The inaugural Extreme Music Awards will be held at Empire Live in Albany on Saturday, January 13. The awards show celebrates the most extreme music acts in the 518 Capital Region of Upstate New York.
The Extreme Music Awards is the conception of Mike Valente of Upstate Black N Blue Productions who then assembled the team of RadioRadioX, Capital Underground, That Fuzzing Rock Show and 518Scene.com. All five of these entertainment media forces joined together to bring the inaugural event to Albany.
Attendees will be able to enjoy a full concert experience by house band, Uncle SAMM, in addition to watching the awards ceremony. In between presenters, fans can also look forward to a raffle for a chance to win prizes like signed drum heads, guitars, gift certificates, and more.
Check out the nominees and categories below and get your tickets for the Extreme Music Awards here.
The Extreme Music Awards will be held on Saturday January 13 at Empire Live on N. Pearl St. in Albany, starting at 6:00pm.
Tickets to this event are limited and expected to sell out, with general on sale here:
CATEGORIES & PRESENTERS
Best Death Metal Band: Chris Pervelis/Kyle Eddy (Internal Bleeding)
Best Black Metal Band: Mike Score (All Out War)
Best Doom/Goth/Stoner Band: Matt Byrne (Hatebreed)
Best Power Metal Band: Gary Holt (Slayer/Exodus)
Best Progressive/Math Metal Band: Marc Rizzo (Soulfly/Ill Nino)
Best Hair/Glam/Sleaze Metal Band: Nick Miller (Lethal Lipstick)
Best Thrash Metal Band: Gary Holt (Slayer/Exodus)
Best Grindcore Band: Sal Lococo (Sworn Enemy)
Best Metalcore Band: Danny Schuler (Biohazard)
Best Punk Band: Lars Frederiksen (Rancid) (Video Presenter)
Best Hardcore Band: Mike Gallo/Vinnie Stigma (Agnostic Front)
Best Beatdown Hardcore Band: Ray Mazzola/Mike Valente (Brick by Brick)
Best Hardcore Punk Band: Jimmy Gestapo (Murphy’s Law)
Best Metal Video: Drew Stone (Stone Films/The NYHC Chronicles)
Best Live Performance: Art Fredette/Rob Smittix (RadioRadioX)
Most Brutal Mosh Pit: Tony Foresta (Municipal Waste)(Video Presenter)
Best Merch: Michael “Fuzz” Kebabjian (That Fuzzing Rock Show)
Album of the Year: Ralph Renna (Capital Underground)
Lifetime Achievement Award (25+ Years in the Scene): Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (Overkill)
Best New Band (Less Than 2 Years in the Scene): Mario & Kim Cangemi (Upstate Records)
Best Veteran Band (10+ Years in the Scene): Brendan Manley (518scene.com)
THE NOMINEES
Best Death Metal Band: Tyranize, Skinless, Invoke Thy Wrath, Intrusive
Best Black Metal Band: Malefic, Blackbraid, Morticide, Vile Tyrant
Best Doom/Goth/Stoner Band: Gozer, Ike’s Wasted World, Gunther Weezul, Carnwennan
Best Power Metal Band: Deveria, Alloy Reign, Frozen Sun, The Antarctican
Best Progressive/Math Metal Band: Deveria, Psychomanteum, The Phoenix and the Raven, MIRA
Best Hair/Glam/Sleaze Metal Band: The Erotics, Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band, Untaymed, Mystery Girl
Best Thrash Metal Band: Hate The Adversary, FACED, Concrete, Ice Queen
Best Grindcore Band: Escuela Grind, URINE, Horse Grave, Vaginal Fungus
Best Metalcore Band: Concrete, Oakheart, Faded Line, Downswing
Best Punk Band: The Hauntings, VinTri Hill, Nick Rossi, Lurking Class
Best Hardcore Band: Violent By Design, Confinement 413, Halo Bite, Cold Kiss
Best Beatdown Hardcore Band: Wrong Move, Torn Out, From Within, Adhara
Best Hardcore Punk Band: Halo Bite, Murderer’s Row, Gusto, Wet Specimens
Best Metal Video: Alloy Reign – “Blood Demon”, Downswing – “Bound to Misery”, The Antarctican – “I is the Lie”, Freya – “Nothingness or God”
Best Live Performance: Alloy Reign, Tyranize, Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band, Flatwounds
Most Brutal Mosh Pit: Invoke Thy Wrath, Concrete, Assault on the Living, Downswing
Best Merch: Alloy Reign, The Erotics, Malefic, Concrete
Album of the Year: Psychomanteum – Full Fathom Five, Blackbraid – Blackbraid II, Adhara – Abandoned Future, Urine – Excreta Lotium Miasma
Lifetime Achievement Award (25+ Years in the Scene): Paul Rukwid, Jeff Caro, John Glassbrenner, Bob Riley
Best New Band (Less Than 2 Years in the Scene): Alloy Reign, Flatwounds, Confinement 413, Outta My Head
Best Veteran Band (10+ Years in the Scene): Tyranize, The Erotics, Murderer’s Row, Concrete
Longtime Lilac Festival promoter Jeff Springut has announced he has withdrawn from producing the event, something he has done since 2013.
Lilac Festival (News 8 WROC photo/Matt Driffill).
The Lilac Festival brings in over 500,000 people a year from across Western and Upstate NY, the tri-state area, and Canada to Highland Park to see great music and look at the beautiful lilacs that grow in the park, as well as eat and drink amazing food.
Organizer of the spring festival for more than a decade, Springut said to the Rochester Beacon that his event-production company, the Springut Group Inc., still plans to produce Party in the Park and other events, but is done with the Lilac Festival. He cited no specific reasons for deciding to withdraw.
