4 Must-See Films at BAMcinemaFest 2015 (June 17-28)
BAMcinemaFest 2015 kicks off tomorrow night in Brooklyn. Launched in 2009, the showcase includes some of the finest and most talked-about independent films on the festival circuit from all over the world.
This year's BAMcinemaFest includes the The End of the Tour starring Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segel, Nasty Baby starring Kristen Wiig and Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio, special retrospective screenings of Larry Clark's Kids and Richard Linklater's Slacker, as well as a sneak preview of Noah Baumbach's Mistress America starring Greta Gerwig.
We were able to catch a few of the films screening at BAMcinemaFest 2015 early. Here are our picks for the four must-see films that are screening over the next week and a half.
For tickets and more information about BAMcinemaFest 2015, visit here.
When Words Fail: Surreal Photographic Series by Ben Zank
Photos by Ben Zank
Great art will inspire thought without a word needed to be said, and New York Photographer Ben Zank created a photo series based on this very notion, titled "When Words Fail". Through self-portraiture, he creates a set of surreal images that stretch the imagination, and expresses the vacancy one experiences when words fail. Each image is unique, creative, and very much thought provoking.
The young, self-taught photographer began taking photos just for fun, and in a recent interview, he shared that his passion in photography began only a year ago while going to school for journalism. In just a year full of work, his photography grabbed enough attention to land him a solo exhibition, on display now in Brooklyn.
Allow your mind to interpret the following images, and check out more of his work here.
[Via Demilked]
Lorde: "No Better"
I guess it's Friday the 13th, but if you're a fan of female singers, it must feel like December 25. On the heels of Beyonce unexpectedly dropping a full-length project late last night via iTunes, New Zealand wunderkind Lorde followed suit, releasing her latest single, "No Better" which continues on the hauntingly down-to-earth and introspective narrative that Lorde hooked listeners with on Pure Heroine. Since sliding out of the U.S. after a national tour that featured a special performance at the Barclay's Center in New York and appearances on what seemed like every late night talk show, Lorde has reportedly been hard at work preparing new music as she quietly enjoys the year-end spoils of her break-out 2013. Check out "No Better" below and pick it up via iTunes.
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[Video] Lorde: "Team"
As far as musicians go today, there are few who are able to make fans of everyone. Miley may be idolized by young teen girls, but can't be endured by most of the rest of society, Justin Bieber may have half the world's population following him on Twitter, but still can't seem to click with certain age groups. Enter: Lorde, the 17-year-old Auckland, New Zealand native who's debut single, "Royals" was an instant worldwide smash hit that catapulted her from her tiny island nation to playing the biggest stages in the world. Too young to buy a cigarette or lottery ticket in the U.S., she is quickly cementing herself as an all-around talent that can't be ignored. Everything from her lyrical content, to her sinewy look and brash singing allow for one of the widest audiences in music today.
Today, Lorde dropped her latest single off her critically-acclaimed debut, Pure Heroine, titled "Team". A testament to the power she is quickly gaining, the premier of the video knocked down Internet giants Youtube and Vevo for a period of time. The video was shot in Red Hook, Brooklyn and features Lorde in a sort of underground post-world environment, split with footage of her recent performance at the Aria Awards in Australia, all shot by director Young Recipient. The video came complete with a message from Lorde on the meaning of the track, read and watch below.
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[Video] Ka: "You Know It’s About"
I've been hearing about Brooklyn native Ka for a minute now. The buzz around him hasn't been focused solely on his rappinf abilities, proving himself as a true 21st Century artist with some foresight, Ka has made people recognize him for both his skills on the mic and behind the camera, as he directs his own videos. The latest is for his single "You Know It's About" off his The Night’s Gambit project available on iTunes. Check out the video below as Ka takes viewers on a B&W journey through Brooklyn.
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[Album] Grizzly Bear: "Shields: Expanded and Shields: B-Sides"
Brooklyn, NY indie-gods Grizzly Bear had plenty off goodies for their fans as they announced the November 12 release of Shields: Expanded and Shields: B-Sides, further versions of their stellar 2012 album, Shields. The Expanded version is Shields, plus eight B-sides, remixes, and demos. B-Sides is just the eight tracks. B-Sides will be available on 12" vinyl and digitally while Expanded is available as a two CD set. Check out the track-listing below, along with a new song, "Will Call (Marfa Demo)" recorded before they started in on the album officially.
http://youtu.be/B-ifqEZVQxQ
[Album] Party Supplies: "Tough Love"
Brooklyn-based production duo Party Supplies (Sean Mann & Justin Nealis) have been making a name for themselves for well over a year now since first gaining recognition for collaborations with hip-hop up and comers Danny Brown and Action Bronson. The pair released their debut album Tough Love today via Fool's Gold, following the release of their single "Beautiful Girls". The sound that is described as "half-Chromeo, half-Easy Rider" has been met with rave reviews so far, stream the whole thing below and find out for yourself.