This Brooklyn-based non-profit is famous for its signature summer series under the stars. Every year from May to August, it hosts dozens of outdoor screenings, showcasing the latest independent shorts and features across various open-air locations in New York City. Beyond the festival, Rooftop Films provides equipment rentals and issues grants to support emerging indie film projects. In this article on new-york-trend.com we’ll dive into the organization’s origin story, explore how you can get involved—whether in front of the screen or behind it—and look back at the highlights of the most recent Rooftop summer season.
Rooftop Films: The Voice of Independent Cinema
In the late 1990s, an idea emerged in New York that sounded almost reckless: showing movies not in theaters, but in the open air. In 1997, founder Mark Rosenberg launched Rooftop Films with a single night of shorts and virtually no resources.
During its early years, the festival survived on the sheer enthusiasm of volunteers and a pure love for film. By the end of the decade, it moved to a rooftop in Williamsburg—the very space that gave the project its name and iconic atmosphere. It was there that Rooftop evolved from a local event into a full-scale summer festival, expanding its schedule and attracting a brand-new audience.
By the early 2000s, the project became more professional, gaining a dedicated team, permanent offices, and new locations. Yet, the core mission remained unchanged: “cinema for the people.” Rooftop never stayed in one place; screenings popped up everywhere from backyards and courtyards to waterfronts and even boats. The city itself became the screen.
Over time, the festival grew into a massive cultural platform. It doesn’t just show movies; it supports the people who make them. Through its own fund, Rooftop provides financial and technical assistance to indie directors. Grants, gear, and industry access have become part of an ecosystem that has supported thousands of filmmakers. Many of these artists have gone on to achieve global acclaim, using Rooftop as the launchpad that turned early screenings into major careers.
Most importantly, the festival has kept its soul: using cinema to bring people together. Rooftop Films proved that the magic of movies isn’t just what happens on the screen—it’s what happens between people under the open sky.
Summer Movies on the Roof
The Summer Series is the heart of Rooftop Films and the organization’s true calling card. Every year, over 30,000 New Yorkers gather at outdoor venues to catch the freshest independent films, including world premieres and festival circuit hits. Tickets are typically $13 or less, and screenings are traditionally followed by open-bar after-parties where fans and filmmakers can mingle and talk shop.
The venues are a story in themselves. Rooftop Films turns urban spaces into cinematic stages: from the roofs of the Old American Can Factory and El Museo del Barrio to school lawns. Past locations have included artist communities, Fort Greene Park, Southpoint Park, and piers overlooking the East River. Each spot brings its own vibe, making the movie feel like a natural part of city life.
Music is an essential part of the experience. Before every film, live bands perform to build energy and set the mood. Past performers include heavyweights like TV on the Radio, Sharon Van Etten, The Mountain Goats, Phosphorescent, and The Antlers. This live element turns a simple screening into a full-blown event, making every night unforgettable.
The series runs from May through September. In 2026, Rooftop will celebrate its landmark 30th Summer Series, continuing to bridge the gap between bold new films and a wide, diverse audience. This isn’t just a film festival—it’s a community that lives through the city and shares the lens of independent cinema with everyone who joins.
What Kind of Films Does the Festival Accept?
Rooftop Films is on the hunt for bold, original, and fiercely independent cinema. The Summer Series welcomes films of all genres and formats: narrative, documentary, experimental, hybrid, shorts, and features. Features are defined as 60 minutes or longer, while shorts must be under 40 minutes. The team looks for works that challenge traditional forms and tell stories rarely seen on the big screen. Whether it’s animation, satire, political or personal documentaries, comedies, dramas, or pure experimentation—every creative voice has a shot at being noticed.
- Language and Accessibility
All submissions must be in English or include English subtitles. Films are submitted via secure online links and must be available for preview by the programming team.
- Rights and Screenings
If a film is selected, Rooftop Films retains the right to screen it at any event during the Summer Series season. Post-series screenings are only possible with the filmmaker’s explicit consent. Selected works must be provided in a high-quality digital format according to the festival’s technical specifications.
- Deadlines and Fees
To be considered for the Summer Series, films must be submitted by the stated deadline. Submissions are paid in USD via FilmFreeway. As a perk, every filmmaker who submits a project receives two tickets to the series, which are fully transferable to others.
- Selection and Programming
Every year, the team receives thousands of applications. Each one is watched and vetted by Rooftop Films programmers. Films are eventually grouped by theme, genre, and vibe to ensure every screening night maximizes the potential and impact of the selected works.
Rooftop Films 2025: Summer Nights on NYC’s Rooftops
The 2025 Rooftop Films Summer Series ran from May 16 to August 22, bringing together over 40 events. The lineup featured indie features and shorts, family-friendly screenings, and live performances on rooftops, in parks, and on piers across the city.
A major highlight was the U.S. premiere of Sean Byrne’s horror film “Dangerous Animals.” Fresh off its world premiere at Cannes, the film anchored a key screening on May 22, where the audience got to participate in a Q&A with the director and stars, including Jai Courtney, Hassie Harrison, and Josh Heuston.
As Adnaan Wasey, Executive Director of Rooftop Films, noted:
“Since 1997, we have been crafting a new vision for cinema—not just screenings, but unique nights where films, spaces, and communities collide. This season reaffirms our commitment to independent voices and the celebration of artistic risk.”
Programming Director Saida Russell added:
“We are building on nearly three decades of Rooftop Films tradition, showcasing bold and dynamic cinema in vibrant outdoor spaces. Every film is chosen to surprise, inspire, and move the audience.”
Feature premieres included stories of music, art, love, and social change—ranging from the documentary “Move Your Body: The Evolution of House Music,” which traces the birth of house in Chicago, to “Love, Brooklyn,” a deep dive into the lives of three friends in an ever-changing borough. Music lovers also enjoyed stories about Selena Quintanilla and her band, Selena y Los Dinos, as well as the legendary dancehall artist Sister Nancy in the film “Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story.”
The shorts programs were equally diverse, featuring everything from Spanish-language shorts exploring family and memory to LGBTQ+ stories from around the globe. Screenings took place at iconic locations across all five boroughs, including the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, the Fort Greene Park lawn, and the rooftops of the Old American Can Factory and Gansevoort Plaza.
Rooftop Films continues to build a platform for independent filmmakers to share their unique voices and daring stories. This summer, the festival promises to take another step in celebrating creativity, community, and unforgettable cinematic moments under the New York sky.