“I’ve done the Lilac Festival for 12 years. We’ve had a great run, but now it’s time to move on,” Springut said to the organization. County officials confirmed that this news will not affect the 2024 Lilac Festival. “We are currently working with two seasoned professionals with long histories with the festival. We are in good hands moving forward in coordination with the City of Rochester and Lilac Festival Inc.,” said Gary Walker, a spokesperson with Monroe County, as reported by Rochester First.
In 2019, Springut withdrew as the promoter of the Park Avenue Festival, which has since not been able to be revived due to it being called off during the pandemic and lack of promoters willing to take it on. County Legislator Rachel Barnhart spoke with Rochester Baron, saying “I don’t believe the county will let the Lilac Festival fail.” She says one of the reasons the Park Avenue Festival was unable to continue was because Springut did not share his plans and methods.
Springut says he has not passed on plans, contracts with vendors or performers, or other information about the Lilac Festival to the county. Nevertheless, he maintains, the county has “a good handle on it. I’m sure it will be fine. The lilacs will bloom.”
A spokesperson for the county says moving forward, they’ll be working with two seasoned professionals with long histories in the festival, and are in good hands to coordinate.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra recently held auditions for section string positions and have announced seven winners, now members of the orchestra.
Distinguished by the designation of the “Official Orchestra of the City of Ithaca,” Cayuga Chamber Orchestra has been presenting exceptional live classical music to the region since 1976. The Orchestra was founded by Charles McCary when a group of local professional musicians debuted as the Finger Lakes Orchestra.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra has a strong commitment to serving its community in a variety of ways. Through its professional excellence, vibrant performances, community education, and passion for transformation through music, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra is devoted to fostering artistic life in the Ithaca and Finger Lakes regions of New York State.
Wan-Chun Hu – violin – Bloomsfield, New Jersey
Originally from Taiwan, Wan-Chun Hu is a classically trained musician and music teacher. In 2020, Wan-Chun won the second prize at the American Protege International Competition and was chosen to perform in Carnegie Hall. Additionally, Wan-Chun has won several orchestra positions, including first violin with the Annapolis Symphony, second violin with the Binghamton Philharmonic, and substitute violin with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Allentown Symphony.
William Knuth – violin – Liverpool
William Knuth, violinist and Fulbright Scholar, has earned recognition for his artistry as a solo and chamber musician. He is Assistant Professor of Violin and string department coordinator at the Syracuse University Setnor School of Music with a private teaching studio in Syracuse, NY. As a member of Duo Sonidos with guitarist Adam Levin, Knuth has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, and South America.
Asher Wulfman – violin – Ithaca
Asher Wulfman, violinist, is a performer of solo, chamber, and orchestral works for violin currently based in Ithaca NY. He is a member of Symphoria and Cayuga Chamber Orchestra and performs regularly with Opera Ithaca and Cornell University’s Ensemble X. He is also a guest lecturer at Cornell University, and is on the faculty of Opus Ithaca School of Music, where he also coordinates and coaches chamber music.
Bryce Bunner – viola – Penfield
Bryce Bunner, violist currently serves as principal violist of the Erie Philharmonic, and performs as an extra musician with the Rochester Philharmonic & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestras. He also performs in the DC area with the Post Classical Ensemble, Inscape Chamber Orchestra, and the Washington Concert Opera. He spent 21 years as a violist with the Air Force Strings/USAF Band in Washington, D.C., and taught and coached the DC Youth Orchestra program for many years.
Peter Dudek – viola – New York City
Peter Dudek, Violist, completed his Bachelor’s degree in The Juilliard School, where currently he is pursuing his Master’s degree under the tutelage of Molly Carr. He is an alumn of Itzhak Perlman’s Perlman Music Program as well as Pinchas Zukerman’s Young Artists Program. Peter is under agreement to perform for the final time as a member of the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland this upcoming summer.
Grace Ho – cello – New York City
Taiwanese-American cellist Grace Ho, praised by South Florida Classical Review “…the warmth and flexibility of Grace Ho’s cello solos were standouts”, is an active soloist and chamber musician in the United States and Asia. Ms. Ho has appeared as soloist with the Vienna Ensemble, Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, Ho Chi Minh City Symphony Orchestra, Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, and many more.
Zachary Sweet – cello – Ithaca
Zachary Sweet, Cellist, is a registered Teacher Trainer with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. He is currently an instructor of cello at Nazareth College, Binghamton University, and on the faculties of Ithaca Talent Education and Music Together of Ithaca. Nationally, he is in demand as a clinician having lead workshops, masterclasses and institutes across the United States and Canada.
Auditions were held behind a screen and were evaluated by a panel of our musicians and Interim Music Director, Grant Cooper. Look for these new musicians onstage in the coming months.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall returns with the free Music at Noon series, beginning with singer and song writer Alan Goldberg on December 12.
Since 1988, on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May, the free Music at Noon concert series has presented exceptional musicians with a diverse mix of musical styles. Program sponsors include FAM Funds, Troy Redevelopment Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, Fagan Associates, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, MVP Healthcare, and the Saratoga National Bank. This show will feature the MVP Health Care Coffee Hour.
Join the fun early for a FREE cup of Stacks coffee 11am -12pm before the show begins. Shows are free to attend and be sure to bring your lunch.
Singer-songwriter Hank Williams Jr. has announced his upcoming tour, including stops at Broadview Stage at SPAC on August 23 and EFCU Amphitheater at Lakeview on August 24.
Hank Jr. has continued to redefine the boundaries of rock and country music with the genre crossing and top charting release of his new album Rich White Honky Blues, debuting at number one on the current Country, Americana/Folk and Blues album charts. The album delivers reinvigorated classic blues sounds infused with William’s signature rock and country twist. As a touring artist Hank Jr. was a pioneer in bringing arena rock production values to country music and remains one of the most consistent ticket sellers in music, turning into one of the most dynamic live performers ever to take the stage.
