It has been said that no city in America has a better slate of summer time entertainment that the Big Apple. Thats right ladies and germs, New York City is the place to be for high-quality, outdoor entertainment. And, to top it all off, most of it is free. To that end, ImageNation just announced its summer time schedule and the combination of film and music will make you want to jump back and slap yourself. The 13th Annual Outdoors Festival will run from June 21 through August 22. It will feature a total of 8 films in six different parks spread throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. ImageNation is New York Citys sole outdoor festival dedicated to films and music representative of the best that the African Diaspora has to offer.
The festival will also highlight the I AM IMAGENATION online campaign to raise $35,000 in support of ImageNation programs and the ImageNation Sol Cinema Caf.
Among the festival highlights are a screening of Jeymes Samuels western They Die By Dawn, starring Erykah Badu, Michael K. Williams, Rosario Dawson and other A-listers.
Also, Chimamda Ngozi Adichies Half of a Yellow Son will screen following a performance by Afro-Franc songstresses Les Nubian. Greats like Pete Rock and DJ Spinna will participate as well. A complete list of ImageNation events are below.
June 21st
Film: They Die by Dawn w/ Q&A with director Jeymes Samuel
Music: DJ Spinna, The Bullitts
*SummerStage,
Von King Park, Brooklyn
July 6th
Film: Half of A Yellow Sun
Music: Les Nubians
*The Reel Harlem Film Festival,
Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem
July 12th
Film: Celia: The Queen
Music: Gerardo Contino Y Los Habaneros, w/ DJ Asho
*SummerStage,
St. Marys Park, Bronx, NY
July 19th
Film: Time Is Illmatic ,
Music: Pete Rock,
*SummerStage
Queensbridge
August 2nd
4th Annual Soul Train Tribute
Make it Funky!: A Soul Train Dance Party & Tribute to James Brown
Film: Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
August 9th
Film: Our Latin Thing
Music: Felix Hernandez Rhythm Revue
*SummerStage, East River Park
August 15th
The Harder They Come
Music: 103.9 FM
*Harlem Week, St. Nicholas Park
August 22nd
Film: Finding Fela
Music: 103.9 FM
*Harlem Week, St. Nicholas Park
For detailed film descriptions, and director profiles please visit www.imagenation.us.