Scramble and Gamble: Pair of Indies Bust Out in NYC

There are always more indies than one can comprehend -- let alone see -- circulating on any given weekend in New York, but a few notes slid under the door at Reeler HQ reveal a couple of interesting selections set for local bows. First, I told you a while back about this Independent Features Film Festival that opens tonight at Tribeca Cinemas; this is the one where there was an assload of titles on a Web site, viewers voted, the top vote-getters are screened, etc etc.

The biggest winner, Alleyball, directed by Dan Consiglio, receives a red-carpet fete and "Rat Pack"-themed afterparty. (Two more screenings are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoons.) The film joins a program with 20 other shorts and features; tickets for all screenings are $12 and available now at the Tribeca Cinemas Web site. Are they any good? They were democratically elected, weren't they? But by whom? Stop asking these questions! I'm just saying, is all.

Emerging Pictures also has a new undistributed film making the rounds today: Laura Smiles, which stars Petra Wright as a suburban-by-way-of-city woman whose transplant has her all kinds of fucked-up. I haven't seen this either, but the EP gang can kinda pick 'em, it did OK at fests and no less a cineaste institution than Ain't It Cool News raved: "One of the most profound real meditations in American Cinema." I know, I know... I'll save you a spot in line.

Posted at July 27, 2007 10:15 AM