Rosendale, NY – May 30, 2013 – The 32nd Asbury Short Film Concert, New York City’s longest running short film exhibition, returns to the historic Rosendale Theatre on Saturday, June 8th at 7:30pm. This acclaimed touring program of international award winning films will be presented by Asbury Shorts New York, in cooperation with the Rosendale Theatre Collective, and hosted by TV personality and Ulster County resident, Bruce Littlefield. The theatre is located at 408 Main Street, Rosendale, New York. General admission tickets cost $10 or $8 for theatre members. For more information please visit www.rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989. Presenting sponsor is Rondout Savings Bank.
The Asbury Short Film “Concert” combines classic, award winning shorts with new international festival honorees, creating a rare opportunity for audiences to see world-class short films in a theater rather than on a computer or iPad. Academy Award nominated director Jason Reitman (JUNO, Up in the Air, Thank You for Smoking and the most recently, Young Adult) calls Asbury Shorts: “The best short film show I’ve ever seen.” The fast-paced, highly entertaining evening features the best in Live Action, Comedy, Drama and outstanding Animation.
Highlights of the June 8th show include:
ASAD – From internationally renowned TV commercial director Bryan Buckley, this remarkable coming of age story is about a young Somali boy living precariously day-to-day in his war torn country. It was nominated for a 2013 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film and is a five-time festival winner, including Best Narrative Short Film at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival and the Audience Awarded Best Short Film at the 2012 The Los Angeles Film Festival, among many other international film festival honors.
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore – The 2012 Academy Award Winner for Best Animated Short, from directors William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, is a captivating short story of a magical library of flying books. Created by mixing computer animation, miniatures and traditional hand drawn animation, it’s no surprise it’s won more than 12 awards and is a world over audience favorite.
Time Freak – This fast-paced comedy is the tale of a man who invents a time machine for which the sole purpose is to correct a communication problem at his local laundry. The story behind the making of the film is as wonderful as is that of the short itself. Newly married Andrew Bowler (director) and Gigi Causey (producer) used their $25,000 nest egg to complete the production. After initial rejection by Sundance and many other major festivals, it received a 2012 Oscar nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences… talk about a happy ending!
“We’re thrilled to be coming back to the historic Rosendale Theatre for a third time with the world’s best short films!” said Doug LeClaire, director of the New York Short Film Concert. “It’s equally exciting to have Bruce Littlefield, an Ulster County resident and award-winning author, serve as our guest host. Asbury Shorts is truly amazed at the amount of encouragement and promotional support we are receiving from local Ulster businesses such as Ulster County Tourism, ROLL Magazine, Frecklebelly Designs, The 1850’s House, The Rosendale Theatre Collective and our main presenting sponsors: Rondout Savings Bank and Tuthilltown Spirits! The film lineup is beyond superb, including the 2013 Oscar nominee for Best Live Action Short Film: “ASAD,” which we are honored to be including in this eclectic, hilarious and highly entertaining showcase. Come down on June 8th and have some old time movie house fun!”
Founded in 1980, Asbury Shorts events originally took place in a church basement, near Asbury Avenue in Westbury, New York. The programs combined local area college films with a few indie shorts discovered at out of town festivals. In 1987, Asbury changed its name to “The Asbury Shorts Show of New York” and moved to Haft Auditorium on the campus of F.I.T. in Manhattan. The format and entertainment focus changed drastically and the staff began to pursue major international award winning independent films. Celebrity Guest Hosts included: Peter Gallagher, Bob Balaban, Manfred Kirchheimer, John Avildsen, Harvey Keitel, Matthew Modine, Pia Lidstrom, Dylan McDermott and Joan Micklin Silver. The1990′s saw the addition of “live elements” to the festivities, including musical performances, art and photography exhibits and unannounced comedy bits, surprising the audience in between the films. In 1998, Asbury Shorts was presented overseas for the first time at the Royal Festival Hall in London, kicking off the start of the “touring years”.
“The Asbury Short Film Concert” has been presented at: The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Lake Shore Theatre in Chicago, Visions Cinema in Washington, D.C., The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ, Summer Stage in Central Park, The Director’s Guild Theater in Manhattan, The AERO Theatre in Santa Monica, CA, Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, Long Island and the Leminske Theater in Berlin, Germany to name just a few. Guest Hosts such as Edie Falco, Adrian Grenier, Olympia Dukakis and Richard Belzer have graced the Asbury NY stages. Each year the stops along our tour grow larger. Our audiences’ rave about the amazing experience they have had, seeing the world’s best short films on the big screen! For more information about Asbury Shorts please visit the website at www.asburyshortsnyc.com or call 718.510.6929.
Bruce Littlefield is a best-selling author, lifestyle expert, and an arbiter of American fun. He shares his passionate curiosity (and occasional mischievousness) through his books and TV appearances. Bruce has appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC News, FOX News, MSNBC, The Rachael Ray Show, NPR, Sirius, and numerous other programs, and has been featured in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the New York Post, People Magazine, OK! Magazine, Saveur, This Old House, the New York Daily News, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times. Currently promoting his latest book “Moving In: Tales of an Unlicensed Marriage”, he joins in the festivities as Host of the 32nd Asbury Short Film Concert at The Rosendale Theatre on June 8th.
The Rosendale Theatre Collective is dedicated to preserving the historic Rosendale Theatre and enhancing the cultural life and economic vitality of Rosendale and Ulster County through film, the performing arts and educational programming. With the emphasis on supporting local and regional artists, the Collective works together with other arts organizations to sustain diverse cultural activities and exchanges for a wide audience. As of August 19, 2010 the Rosendale Theatre is owned and operated by the Rosendale Theatre Collective, a 501[c][3] nonprofit organization. All donations to the Rosendale Theatre Collective are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. To become a member, make a donation or learn more about events and programs coming to the Rosendale Theatre please visit the website at: RosendaleTheatre.org or call 845.658.8989.