In addition to Williams Jr. the upcoming tour will involve support from many other artists including Whiskey Myers, Neal McCoy, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charley Crockett, Marty Stuart His Fabulous Superlatives, and Old Crow Medicine Show.
Marking the official 45th anniversary of the release to hit single and album Family Tradition back in 1979. The 13 city tour kicks off on Friday, April 5 at Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, AL, making stops across the US highlighting pit stops in New York on August 23 and 24 at the Broadview Stage in Saratoga Springs and EFCU Amphitheater in Syracuse.
Tickets are on sale Friday, December 8 at 10am local, please visit here.
HANK WILLIAMS JR. 2024 TOUR DATES: April 5 – Birmingham, AL – The Legacy Arena at The BJCC April 20 – Bossier City, LA – Brookshire Grocery Arena May 17 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek May 18 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live June 7 – Hartford, CT – The XFINITY Theatre June 8 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center June 21 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center June 22 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre August 9 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion August 10 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach August 23 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC August 24 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview September 14 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Lake George Winter’s Dream is putting winter magic and wonders on full display this year, inviting you to experience winter like never before in peaceful Lake George. Winter’s Dream officially opens to the public on Friday, Dec. 8.
Lake George Winter’s Dream is a brand-new immersive and interactive multimedia experience created and produced by the award-winning multidisciplinary studio Moment Factory, which created more than 500 unique projects worldwide. This new attraction will unfold in the courtyard of the Fort William Henry historic fortress. Visitors are invited on an immersive journey, exploring a series of installations along a pathway where lights, sounds, original music, and video content bring winter to life in a new way.
They can participate in the experience through a mix of cutting-edge interactive technology and old-fashioned fun. Inspired by the warmth and shared joys of the winter season, it engages the senses, offering the perfect setting for a unique outing with family and friends. Lake George Winter’s Dream is meant for the entire family, with children and adults equally enjoying the magic of winter. Both events are supported by Warren County Tourism / Lake George Area and the Warren County Coalition.
We are thrilled to bring people together to experience the enchantment and fun of a Lake George winter. The excitement is palpable as ticket sales continue throughout the Northeast and even spanning continents. There was a ticket sale all the way from Africa! We can’t wait for people to experience the magic of winter in a whole new way in Lake George.
Warren County Coalition Chairman Vincent Crocitto II.
Darlene Love fans shared a special moment with the singer during her “Love for the Holidays” concert at New York’s Town Hall on Thursday, November 30 when Bruce Springsteen came on stage to present Darlene with an RIAA platinum album plaque for A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, the groundbreaking multi-artist wall-of-sound holiday collection that introduced Darlene’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” to the world in 1963.
Bruce Springsteen and Darlene Love at New York’s Town Hall, Thursday, November 30, 2023
Photo Credit: Sachyn Mital
Springsteen called Darlene “my forever crush” while singling out “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” as “the absolute greatest Christmas rock ‘n’ roll song of all time” and acknowledging “that song and Darlene have been a part of our holidays for 60 years.”
Darlene Love at New York’s Town Hall, Thursday, November 30, 2023 Photo Credit: Sachyn Mital
“When we recorded it, we had no idea it would be a song that people would play for over 60 years,” says Love, laughing. “But it’s a great song. It’s something that had never been done before: It’s a great Christmas song and a rock ‘n roll Christmas song. I never get tired of singing it. And I never really get tired of singing it because I only do it at Christmas time.”
Darlene Love at New York’s Town Hall, Thursday, November 30, 2023 Photo Credit: Sachyn Mital
Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” single has been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA as of April 7, 2023. Originally released November 22, 1963 on Philles Records, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector is currently available through Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment.
Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO)’s CHIME musicians will present the program’s annual holiday concert on Tuesday, December 12, 5:30pm, at Schenectady High School. The performance is free and open to the public.
Launched in 2015 with 40 students, CHIME has grown steadily, weathering the pandemic and offering life-changing musical experiences to hundreds of Schenectady students. This year, with additional support from the Schenectady City School District (SCSD), and generous contributions from local foundations and individuals, elementary students from across the district are now eligible to join CHIME through a lottery system, doubling program membership to more than 140.
“CHIME simply would not be possible without our partnership with the Schenectady City School District. The school district’s advocacy for the arts and their unwavering commitment to equity and access is truly remarkable.”
Executive Director, Becky Calos
The SCSD/ESYO partnership allows CHIME to offer programming to enrolled SCSD students entirely tuition-free. The expanded program also includes transportation to and from CHIME sites, located at Yates Elementary School and Proctors Theatre. The entry to CHIME for the youngest students focuses on stringed instrument instruction, four days per week. As students advance in age and skill, they move to the Proctors site, where programming is offered for strings, wind and percussion players all the way through high school.
On Mondays, the full orchestra has an extended rehearsal until 6:45 pm, with dinner provided. “It’s so thrilling to see the increased amount of creativity and connection happening on our Mondays at CHIME. Sharing a meal together really deepens our sense of community and the extended time allows the students to explore new ways of expression through movement and spontaneous composition in addition to our full orchestra, chamber music and sectionals. We are already seeing really amazing results in just the past few months!” says Dr. David Bebe, ESYO’s Associate Music Director for CHIME and Chamber Music.
Many CHIME musicians participate in Empire State Youth Orchestra’s other performing groups and its leadership training program, Young Leaders. “We created CHIME to offer a pathway to musical exploration,” says Calos, “and we have built as much support as possible to allow youth to pursue their passions by removing as many barriers as possible.” For the youngest students this means providing dedicated teachers, quality instruments and daily practice. For the older students this means private lessons, college guidance and preparation, performance opportunities locally and across the US, and opportunities for leadership/mentorship experiences and training.
