dream, Jenny Kessler, Jeremiah Zagar, Rooftop Films, Sparrow, The Old American Can Factory

On July 4, America's holiest of days, a day of patriotism and political awareness, celebrated by setting off fake bombs and drinking enough beer to ruin a lesser nation, one man towered above the thick and rowdy crowd at Rooftop Films, and gloriously announced his 5th successive run for President (that is, every election since 1992). The much-heralded campaign was met first with disbelief, then astonishment, then wild laughter.

Which is good. Because Sparrow doesn't want you to vote for him. He wants you to revolt!

Sparrow is a poet, a politician, a plebe. He writes bumper stickers ("I'm crazy and I vote!) and does silly dances. He runs for office because he's sick of the destructive, narrow-minded, anti-intellectual culture in government, and he thinks if the President is going to be a kooky wild man, he might as well be funny, too.

On Friday, July 25, Sparrow will appear live at Rooftop Films to make an astonishing stump speech. You'll be seeing a lot of Sparrow at Rooftop Films and IFC this election season. And if things go badly enough, he might even get a few votes.

Watch all of Sparrow's Campaign Commercials--"The Wisdom of Sparrow"--at
www.youtube.com/sparrowforprez.

By Rooftop Films in Comedy, Documentary, Political Films, Rooftop Filmmakers, Sparrow, Watch Short Films | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (3)

Tags: Animation Block Party, Comedy, Election, President, Rooftop Films, Sparrow, Watch Short Films