A Park Slope business improvement district would like to transform the neighborhood into the borough’s own version of the Sundance Film Festival.
But instead of screenings inside movie theaters, the Fifth Avenue BID is petitioning local businesses to host the 10-day festival, called Films on Fifth 2010, planned for April 30 – May 9.
Irene Lo Re, the executive director of the BID, said the hope is to draw attention to the borough’s rich artistic community, while also showcasing the possibilities of Fifth Avenue.
“I just try to keep coming up with things to bring more traffic down to Fifth Avenue,” Lo Re said.
The BID functions to promote and beautify the avenue with funds gathered by a tax assessed on participating property owners. The group is planning on showing 20 films during the festival.
Lo Re said she has already started to hear from filmmakers interested in the event – and she’s not surprised. “In this neighborhood there are probably 20 or more filmmakers — at least.”
She said about seven businesses have already signed up to host, including her own, Aunt Suzie’s Restaurant. Admission to the films is free, with a $10 per person minimum for food and drinks. The festival is open to all Brooklyn filmmakers. Films can be mailed to: Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID, 247 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11215, or dropped off at Aunt Suzie’s, 247 Fifth. More information will soon be on the group’s Web site, www.parkslopefifthavenuebid.com.
–Gary Buiso