“At CHIME, we believe that immersive musical study centers the whole student. Together with our students, we strive to build an environment that nurtures musician-learners who are curious explorers and citizens, actively involved in their learning process, music-making and community. Our approach aims at far-reaching impacts both within and beyond the scope of music. The importance of breaking down barriers to this type of instructional space and experience — where students can explore how they learn, contribute and evolve as individuals and members of a community over time — cannot be overstated. Continuing to expand access to our programming is of critical and central importance to our program mission, and we’re incredibly fortunate to partner so closely with SCSD in our shared commitment to these goals.”
Zoë Auerbach, CHIME & Young Leaders Director
With CHIME’s expansion this year, dozens more young people will have access to music enrichment and perspective-shifting opportunities. This past summer, for example, CHIME cellist and Young Leader, Jazlyn Bronson, traveled to Chicago with three of her CHIME peers to participate in the National Seminario Ravina, playing side-by-side with Chicago Philharmonic musicians under the baton of famed conductors, Marin Alsop and Jonathan Rush.
This year, CHIME musicians will be working with artist Horacio Fernandez to create a series of collective compositions that will premier in May 2024. This project is part of CHIME’s annual Amplify Our Voice initiative, designed to offer youth a powerful vehicle to process deep emotion, explore shared life experiences and “amplify” their voices through music.
Laura Carbone, a music photographer and promoter in Plattsburgh, who founded the popular Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz (PB&J) series, was announced recently as one of the recipients of The Blues Foundation “Keeping the Blues Alive” Award.
Founded in Memphis, Tennessee more than 40 years ago, The Blues Foundation has grown from a small base of Memphis supporters that presented the first National Blues Awards at the Orpheum Theatre on November 16, 1980, to an international membership of over 4,000 individuals and organizations. The Blues Music Awards are managed by The Blues Foundation staff, with close to 100 blues experts from across the blues industry acting as nominators to choose the final five nominees in each of 25 categories. Winners are determined by a vote of The Blues Foundation membership.
In 1984, The Blues Foundation began producing the National Blues Amateur Talent Contest, which has grown into what is now the largest blues competition in the world, renamed the International Blues Challenge in 1995. Hundreds of blues societies from around the world have affiliated with the Foundation, and many annually sponsor bands, solo/duo artists, and youth showcase participants as IBC competitors after hosting their own local live challenges. What began as a few local bands vying for recognition now attracts over 225 blues groups each year who are honored to perform on Beale Street and who look to win cash prizes, bookings, gear, recording deals, and that all-important recognition as a rising blues band or artist.
During IBC Week, The Blues Foundation also recognizes those members of the blues community who have spent a lifetime celebrating and promoting blues music with what are now known as the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards. The Blues Foundation began honoring these behind-the-scenes blues flame keepers in 1981, just one year after the organization was founded.
The awards are held to honor those who have made a significant “behind the scenes” contribution to blues music. Recipients are selected by a select panel of Blues professionals.
Laura Carbone is an accomplished Plattsburgh-based photographer known for her contributions to leading blues publications around the world. Her work spans regional publications in Upstate New York, national platforms covering blues music, and international magazines across Europe. Through her lens, Carbone magnificently captures the essence of the blues, in the process, supporting, promoting, and expanding awareness of the genre.
Beyond her photography skills, Carbone supports the blues community by wearing numerous other hats. As an event promoter, she brings regional, national, and international artists to upstate New York. Along with providing unique work opportunities for these artists, her events introduce blues to a region where its presence was previously non-existent.
Carbone goes the extra mile by organizing Blues in the School events, creating additional work for touring musicians, and actively supporting Kids Rock The Nation, a program that provides instruments and instruction to aspiring young music students. Moreover, Carbone has demonstrated her commitment to the genre through generous acts of philanthropy. She contributes her photos to fundraisers, financially supports worthwhile causes, and frequently opens her home as a rehearsal space. Similarly, the popular house concerts she hosts provide an intimate setting for music enthusiasts. Carbone engages in these charitable activities without seeking recognition or expecting any tangible rewards, showcasing a genuine dedication to the blues community. For all these reasons and more, The Blues Foundation has honored Carbone with a 2024 Keeping the Blues Alive Award.
I was blown away, quite an honor. This award has been given to giants in the industry. It is not only for my photography but also for all the work I do bringing in music to the North Country.
Laura Carbone
Also honored with the Keeping the Blues Alive Award for 2024 are Anne Marie & Jacques Garcia, who have contributed to blues events and preservation efforts in France; Fame Records and Ecko Records guitarist Larry Chambers; Boston Blues Society direction and WATD Music Director John Hall; Mark Stenzler of Radio Free Ithaca and host of Blues Zeppelin; renowned harmonica virtuoso and founder of Lee Oskar Harmonicas, Lee Oskar; the Columbus (Ohio) Blues Alliance, and Blues Association Turkey.
NYS Music congratulates Laura Carbone and all the recipients of the Keeping the Blues Award.
Dances With Films have announced this year’s indie focused film festival lineup, highlighting 135 films in four days including 64 world premieres beginning on Thursday, November 30.
Advanced Chemistry by Etana Jacobson
On their 26th year, Dances With Films celebrates the unflinching spirit at the very core of the independent film scene. They rely on innovation, talent, creativity, and sweat equity that revolutionizes the entertainment industry, that reliance continues to prove successful with alumni moving on to write, direct (etc). Among DWF NYC’s lineup of 136 films, including 20 narrative features, 9 documentary features, 19 television and streaming pilots, and 88 short films, are an impressive number of world premieres, all screenings will take place at Regal Union Square.
After becoming the leading beacon for true indie films and filmmakers in Los Angeles over the past 26 years, this will mark Dances With Films’ return to New York City for the second year.
“This year’s theme is “the color of imagination”, and that imagination, by its various definitions, exemplifies what Dances With Films will be highlighting this December. We could not be more excited to return to NYC and debut so many wonderful films and help provide a platform for all our indie filmmakers and their projects under the spotlight of this great city.”
