Thursday, Friday & Saturday August 21-23 and September 4-6
*UPDATE SEPT 5: DUE TO THE TROPICAL STORM THAT SEEMS CERTAIN TO DRENCH THE NY-METRO AREA TOMORROW, WE WILL POSTPONE THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE SOLAR-POWERED FILM SERIES UNTIL SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7 at 8PM. FOR AN UPDATE ON THE GREEN EDGE ECO-SCAVENGER HUNT, CLICK HERE. AND BRING YER COOKIES ON SUNDAY FOR THE COOKIE COMPETITION! FOR MORE INFO ON THE FILMS, CLICK HERE.
AT 8PM
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
THERE WILL BE A LIMITED NUMBER OF CHAIRS AVAILABLE, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE- PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BRING YOUR OWN
Thursday August 21 Running Fence + Christo’s Valley Curtain
Friday August 22 Gimme Green + Invisible Creek + City of Water
Saturday August 23 The Greening of Southie
Thursday September 4 Burning the Future
Friday September 5 Garbage Warrior
Saturday September 6 The Future of Food
Plus popcorn, beer, ice cream, trivia games, director Q&As and much more! Scroll down for the full schedule.
About the Solar Powered Film Series
The Solar-Powered Film Series is the first in New York City to use the power of the sun to construct an outdoor “eco-theater” like no other. Our independent film venue integrates natural and human-made components of our urban environment creating the city’s “greenest” motion picture showcase.
This free six-evening program features nightly screenings of a range of films including acclaimed documentaries, dark comedies and sci-fi classics. The series showcases Solar One’s commitment to green energy by powering each screening in part with clean, renewable, carbon-free solar energy.
As part of Solar One’s dynamic and exciting summer schedule, the film series is held at Solar One’s outdoor location in beautiful Stuyvesant Cove Park, overlooking the East River south of E. 23rd Street. For each of the last three years, Solar One has been proud to welcome award-winning director and Oscar nominee Albert Maysles for a Q&A session following one of his films- Grey Gardens in 2005, Gimme Shelter in 2006, and the rarely-seen What’s Happening! The Beatles in America in 2007, making this an even more valuable contribution to New York’s cultural landscape.
The series’ power to demonstrate the utility of renewable energy has never been more relevant or important, particularly with the specter of summer blackouts looming just over the horizon. Since its launch in 2003, Solar One has hosted a plethora of sustainably produced popular arts events like the film series, all of which clearly show the power of renewable energy. Guests can expect great entertainment paired with demonstrations and information regarding key green initiatives.
Thursday August 21 at 8PM
Environmental Art:
Running Fence, 1978, 58 mins.
An engrossing document of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s efforts to build a 24 1/2-mile-long, 18-foot-high fence of white fabric across the hills of northern California.
Christo’s Valley Curtain, 1973, 28 mins.
The first collaboration between the Maysles Brothers and Christo and Jeanne-Claude, and recipient of an Academy Award Nomination.
Plus Q&A with director Albert Maysles
Update: Unfortunately, Albert Maysles will be unable to join us for this screening. Instead we will have an environmental art presentation from eco-artist and Solar One Education Coordinator Chris Kennedy. You can read about his Urban Epiphyte project here!
Friday August 22 at 8pm
Water Shorts:
Gimme Green, 2007, 27 mins.
Gimme Green peers behind the curtain of the $40-billion industry that fuels our nation’s largest irrigated crop—the lawn.
Invisible Creek, 2004, 8 mins.
Travel down the most polluted waterway in America, Newtown Creek, located on the border between Brooklyn and Queens in New York City.
City of Water, 2007, 30 mins.
City of Water explores the aspirations of public officials, environmentalists, academics, community activists, recreational boaters and everyday New Yorkers for a diverse, vibrant waterfront at a time when the shoreline is changing faster than at any other time in New York’s history.
Plus a discussion of CSOs (Combined Sewer Overflows) with Cortney Worrall of the Coastal Marine Resource Center
Saturday August 23 at 8pm
Green Building:
The Greening of Southie, 2008, 81mins.
Building Boston’s first LEED Gold-certified building turns out to be harder than anyone thought. The Greening of Southie shows what happens when you try to build the city of tomorrow… today.
Plus Q&A with director Ian Cheney
Thursday September 4 at 8pm
“Clean” Coal?:
Burning the Future, 2008, 89 mins.
In Burning the Future: Coal in America, writer/director David Novack examines the explosive forces that have set in motion a groundswell of conflict between the coal industry and residents of West Virginia.
Plus Q&A with director/producer David Novack and a discussion on the new NY Solar Initiative with Solar One Advocacy Coordinator Chris Neidl.
Friday September 5 at 8pm
Waste:
Garbage Warrior, 2008, 86 mins.
The epic story of radical Earthship eco-architect Michael Reynolds, and his fight to build off-the-grid self-sufficient communities.
Plus author Elizabeth Royte talks about her books Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash and Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It
Saturday September 6 at 8pm
Food:
The Future of Food, 2004, 88 mins.
Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, The Future of Food examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world’s food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today.
Plus Eco-Tour Scavenger Hunt (visit www.GreenEdgeNYC.org for details), and Cookie Competition! Bring your best cookies and compete for a Big Blue Ribbon and the envy and adoration of your peers (please include ingredients list with entries)! Tasting at 7:30pm; winner will be announced after the film.
* Please note that documentaries may contain language unsuitable for children.
