If you’re not planning on shelling out $20 to watch a 3-D Leonardo DiCaprio and his accent dance to jazz Jay-Z this week, well, you’re not alone. But fear not: there are so many free outdoor movies happening this summer, you won’t miss Carey Mulligan’s dimples for a second. Rooftop Films announced its full summer series schedule today, and there are a few gratis independent films, forums and Q&As are coming to town soon (regular screenings are $13). Here’s what’s happening in Brooklyn, with notes on what’s free:
Friday, May 17
FREE SCREENING: Check out director Reuben Atlas’ doc Brothers Hypnotic, following the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, screens outside MetroTech Commons in Downtown Brooklyn. Atlas will be on hand for a Q&A, and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble will perform.
Saturday, May 18
Screening of New York Mayhem, a collection of short city-centric films, on the rooftops of Industry City, 220 36th Street at 3rd Avenue in Sunset Park.
Wednesday, June 12
FREE SCREENING: Interface Films, a tech-ey collection of short films documenting life in the computerized postmodern world, screens outdoors at MetroTech Commons.
Saturday, June 22
Frank V. Ross’ film Tiger Tail in Blue, about a young writer and his wife trying to stay afloat financially (and romantically) in NYC, screens on the roof of the Old American Can Factory, 232 Third Street in Gowanus/Park Slope.
Thursday, June 27
BAMcinemafest presents Drinking Buddies, a Joe Swanberg-directed film about two Chicagoans become romantically-involved while working together at a brewery. The film screens in the outdoor parking lot at BAMcinématek at Fulton Street and Ashland Place in Fort Greene.
Saturday, July 6
Mia Engberg’s film Belleville Baby, about a woman reminiscing about a quirky love affair in Paris, has its New York premiere on the roof of the Old American Can Factory at 232 Third Street in Gowanus/Park Slope.
Monday, July 8
FREE SCREENING: Bending Steel, a David Carroll-directed documentary exploring the lives of professional strongmen, screens on the Beach in Coney Island, W 12th and the beach, right near Luna Park.
Friday, July 12
A selection of short films from this year’s Sundance Film Festival screen on the rooftops of Industry City, 220 36th Street at 3rd Avenue in Sunset Park.
Thursday, July 18
Shaka King’s film Newlyweeds, a stoner romance about two pot-smoking Brooklynites, screens on the roof of the Trilok Fusion Center for the Arts, 143 Waverly Avenue at Myrtle Avenue, Clinton Hill.
Friday, July 19
i hate myself :), a film by Brooklyn director Joanna Arnow about her relationship with “poet-provocateur” James Kepple, screens on the roof of Industry City in Sunset Park.
Saturday, July 20
FREE SCREENING: Short Term 12, a film about a supervisor at a foster-care facility directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, screens on the roof of the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus/Park Slope.
Thursday, July 25
Director Shannon Plumb’s film Towheads, following a New York mother and artist trying to balance her personal life with her professional one, screens on the roof of the Trilok Fusion Center for the Arts in Clinton Hill.
Friday, July 26
The annual Animation Block Party goes down on the lawn of Greenpoint High School for Engineering and Automotive Technology, 50 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg.
Saturday, July 27
A selection of short films about technological innovation in the arts, including Eva Weber’s documentary, Black Out, screens on the roof of the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus/Park Slope.
Thursday, August 1
Daniel Dencik’s modern adventure/explorer film, The Expedition to the End of the World, screens at the Waterfront Museum aboard the 914 Lehigh Valley Barge #79, in the water at 290 Conover Street in Red Hook.
Friday, August 2
FREE SCREENING: Meredith Danluck presents North of South, West of East, an installation that uses four massive screens to tell separate storylines attempting to depict the American identity. The installation screens outdoors at MetroTech Commons in Downtown Brooklyn.
Saturday, August 3
Cutie and the Boxer, a film about the 40-year marriage between New York painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife Noriko, screens on the roof of the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus/Park Slope.
Thursday, August 8
Lotfy Nathan’s film 12 O’Clock Boys, about a gang of young dirt bikers in West Baltimore, screens on the lawn of Automative High School in Williamsburg.
Friday, August 9
The Todd Sklar-directed film Awful Nice, about two brothers who travel to their family lake home after their father days, screens on the rooftops of Industry City in Sunset Park.
Saturday, August 10
Director Petra Costa’s family drama, Elena, screens on the roof of the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus/Park Slope.
Friday, August 13
Documentary F— For Forest, about an environmental organization that makes cash by selling erotic films online, screens on the roof of the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus/Park Slope.
Saturday, August 17
The 2013 summer series concludes with a selection of sharp short film, screened on the roof of the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus/Park Slope.