– DWF Founder and Director Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent
On Thursday, November 30 will feature the opening night presentation of DWF alumni Dylan K. Narang’s Tapawingo. Tapawingo is a light-hearted coming of age comedy starring Jon Heder as an eccentric young man who lives with his mother and works in a mailroom. The film also stars Gina Gershon, Billy Zane, John Ratzenberger, and Amanda Bearse.
Tapawingo by Dylan K. Narang
Additional feature films making their world premieres are Etana Jacobson’s Advanced Chemistry about a scientist who attempts to help his lesbian best friend stop cheating on her wife suddenly backfires. Kevin Interdonato’s The Bastard Sons a story of revenge by a group of men, Michael Groom’s British romantic drama Between The Lights, Isaac Hirotsu Woofter’s Bound. The North American Premiere is Vardan Tozija’s M, a multi-national production centering a young boy who lives in the forest under the watchful eye of his overprotective and mysterious father, their sheltered existence is all he knows.
The Zombie Wedding by Micah Khan
Also making their world premieres are Sara Katarina Burke and Aaron Andrew Keene’s Can’t Seem to Make You Mine about a recent parolee who tries to make amends with his ex. Ryan Moore’s Influencefocuses on a struggling female filmmaker, Michelle Bossy’s Nobody’s Home follows the mind-bending journey of a young man after he is released from the psychiatric hospital. Brendan Boogie’s buddy comedyTallywacker, Micah Khan’s outlandish comedy The Zombie Wedding and finally, Justin Best’s Sherylabout a woman who goes on a bloody quest to create the perfect face after dumped by her serial killer boyfriend. As part of DWF NYC’s dedicated programming of horror, thrillers, and genre films, the Closing Night selection also comes from the film festival’s Midnight section. On Sunday, December 3 the closing night will feature Nicholas Gyeney’s The Activated Man making its first world premiere to officially close off the film festival. In the film, a man, struggling with the grief from losing his best friend and beloved dog to cancer, begins to have strange visions only he can see, questioning whether his mind has been fractured.
The Activated Man by Nicholas Gyeney
For more information about the Dances With Films NYC film lineup, events, passes, and tickets, please visit here.
The 2023 Dances With Films NYC official selections:
OPENING NIGHT SELECTION Tapawingo Director: Dylan K. Narang Country: USA; Running Time: 109 min An oddball becomes the bodyguard for a misfit teenager and finds himself in the crosshairs of the town’s family of bullies.
CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION The Activated Man World Premiere Director: Nicholas Gyeney Country: USA; Running Time: 115 min As Ors Gabriel struggles with the grief from losing his best friend and beloved dog to cancer, the trauma brings on strange visions only Ors can see. While he questions whether his mind has fractured or if it’s real, a mysterious rise in murder-suicides takes hold of the city, and Ors becomes haunted by images of a shadowy figure known as ‘The Fedora Man’. Through torments and terror, Ors must face his fears and confront ‘The Fedora Man’ as he uncovers dark secrets from his past, while finally embracing who he really is, and what he is meant to do.
ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURES Advanced Chemistry World Premiere Director: Etana Jacobson Country: USA; Running Time: 96 min A scientist injects his lesbian best friend with a compound he’s created to make her stop cheating on her wife (who is bi), but when the wife finds her new monogamous fixation suffocating, he injects the wife too, which backfires when she falls for him.
The Bastard Sons World Premiere Director: Kevin Interdonato Country: USA; Running Time: 90 min Life for a crew of organized criminals is disrupted when Vincent Damiano’s father, the family’s boss, is murdered. Vincent’s ‘bastard’ brothers (UFC legend Frank Edgar, Chicago Med star Malik Whitfield), a group of orphaned souls he raised together, have an idea of who killed their father…his partner Rome (TV/Film veteran Al Sapienza). In a valiant and calculated attempt to regain the business and enact vengeance on Rome over the course of one day, the Bastards wage an all-out war to get their pound of flesh.
Between The Lights World Premiere Director: Michael Groom Country: UK; Running Time: 104 min When skeptical scientist Alice falls for reluctant medium Jay, she’s taken on an odyssey of love, loss and discovery that will turn her world upside down. Between the Lights is a romantic drama with a liberal dose of the supernatural, in which we visit our characters over three consecutive Christmases. It is set within the ancient walls of York and the stunning natural beauty of the Lake District.
Bound World Premiere Director: Isaac Hirotsu Woofter Country: USA; Running Time: 101 min To escape her drug-dealing controlling stepfather, a young introvert flees to NYC with only her pet pocket squirrel. After successfully reinventing herself, she realizes she must confront her dark past, to truly be free.
Can’t Seem to Make You Mine World Premiere Directors: Sara Katarina Burke, Aaron Andrew Keene Country: USA; Running Time: 102 min A man who was just released from prison tries to make amends with his ex and become a father to his 6-year-old son while staying with a stripper he met on a pen-pal website.
Daruma Director: Alexander Yellen Country: USA; Running Time: 104 min Patrick (bitter wheelchair user) must enlist the help of his cantankerous neighbor (double amputee veteran) to transport the daughter he never knew he had to live with her maternal grandparents on the other side of the country.
Grounded Director: Justin Chan Country: USA; Running Time: 84 min William Lee, a 30-something Chinese-Filipino American, introduces his Caucasian girlfriend to his overbearing, immigrant parents when a mysterious cosmic force takes hold of their day.
Home Free Director: Aaron Brown Country: USA; Running Time: 98 min In 1997, a group of college misfits invite an unhoused professor to crash on their porch. Home Free is a Trojan horse, a bold coming-of-age comedy aimed at reaching a mass audience, but also intended to be a catalyst for serious social change sharply focused on one of the most pervasive problems across America—the homelessness epidemic. Humor is our spoonful of sugar.
