2019 ImageNation Outdoors Film & Music Festival
Soul Cinema and Music Under the Stars
July 10th to September 20th in Harlem!
FREE! Music begins at 6:00PM; Films at 8:00PM or sundown.
Presented in partnership with the NYC Parks Department.
Wednesday, July 10th – Celebrating the Jackie Robinson Centennial!
Jackie Robinson Park, NYC
42: the Jackie Robinson Story
preceded by the HCCI Teen Filmmaker Training Program Short Film
Dir. Brian Helgeland, 128 min. USA
In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), legendary manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defies major league baseball's notorious color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team. The heroic act puts both Rickey and Robinson in the firing line of the public, the press and other players.
Co-presented with the Jackie Robinson Museum and the Historic Harlem Parks
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike
Thursday, August 8th – BOSS: The Black Experience in Business
Marcus Garvey Park, NYC | RSVP
BOSS: FILM + MUSIC+ FASHION
Celebrating Black Enterprise
BOSS: The Black Experience in Business
Produced and Directed by Stanley Nelson, 115min., USA
ImageNation Outdoors and Films by Firelight presents the documentary BOSS: The Black Experience in Business at BOSS: FILM + MUSIC + FASHION, a celebration of Black entrepreneurs. With music by DJ Mike, the featured documentary will be preceded by fashion by OKETSA, designed by South African designer, Thulare Monareng, and a live performance by Harlem's own Heater IV. This Black business explosion will offer a mini small business expo and participating models will receive $150 in product from OKETSA. See below.
ABOUT THE FILM
Directed by Stanley Nelson, 115min.
Tracing more than 150 years of African American men and women, from those bound by bondage to moguls at the top of multibillion-dollar empires, Boss: The Black Experience in Business, seeks to claim their place in the story of American entrepreneurship.
A Firelight Films production for THIRTEEN Productions LLC in association with The HistoryMakers.
Click here to volunteer as a model.
Click here to view the BOSS: The Black Experience in Business trailer.
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike
Tuesday, August 13th – Poetic Justice w/ NYLFF
St. Nicholas Park, NYC | RSVP
Poetic Justice
Dir. John Singleton, 110min., USA
Still grieving after the murder of her boyfriend, hairdresser Justice (Janet Jackson) writes poetry to deal with the pain of her loss. Unable to get to Oakland to attend a convention because of her broken-down car, Justice gets a lift with her friend, Iesha (Academy Award-winner, Regina King) and Iesha's postal worker boyfriend, Chicago (Joe Torry). Along for the ride is Chicago's co-worker, Lucky (Tupac Shakur), to whom Justice grows close after some initial problems. But is she ready to open her heart again?
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike
RSVP
Saturday, August 17th – HARLEM WEEK!
St. Nicholas Park, NYC | RSVP
If Beale Street Could Talk
Dir. Barry Jenkins, 117 min., USA
This adaptation of the James Baldwin Novel, stars Academy Award winner Regina King, Coleman Domingo, Michael Beach, Teyonah Parris, Aunjanue Ellis and newcomer Kiki Layne. The film follows a pregnant woman in who Harlem desperately scrambles to prove her fiancé innocent of a crime he did not commit.
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike
Thursday, August 22nd – SOUL TRAIN TRIBUTE
Marcus Garvey Park, NYC | RSVP
Soul Train Tribute to Aretha Franklin featuring Amazing Grace
Dir. Sidney Pollack, 120 min. USA
Singer Aretha Franklin performs gospel songs at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972. Preceded by live musical tribute, and Harlem’s attempt to form a record-breaking Soul Train line.
Co-presented by & InJoy Enterprises, the evening will feature Aretha Franklin hits and rare grooves spun by DJ King James NYC of RhythmAndSoulRadio.com & WHCR-FM, a concert featuring some of the music from the Queen of Soul interpreted by an all-star cast of independent artists including: Asa Lovechild, Lynn Lockamy, Nyasia Chane'l, Queen Zenobia, Rachel Walker, Red Sahara and Stori James backed by the Soul Train Tribute House band led by guitarist John Smith.
“You can bet your last money, It's gonna be a Stone Gas Honey.”
Friday, August 23rd – Black Public Media 40th Anniversary
St. Nicholas Park, NYC | RSVP
Decade of Fire - Black Public Media 40th Anniversary
Directed by Gretchen Hildebran and Vivian Vásquez chronicle, 76 min., USA
In the 1970s, the Bronx was on fire. Left unprotected by the city government, nearly a half-million people were displaced as their close-knit, multiethnic neighborhood burned, reducing the community to rubble. While insidious government policies caused the devastation, Black and Latino residents bore the blame. In this story of hope and resistance, Bronx native Vivian Vazquez exposes the truth about the borough’s sordid history and reveals how her embattled and maligned community chose to resist, remain and rebuild.
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike
Saturday, August 24th – KIDS NIGHT OUT in association w/ Harlem Week!
St. Nicholas Park, 135th Street and St. Nicholas Ave., NYC | RSVP
Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse
Dir. Peter Ramsey, Bob Persichetti, Rodney Rothman, 116 min. USA
In this 2019 academy Award winner, Teen Miles Morales becomes Spider-Man of his reality, crossing his path with five counterparts from another dimensions to stop a threat for all realities. Proceeded by a back to school backpack giveaway, STEM games and more!
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike
Friday, August 30th – When They See Us
Harlem State Office Building Plaza | RSVP
CO-PRESENTED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER BILL PERKINS
When They See Us
Dir. Ava DuVernay, Parts 1& 2, 135 min, USA
Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they're falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Based on the true story.
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike
In attendance: Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson and Yusef Salaam
Friday, September 6th – When They See Us
Harlem State Office Building Plaza | RSVP
CO-PRESENTED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER BILL PERKINS
When They See Us
Dir. Ava DuVernay, Parts 1& 2, 135 min, USA
Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they're falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Based on the true story.
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul and conscious Hip Hop by DJ Mike
In attendance: Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson and Yusef Salaam
Friday, September 20th – GRACE JONES: Bloodlight & Bami
St. Nicholas Park, 135th Street and St. Nicholas Ave., NYC | RSVP
Note: 6pm Music, 7pm Film
Celebrating the Superflyness of Black Women & Girls
Grace Jones: Bami & Bloodlight
Dir. Sophie Fiennes, 115min., USA
Larger than life, wild, scary and androgynous – Grace Jones plays all these parts. The stage is where her most extreme embodiments are realized. The film includes performances of iconic hits such as Slave To The Rhythm, Pull Up to the Bumper and more. Film is preceded by live tribute performances and a fashion show featuring Grace Jones inspired fashion from OKETSA by Thulare Monareng.
MUSIC: Family friendly R&B/Soul by she-jay DJ MK.