The Rural Route Film Festival Returns to Queens Aug 3-7, 2011, with screenings and personal appearances at Museum of the Moving Image, plus special events at Brooklyn Grange Farm & Socrates Sculpture Park

New York, NY, July 20, 2011—Following a year+ tour around-the-world, the Rural Route Film Festival returns to form for a 7th annual edition. The whole of the festival takes place in the quaint-and-culturally-rich neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. Special Kickoff and Closing Night screenings will be held on top of the city’s largest green roof farm and at Socrates Sculpture Park, and the bulk of the fest will be at the newly-renovated Museum of the Moving Image, where you can also check out a brand new, comprehensive exhibit on Jim Henson, whose Kermit the Frog would LEAP at all the “green” in this year’s fest!

Centering on all things non-urban, Rural Route boasts an exciting, quality line-up of progressive green/agriculture films, indie fiction, ‘world’ docs, and a fun/diverse array of shorts. Most screenings are free with Museum of the Moving Image admission, and nearly all include a Q&A session to follow!

“Rural Route is an adventurous film festival with independent, global films that explore our relationship to the world,” said the Museum’s Chief Curator David Schwartz. “Many of the films this year explore, in very human terms, the ongoing conflict between economic factors and the health of our environment. We are delighted to host Rural Route, and to be working with Festival director Alan Webber.”

“This is such an exciting way to return to form with the RRFF this summer! We have the most rural and professional venues, and even a small town feel by keeping things within the Astoria/L.I.C. vicinity.” (Alan Webber, RRFF Director)

2011 Schedule:

Wednesday, August 3rd @ Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens:
Sundown – David Lynch’s “The Straight Story” - special free kickoff screening @ Socrates Sculpture Park, Presented by Museum of the Moving Image & Rooftop Films as part of the Outdoor Screening prog.

Friday, August 5th @ Museum of the Moving Image, Queens:
7PM – opening night special sneak preview screening of Mike Ott’s hot new indie feature, “Littlerock” (opens at Cinema Village next week - Aug. 12)

Saturday, August 6th @ Museum of the Moving Image, Queens (all free w/museum admission):
2PM – “Summer Pasture” (Tibetan yak-herding nomads) *w/Q&A
5PM – Short Films feat. “Driftless” & “Muskrat John” *w/Q&A
7:30PM – Ian Cheney’s “Truck Farm” *w/Q&A

Sunday, August 7th @ Museum of the Moving Image, Queens (all free w/museum admission):
2PM – Short Films (“Footloose” fan re-makes, NZ dream of American South, Canada exp) *w/Q&A 4PM – “Delicious Peace Grows in a Ugandan Coffee Bean” *w/Q&A 6PM – Severine von Tscharner Fleming’s “The Greenhorns” *w/new farmer panel

Sunday, August 7th @ Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm, Queens (w/Rooftop Films):
-- closing night special presentations -- 8PM – Short Films on the farm roof w/Rooftop Films *w/Q&A 10PM – Short Films on the farm roof w/Rooftop Films *w/Q&A