Influence World Premiere Director: Ryan Moore Country: USA; Running Time: 83 min A female filmmaker struggling with her career and her mental health reaches a breaking point and decides to kidnap a famous social media influencer in an attempt to coerce them into playing the lead role in her latest project.
Katie’s Mom Director: Tyrrell Shaffner Country: USA; Running Time: 111 min A heartfelt comedy influenced by The Graduate but told from the perspective of a protagonist inspired by Mrs. Robinson. Set in modern-day Pasadena, California. Nancy Rosenfeld (Dina Meyer), a nurturing mom and recent divorcée, whose beloved Jewish/Christmas mashup holiday celebration with her adult children is derailed when she falls for Alex Rojas (Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building), her daughter’s charming new boyfriend. Their electrifying affair upends her status quo and sets her on a path to becoming who she was meant to be.
M North American Premiere Director: Vardan Tozija Countries: Macedonia/Croatia/Kosovo/France/Luxembourg, Running Time: 99 min In a secluded forest, young Marko lives under the watchful eye of his overprotective and mysterious father. Their sheltered existence is all he knows. Marko seeks solace in his cherished picture book, finding comfort and answers within its pages. One day, an encounter with a kind-hearted, helpless boy named Miko, brings a glimmer of warmth and connection into Marko’s isolated world. As his curiosity grows, Marko yearns to uncover the secrets that lie beyond the confines of the wilderness. But, a cruel turn of events grants him his wish sooner than he expects…
Nobody’s Home World Premiere Director: Michelle Bossy Country: USA; Running Time: 83 min When Luca is released from the psychiatric hospital where he and his girlfriend Theodora live, she escapes with him. To remain in control, she takes him to his childhood home, the root of his trauma. Time lapses. Consciousness is distorted. A dead body is discovered. Theodora insists Luca committed the murder in his sleep. Is she telling the truth? A knock on the door suddenly diverts them. Angelica and Jeremy show up, high on acid. Theodora invites them in to test Luca’s loyalty. Her jealousy increases to the point of danger. In the end, nothing is what it seems. Everyone has darkness inside.
Palimpsest North American Premiere Director: Hanna Vastinsalo Country: Finland; Running Time: 109 min Two elderly roommates are selected for a medical trial that makes them younger. Given a second chance at life, with the memories of their past life intact, they realize that growing young is not just fun.
Space Baby Director: Rex Dean Country: USA; Running Time: 99 min Three friends fight fascist Nurse Nancy to rebuild the holy grail and get a new soul for the earth. Each friend is different. 8-year-old Sam (“Mental Man”) is a mad scientist and inventor; 6-year-old Sophia (“Nature Girl”) is a caretaker of the earth; 300-year-old Blue (a great ballplayer like Satchel Paige) was the keeper of the holy grail in Africa before he and his siblings were captured as slaves. With help from a squadron of ladybugs, they fight the “greed, intolerance, and just plain cruelty” that Nurse Nancy and her demonic crow inhabit. A story of courage, friendship, and love.
Tallywacker World Premiere Director: Brendan Boogie Country: USA; Running Time: 90 min A rock and roll buddy comedy about 2 bandmates whose relationship gets tested when one of them gets a gig touring with a major rock star.
The Zombie Wedding World Premiere Director: Micah Khan Country: USA; Running Time: 99 min A young Cumberland County, NJ couple decides to go through with their wedding – during the Zombie Apocalypse. Unfortunately, he’s a zombie and she’s not. Both families are fearful, but the humans’ behavior is brutish. When the Zombies begin feeling brain-deprived, the ceremony takes a turn for the weird. Weekly World News reporters are there to cover this wild wedding – while trying to get out alive!
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES 44 Lights: Music from Ground Zero Director: Barbara Blackburn Tuttle Country: USA; Running Time: 68 min A musical journey to healing in the aftermath of 9/11. A story of pain, loss, and ultimately rebirth through music.
American Pot Story: Oaksterdam Directors: Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus Country: USA; Running Time: 97 min This award-winning documentary is a decade-long follow-up of the underdogs who put their blood, sweat, and tears to overturn a 100-year-old policy, proving in the process that “a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world,” to quote Margaret Mead).
Brothers Broken Directors: Geoff Levin, Lily Richards Country: USA; Running Time: 86 min This is the story of brothers Geoff and Robbie Levin, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of the 60’s music scene including Jerry Garcia, the Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin. The brother’s band PEOPLE! had the hit record “I Love You” in 1968 and toured with The Who; then Scientology entered their lives destroyed their band and split up the brothers. After 46 years Geoff despite losing his children and friends to the cult, left the church and reunited with his brother and band. It’s a tale of breaking free from a modern-day prison of belief.
Denim Hunter U.S. Premiere Director: Emilio Di Stefano Country: Sweden; Running Time: 87 min In the road movie documentary Denim Hunter, we meet Viktor – a regular guy from Sweden but with a burning passion for really old jeans. The film follows Viktor on his wild journey through the deserts of California, Arizona, and Nevada as well as up the snowclad Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where he hunts for denim treasures in hazardous run-down gold mines from the 1880s. On his journey, Viktor comes across an array of unlikely desert characters, like Indiana Jeans, Dynamite Dan, and Redneck-Mike. In various ways, they all lead Viktor from one failure to the next.
The Depths of My Despair Director: Elizabeth Lawrence Country: USA; Running Time: 68 min The Depths of My Despair is a visceral rabbit hole toward the authentic self. Filmmaker Elizabeth Lawrence takes an emotional, first-person detour inward. Oscillating through saneness and psychosis; debris and lucidity, the film stares at depression dead-on.
District Of Second Chances World Premiere Director: Wynette Yao Country: USA; Running Time: 76 min District of Second Chances follows the journeys of three men from Washington, D.C., all sentenced to life in prison during the 1990s. Now, because of sentencing reform, they have a rare chance at release and new lives.
