Rooftop screening series moves to parking lot

One of the great things about summer 2010 has been the choice lineup of outdoor screenings popping up all over Toronto parks and public spaces. New in the mix: Open Roof Films.

Homegrown and indie focused, the rooftop parking lot screening series was originally planned for a rooftop near the Harbourfront, but instead launches at the Amsterdam Brewery this Friday, August 6th, with the Hot Docs hit The Parking Lot Movie (oh, the irony). This week's kick off will also feature live music by Little Girls and a Q&A with Amal director Richie Mehta.

Taking its cues from the popular Brooklyn-based Rooftop Films, now in its 14th season, Open Roof Films will run seven events through to the end of month (August 6th to 27th), each with live music by up-and-coming local bands, guest filmmakers and after-parties. Let's admit it, serving drinks is a pretty good idea too.

Hot Docs is co-presenting The Parking Lot Movie, a doc they also experimented with screening in an outdoor venue during this year's festival (alas, sometimes it's still a bit nippy in May). It's an amusing look behind-the-scenes of a parking lot in Charlottesville, Virginia. The attendants here have a few things to say about drivers and capitalism and boredom, then thrown in are hilarious bits of footage of them having all kinds of encounters with the customers. Very entertaining, in that making-fun-of-rich-people kind of way.

Other screening highlights include Bruce McDonald's latest This Movie is Broken (a.k.a., the Broken Social Scene Movie) and a sneak peek at Winnebago Man, before its theatrical release in October.

The format is (roughly): doors open at 7:30 pm, band goes on at 8 pm, director Q&A at 8:45 pm, movie screens at 9:15 pm, and party from 10:45 pm on. If it rains, all this will go down indoors at the same location.

Here is the complete schedule:

Friday, August 6, 2010
The Parking Lot Movie with music by Little Girls

Thursday, August 12, 2010
This Movie is Broken with music by Little Black Dress

Friday, August 13, 2010
Canadian Film Centre Comedy Shorts with music by Girls on Stilts

Thursday. August 19, 2010
Lovers of Hate with music by Michael Kulas

Friday, August 20, 2010
Winnebago Man with music by Marcus Walker Quartet

Thursday, August 26, 2010
Bravo!FACT Presents... with music by Alright Alright

Friday, August 27, 2010
Tiny Furniture with music by Elos Arma

Open Roof Films launches August 6th at The Amsterdam Brewery, 21 Bathurst St. Tickets $15 available online or at the door.

Still from This Movie is Broken by Caitlin Cronenberg courtesy of Alliance Films.