As Michael Cera said in that movie about Twitter, “We don’t even know what this is yet.”

April 10, 2011 3:30 PM

Have you ever gotten lost in the Myst-inspired architecture of Anthology Film Archives’ website, or struggled awkwardly with the Chinese puzzle box-construction of BAMcinematek’s calendars? Have you ever circled the block at Lincoln Plaza in search of the secret entrance to the fabled Walter Reade Theater? (Hint: look behind the waterfall.) Have you found yourself asking time and again, “What the fuck is Union Docs?”

The brainchild of critic Paul Brunick, Alt Screen is a new site billed as "a comprehensive digital resource covering film exhibitions and related special events in the New York City area." The contributing editors include blogger Jim Emerson, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky [previously] and Nathan Lee (apparently coming out of retirement).
posted by alexoscar (8 comments total)

HOLY SHIT THIS IS AWESOME
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:38 PM on April 10, 2011

BONER BONER BONER BONER BONER
posted by CharlesV42 at 3:55 PM on April 10, 2011

Win!
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 3:58 PM on April 10, 2011

I have wanted something like this for a long time!
posted by with hidden noise at 4:51 PM on April 10, 2011

Oh thank God. Everyone involved in this are heroes, as are you for bringing it to my attention.
posted by gregoryg at 6:14 PM on April 10, 2011

Can we get a Chicago version of this, ASAP? I've had to sign on to like four or five email newsletter lists so I can try to keep aware of when new foreign films I'm interested in are coming to town.
posted by dnash at 5:03 AM on April 11, 2011

Can we get a Chicago version of this, ASAP? I've had to sign on to like four or five email newsletter lists so I can try to keep aware of when new foreign films I'm interested in are coming to town.

Are you familiar with Cine-File.info, of which this seems to be the expanded version (right down to involvement of Vishnevetsky)?
posted by alexoscar at 8:23 AM on April 11, 2011

alexoscar - yes, I get their email newsletter.

I wish their could be more advance notice on art cinema and limited releases in general, though. I find it terribly frustrating when things are announced "open now in NY and LA, coming soon elsewhere" and I can't find when "soon" is for Chicago. Maybe it's my film-biz naivete, but it seems to me like it shouldn't be so hard for a film distributor or studio to post a list of when and where things will be opening. (I feel like IFC is the biggest offender on this front.)
posted by dnash at 4:42 PM on April 11, 2011