Meet Me Where I Am Director: Grant Garry Country: USA; Running Time: 86 min Meet Me Where I Am explores the topic of grief through individual stories of loss, love, and hope. The film aims to normalize grief in our culture and explores how we can actively participate in helping others through grief. By accepting grief and its impact, we hope to help individuals find new meaning as they move forward with their grief.
Studio One Forever Director: Marc Saltarelli Country: USA; Running Time: 86 min The untold story of America’s iconic gay disco, a kaleidoscopic excursion into LGBTQ+ history through the lens of this groundbreaking club. From 1974-1994, Studio One and its adjoining live music venue, The Backlot, became symbols of hope and community for gay men during tumultuous times. Amidst the rise of gay rights, disco’s heyday, and the devastating AIDS crisis, the club offered sanctuary from rampant homophobia and police oppression.
Torched – The Story of Austin Torch Director: Hoag Kepner Country: USA; Running Time: 66 min Torched tells the story of the Austin Torch, a wild and fiery group of women/non-binary athletes in Austin who are trying to legitimize and professionalize their fringe sport of Ultimate Frisbee in a historically male-dominated sports industry. As we follow the Torch on the road and at home during their 2022 season, we realize that though the Torch might not always win, they never really lose, because it’s more than a team: it’s a movement.
MIDNIGHT FEATURES Sheryl World Premiere Director: Justin Best Country: USA; Running Time: 72 min After she’s dumped by her serial killer boyfriend for not being “hot enough”, a beauty-obsessed woman goes on a bloody quest to create the perfect face, all while navigating her new relationship with the cop investigating the murders.
Wild Eyed and Wicked Director: G.S. Foxwood Country: USA; Running Time: 99 min Lily Pierce is sick of being haunted. She decides to reconnect with her estranged father, a disgraced history professor, and learn how to draw upon a time of steel and blade when armor-clad knights rode out and dueled their monsters to the death.
TELEVISION AND WEB SERIES PILOTS
A Killer Service Director: Gio Randazzo Country: USA; Running Time: 25 min The hapless daughter of an incarcerated con-artist finds she has inherited a substantial debt to a dangerous crime boss. Forced into a corner, Elliott discovers how to take control of her life while helping empower other women.
Awesome Director: Paul Munger Country: USA; Running Time: 16 min Every night, 20-year-old Joy gets a glimpse of the future. But with a dad on parole, a pill-popping boyfriend, and a recent lay-off, that doesn’t mean she can stop it from being shitty. That is until she foresees an event that will ruin the lives of her loved ones forever. She’ll have to figure out how to change her future–or live with the consequences.
The Blind ZoneWorld Premiere Directors: Federica Marchese, Vinushu Sundaresan Country: China; Running Time: 32 min Battle of wits and violence ensues when the separate worlds of two teenage sociopaths collide after they set their eyes on the same target.
East Director: Dana Marisa Schoenfeld Country: USA; Running Time: 32 min When Ella Goldman, a New York City Corporate attorney, gets engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Josh, she is ecstatic to embark on the next stage of her life. With a wedding to plan and a blossoming career, Ella thinks she has it all. But when she suddenly loses her job and catches her boyfriend cheating, her world comes crashing down. This devastating turn of events forces her to confront the truth about her life – and what it is she really wants. Convinced that this is a “wake-up call,” Ella pursues her childhood dream of being an actress.
Events At Hemlock Manor Director: Katie North Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min At its core, this is a series about underdogs: a ragtag group of spooky weirdos with nowhere else to go. Hemlock Manor is not only a year-round haunted house with a terrible business model; it’s also a home. But what do you do when the thing you love is in trouble? You fight for it. Even when that means throwing a baby shower for a group of rich ladies who thought “the historic Hemlock Manor” was a charming country villa, not a haunted house open in July.
For Years to Come Director: Micah Stuart Country: USA; Running Time: 27 min An irreverent and heartfelt romantic dramedy about a gay man who falls in love with his dead mother’s hospice nurse, while struggling to reconnect with his elderly father…who’s secretly a porn director.
Hit Man: Secrets Of Lies Director: Elias Plagianos Country: UK; Running Time: 19 min A reflective hitman from New York City travels to small towns around the country trying to find meaning in his seemingly inconsequential life as he fulfills his contracts and eliminates his targets.
Hot Angry Mom Director: Clarissa De Los Reyes Country: USA; Running Time: 34 min A people-pleasing mom must face her rage, as a video of her epic meltdown goes viral.
I Could Eat Director: Rick Bedrosian Country: USA; Running Time: 28 min A new TV/Web Series showcasing the cuisine & music that unites diverse cultures. Host, Rick Bedrosian (“George” in a Beatlemania stage show for 7 years, leader of Celtic music powerhouse, Hair Of The Dog, since 1993 and an international tour guide) spans the globe seeking out the finest food and the most interesting music makers.
L.I.F.E.: It’s Wonderful Director: Dathan Smith Country: USA; Running Time: 22 min L.I.F.E. is an anthology series set in the near future where citizens receive a hand-delivered card notifying them the day they will die. Rose feels trapped in her new “home”. Emilia feels trapped by her daughter’s recent news. Bob is forced to deliver a card he has been dreading since joining L.I.F.E. Corp. as Diane adjusts to her new job.
MomentsNorth American Premiere Director: Aaron Lewis Country: USA; Running Time: 23 min Moments is a gripping 9-episode digital series, each under 13 minutes, offering intimate glimpses into characters on the brink. Driven by black trauma and mysticism, it unravels mind-reading and hidden truths through therapist Dr. Winston. An enigmatic narrator, Rutina Wesley, introduces time travel, adding layers of self-discovery. Momentshints at an expanded episodic journey, diving deeper into characters’ histories and relationships, while authentically addressing themes of healing and transformation within the mystical. Boasting a stellar ensemble cast and profound storytelling.
Morse Code Director: Travis Nicholson Country: USA; Running Time: 37 min In the eccentric community of modern-day East Nashville, Simon, a talented but flawed thirty-something indie folk singer finds himself at a crossroads as he struggles to strike a balance between family and career.
Off The Menu Director: Daniele Sestito Country: USA; Running Time: 37 min “Chef” is a perfectionist, Italian cook who works for an unordinary institution. Typically stern and grandiose, a new side of Chef is revealed when he is forced to make a meal that’s beyond his grasp.
Q Train Directors: Dionne Van Den Berg, Samantha Tran Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min A Brooklyn based DJ explores the queer dating scene.
Roboto Directors: Mari Madrid, Keone Madrid Country: USA; Running Time: 18 min Ky loses his entire career as a highly successful choreographer when AI takes over the dance industry and the world by storm. This throws Ky into suicidal ideations until Mikah, a bright and optimistic 12-year-old boy, decides to disregard the latest craze of dancing with Roboto and instead asks Ky to choreograph for his school performance. While at first Ky reluctantly decides to help the kid, he begins to find a bit of light in his life again. And when it’s revealed that Mikah had a battle with cancer Ky’s perspective is completely shifted.
The SelectmanWorld Premiere Director: David Antonio Martin Country: USA; Running Time: 26 min In the wake of Selectman Joseph Allenby’s untimely death, this absurd comedy begins amid a memorial service in the small town of Picasquiddy, Maine. Subverting the idyllic nature of small-town New England, our protagonists are trapped in a picturesque world where the forces of learned behavior, arrested adolescence, and the quest for power forever collide. As two unlikely successors emerge as candidates for the Board of Selectmen, the town’s fate hangs in the balance. Does anybody have what it takes?
Travel Fox World Premiere Director: Henk Pretorius Country: UK; Running Time: 5 min Get ready for a wild adventure in Travel Fox, the pilot episode of an animated series tailor-made for curious kids. Follow the inquisitive Travel Fox and Bogie the Tortoise as they race across the world, chasing rainbows in search of a legendary pot of gold. But here’s the twist – instead of gold, our friends discover something even more precious: a treasure trove of unique characters and unforgettable experiences.
Ülom: The Primary Experiment World Premiere Director: Jon Da Country: USA; Running Time: 25 min In Ülom, one can find anything, even meaning. A desperate scientist undertakes a labyrinthian experiment he believes will locate his missing daughter. Journeying ever deeper into the labyrinth, he must confront an invasive, fictional reality. Remember: what feels real, is real. Ülom is here.
XanderWorld Premiere Director: Jonathan Chao Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min When lonely high school student Luke befriends Xander the Genie, he’s forced to consider if making his one wish is worth losing his new genie best friend.
NARRATIVE SHORTS (In)Convenience Director: Alexandra Greenspan Country: USA; Running Time: 12 min
#Pizzagate World Premiere Director: Danny Piñeros Country: USA; Running Time: 8 min
The 1971 Kitchen Grand Brie Director: Ian Beckman Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min
Bisected World Premiere Director: Danny Piñeros Country: USA; Running Time: 8 min
Black Silk World Premiere Director: Patrick Michael Country: USA; Running Time: 16 min
Blight World Premiere Director: Markus Hoeckner Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min
Bloodworm World Premiere Director: Kai Wen Country: USA; Running Time: 13 min
Bounce House Directors: Callie Bloem, Christopher Ewing Country: USA; Running Time: 16 min
Burraco World Premiere Director: Isabella Tagliati Country: Italy; Running Time: 14 min
Candice Director: Tyler Martin Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min
Career Day Directors: Jason Robinson, Chris Hooper Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min
Chauncey World Premiere Director: Reilly Anspaugh & Daniel Rashid Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min
Cheol World Premiere Director: Yeajoon Cho Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min
Church Camp Director: Andrew Bourne Country: USA; Running Time: 14 min
The Chat World Premiere Writer/Dir/Prod: Artie Brennan Country: USA; Running Time: 6 min
Clownfish Director: Clayton Henderson Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min
Dear Owner Director: Jing Ai Ng Country: USA; Running Time: 17 min
Delta World Premiere Director: Jonathan Coleman Country: USA; Running Time: 9 min
Detox Director: Alex Hanno Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min
Dropping Director: Rj Collins Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min
Echoes Of My Father World Premiere Directors: Junko Kajino, Ed M Koziarski Country: USA, Japan; Running Time: 18 min
The Electro-Rocker Director: Chris Edgar Country: USA; Running Time: 17 min
Entrainment Director: Bill Prokopow Country: USA; Running Time: 12 min
Esperance To Fremantle World Premiere Director: William Sebastian Turner Country: Australia; Running Time: 18 min
Everything Goes Dark International Premiere Director: Alex Casimir Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min
Fate Vs. Elena World Premiere Director: Laura Sedlak Country: USA; Running Time: 23 min
From The Dark North American Premiere Director: Erika Sanz Country: USA; Running Time: 7 min
Hot Soda Director: Nello Digiandomenico Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min
How To Disappear World Premiere Director: Milton Woods Country: USA; Running Time: 20 min
I Keep Bumping into Candy Maldonado World Premiere Director: Luke Black Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min
In The Quiet World Premiere Director: Merle Dandridge Country: USA; Running Time: 5 min
Interracial Couple In A Cheerios Ad Director: Christine Lakin Country: USA; Running Time: 4 min
The Invaders Director: Erin Doyle Cooper Country: USA; Running Time: 4 min
Itch World Premiere Director: Mohammad Anwerzada Countries: Pakistan/Canada; Running Time: 9 min
Letters To the Wind World Premiere Director: Terrence Shu Country: USA; Running Time: 13 min
