Writer: Elizabeth Swardos
Director: Robert Marianetti, Elizabeth Swados, and David Wachtenheim
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Steve Buscemi and Fred Armisen
Over the weekend we ventured out to Brooklyn as American Express celebrated the launch of their new Amex EveryDay Credit Card and, as a founding partner and dedicated sponsor, the conclusion of another great year of 2014 Tribeca Film Festival by hosting a day of fun for families at Brooklyn Bowl.
Throughout the evening, families enjoyed buffet style food, giveaways, bowling, and even got the chance to check out Tribeca Film’s animated movie, “Moon Man”. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. We even spotted Designer Rebecca Minkoff with husband Gavin Bellour and son Luca Shai getting in on the action.
In what should be one of the most joyous moments in the life of Nils Dickman as he receives the Citizen of the Year award in Norway as a Scandinavian immigrant turns into the worst as tragedy strikes him and his family. The loss of his son Ingvar to a drug overdose leads Nils, played by Stellan Skarsgård, to face withdrawal toward him from his wife and suicidal thoughts entering his mind in the subtitled film with the American name “In Order of Disappearance.” ( “Kraftidioten” is the Norweigen title.) It is at that moment when Nils discovers that his son was killed and this sets off a series of vengeful actions that many fathers would set upon if they learned the same thing.
In celebration of Tribeca Film Festival, the lovely folks at Interview Magazine Hosted the ultra-exclusive Broad Green Room, presented by Broad Green Pictures. The experiential production company We Came in Peace built out the Wooly space and adjacent restaurant (using formal Woolworth building entrance) to create a private club/lounge complete with a New York artist showcase, surprise musical performances, a reel of iconic NYC film moments, artist Ian Sklarsky to do blind contour portraits of guests, Bosco photo booth, and open bar all night with signature cocktails. The three-night affair featured music by several artists and top DJs around including, Elle Dee, TV Baby, Franco V, Ilyse Singer, French Horn Rebellion, Stiletto, and much more. Notables included Laverne Cox, Reggie Watts, Donald Baechler, Rameet Chawla, Aurel Schmidt, Kevin Baker, Lily Mcmenamy, Andrew & Andrew, Natalia Kills, Adam Lippes. Overall, it was a great way to unwind after a busy day at the Tribeca Film Festival. We just wished it went on for an entire week. 🙂
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The World Premiere of the 2014 Imagination Series Films took place Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in lower Manhattan as part of the Tribeca Film Festival. Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin, the event centered a great evening of entertainment and delicious cocktails on two floors with five short films.
Upon entering the event, guests were greeted with cocktails named after the five films, and 45 minutes into the event, guests were seated to view the five films. The first film, “Reflections” directed by Anthony Khaseria from the United Kingdom, centered around a couple on a date whose evening is disrupted by a mirror that peaks into an alternate reality. The second film and my favorite of the five was The Other Side of the Game, a psychological thriller directed by New Yorker Kiara Jones that has an ending that will leave all stunned who watch it.
The third short was “Graffiti Area” directed by Maiti Fernandez of Spain, which looks into the vivid imaginations of two graffiti artists. The fourth film was “Need For Speed (Dating)” directed by New Yorker Allyson Morgan. It takes a look at the world of speed dating from the perspective of an imaginative woman who knows what she is looking for. The fifth and final short was “Exit Log” directed by Chris Cornwell from the United Kingdom, which takes a futuristic look at time travel over 200 years into the future.
Immediately following the premieres, Academy Award winner Geoffrey Fletcher, who wrote the short scripts, led a question and answer session with each of the directors. “Sci-Fi is great fun to work with on a short,” Cornwell said about his work. Fernandez, who learned about her film’s selection on her birthday, said “The imagination is like a muscle. You have to exercise” in her first visit to New York City. Khaseria was really humbled by the experience. “I am really touched to have gotten this far,” he said of being selected. Morgan talked about her personal life’s influence on her short. “My partner Michael and I have a two-year old son. I thought about being trapped.” The veteran even surprised her partner Michael with the film, as he didn’t know it was semi-autobiographical. She described the process of being selected for the Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series as “starting at the finish line”, and talked about trying to think of the audience and getting down to the core of what emotion is. Morgan talked about her process starting with “a delicious Bombay Sapphire drink” which inspired cheers from the crowd. She included lines from actual gentlemen in her short, and thanked her many friends who were there. “You are only as good as your support system.”
After the Q&A session, patrons enjoyed more Bombay Sapphire cocktails while listening to the soulful sounds of DJ Mel DeBarge, who even got me on the dance floor during the evening. There were two virtual tours at the event, an interactive piano that played music and voices of different recordings of people whose faces appeared on a giant video board, and there were too many cocktail stations to name. The event also included passed appetizers, cotton candy, popcorn, and much more. To check out the five shorts, visit YouTube.com/BombaySapphire and be on the lookout next year for the third installment of Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series during the Tribeca Film Festival next year.
On Saturday, April 19th, American Express Card Members had the exclusive opportunity to experience the world premiere of “Keep On Keepin’ On” at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, which celebrates Clark Terry as an iconic musician while introducing one of equal vibrancy – Justin Kauflin.
Attendees of the Tribeca Film Festival arrived to a trendy new restaurant called China Blue (located at 135 Watts Street) late Sunday night for an after party for the film “In Your Eyes”, directed by Brin Hill and written by Joss Whedon, who also serves as executive producer. Some of the stars of the film, including Zoe Kazan and Michael Feuerstein as well as director Hill chatted with guests at the event while enjoying signature cocktails courtesy of Bombay Sapphire Gin.
The bartenders put a different spin on the traditional gin and tonic with the Gin & Tonic Reimagined, using Bombay Sapphire East and Fevertree tonic. This was a big hit during the evening, as I chatted with a few patrons who enjoyed the unique taste of Bombay Sapphire East, a new product launched three years ago. It features two additional botanicals, lemongrass and black peppercorns to combine with the 10 that are in the original Bombay Sapphire. The additional botanicals were added to counteract the sweetness of American tonic water.
The first drink I sampled was called Sapphire Peppered Peach Tea Collins, and is a fresh and exciting take on the classic Tom Collins cocktail. This refreshing drink, which is a great summertime drink to enjoy on a rooftop in New York City, included the original Bombay Sapphire with lemon juice, simple syrup, peach ice tea, club soda and a pinch of black pepper. The bar also featured complimentary Asahi beer, a popular Japanese brew for those who wanted to take it light on a Sunday night.
China Blue served food off of its menu and the biggest hit of the night was the Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, which seemed to disappear as soon as they emerged from the kitchen. The Shanghai Spring Rolls were also delicious, and I also enjoyed sampling the Scallion Pancakes.
When you have the opportunity, sit down and order a Gin and Tonic Reimagined with Bombay Sapphire East or try it neat or on the rocks. The drink and the gin itself are fresh takes on old classics, and, if you are in Tribeca, why not do it at China Blue over dinner or appetizers? It is a great way to enjoy an evening in New York City.
Always remember to drink responsibly!
Short films are one of my favorite parts of the Tribeca Film Festival. Every year the festival shows up with a new assortment of quirky interesting heart wrenching films for the film buff with the short attention span. Though I truly enjoy full length films its nice to get the whole story in under an hour. The schedule was jam packed with great shorts this year, here’s a few of our favorite stand outs:
