18th Annual Coney Island Film Festival Announces Lineup

The 18th annual installment of the Coney Island Film Festival (named one of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals" by MovieMaker Magazine) hits the shores of Coney Island from Friday, September 14th through Sunday, September 16th. This year's festival features 101 films from around the world; a stunning array of high and low-brow fare, as diverse as the neighborhood it represents. Subjects range from the profound to the profane, showcasing the independent spirit and irreverent nature of the one and only Coney Island.

The festival kicks off on Friday Night, September 14th at 7:30pm in the Coney Island Museum with the World Premiere of the Documentary Feature "Obscene Beauty", Co- Directed by Lesley Demetriades and Nasya Kamrat. Obscene Beauty dives into the present day NYC Neo-Burlesque scene-its history, players and impact.

Following the screening, it's our Opening Night Party, 9:30 p.m. at the Freak Bar and Sideshows by the Seashore. It's an evening of live performance featuring Sideshow, Magic, Stand Up Comedy, Aerial Artistry and Burlesque! Hosted by Adam RealMan. Beer, wine and food will be served.

The Coney Island Film festival offers a huge variety of Shorts, Features, Documentaries, Animation, Experimental, Made in Coney Island, Horror Films, and Music Videos spread throughout 17 program blocks, making CIFF, a festival with something for everyone.

Short highlights include Justin Adams's "Ascension" A revenge-themed psychological thriller set over a hiking trip in the Catskill Mountains. And Lukas Hassel's The Son, the Father... The events on a young boy's birthday have twisted consequences far into his future.

Documentary Feature highlights include: The World Premiere of Cris Siqueira's "Ape Girl". Sideshow troupes travel Brazil and the United States with a spooky attraction, that turns a woman into a gorilla. In the fading world of traveling carnivals, single-hearted showfolk struggle to keep a popular tradition alive. CIFF Presents the Brooklyn Premiere of Jonathan Miller's "Standing Up" where three unlikely aspiring comedians risk everything to find their voices on the cutthroat New York stand-up scene.

CIFF Presents the Brooklyn Premiere of the acclaimed Narrative Feature "Staring at the Sun" directed by Harry Greenberger. Two NYC teenage Hasidic girls run away from home, traveling cross country, trying to find total freedom.

The wildly popular Horror Shorts Program returns again this year, Saturday, September 15th at 8pm. Nine films from the bizarre to the macabre, are bound to scare and spook the audience!

And, in keeping with annual tradition, the festival will screen the 1979 Coney Island cult classic "The Warriors", at 10:30pm on Saturday, September 15th, at Sideshows By The Seashore.

Wrapping up the festival's last screening block on Sunday, September 16th at 6pm, is "Coney Island Films", featuring films centered and themed around Coney Island.

An awards ceremony takes place Sunday, September 16th, 8pm at the Eldorado Auto Skooter, 1216 Surf Ave., where filmmakers and full festival pass holders get to ride the bumper cars, right after the awards are handed out!

Event Details are as follows:
Coney Island Film Festival
September 14-16, 2018

Films screen at Coney Island USA's Sideshows by the Seashore (Ground Floor) and the Coney Island Museum (2nd Floor), both located inside the landmarked Coney Island USA building at 1208 Surf Ave., between Stillwell Ave. and West 12st in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

Tickets:
Full Festival Pass (excludes "The Warriors"): $50
Opening Night Screening: $8
Opening Night Party: $25
Saturday Screening Pass: (all Saturday Screenings excluding "The Warriors"): $15
Saturday Night Screening of The Warriors: $10
Sunday Screening Pass: (all Sunday Screenings) $12
Any Individual Program Screening: $8

Schedule and advance tickets are available at: www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com