Reel New York, Thirteen/WNET's local independent film and video series, explores the many facets of New York—its past and present, people and places. Started in 1996, the series provides a wide array of perspectives and subjects that cross cultural and social boundaries. One of the few avenues on television for independently made work, Reel New York is one of the longest-running local independent television programs, airing each summer in June, July, and August. For those who missed its eleventh season this past summer, this exhibition is a chance to catch up. This selection of thirteen shorts from the series showcases a range of narrative, documentary, animated, and experimental works, revealing New York's dynamic multicultural atmosphere through immigrant stories (The Elevator Operator), intimate biographical portraits (Under the Roller Coaster), experimental artistic visions (Scent of a Robot), and much more.

Organized by Sally Berger, Assistant Curator, Department of Film; in collaboration with Garrison Botts, Series Producer, and Duana Butler, Series Curatorial Consultant, Reel New York; and WNET/Thirteen.

Under the Roller Coaster. 2005. USA. Lila Place. Coney Island's Thunderbolt roller coaster holds the memories of a woman who lived in a grand house underneath it. 16 min.
Ghosts of Grey Gardens. 2004. USA. Liliana Greenfield-Sanders. About the cross-generational fascination with Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie, subjects of the landmark documentary Grey Gardens. 32 min.
Urban Rhapsody. 2005. USA. Basia Winograd. A documentary music video on the diversity of Brooklyn neighborhoods, told through the poetry of the spoken-word group Second 2 Last. 7 min.
Grand Luncheonette. 2005. USA. Peter Sillen. Experience the final days of a Forty-second Street lunch counter. 4 min. Program 59 min.
Wednesday, October 18, 7:00 (presented by Garrison Botts and the filmmakers); Thursday, October 26, 6:00. T2

Scent of a Robot. 2005. USA. UVPhactory. A lively animated robot contemplates existence after making a new discovery. 4 min.
Getting Through to the President. 2004. USA. Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler. New Yorkers attempt to get their voices heard on the Presidential call-in line. 8 min.
To Be Seen: Street Art. 2005. USA. Alice Arnold. About the aesthetics and cultural and political expressions of NYC street art. 27 min.
The Stork. 2002. USA. Nina Paley. A clever animation about overpopulation. 4 min.
Nam June Paik: Edited for Television. 1975. USA. Directed by Nam June Paik. Produced by the TV Lab at Thirteen/WNET (VTR Series). A portrait of Paik and his philosophy that includes an interview by art critic Calvin Tompkins and commentary by host Russell Connor. 29 min. Program 70 min.
Thursday, October 19, 6:00 (presented by the filmmakers); Sunday, October 22, 2:00. T2

Gaza Book of Longing. 2003. USA. Jessica Allee, Wago Kreider, Shane Flores. A solitary olive tree in a botanical garden reconnects a homesick woman with her memories. 2 min.
Sangam. 2004. USA. Prashant Bhargava. With Hesh Sarmalkar, Sanjay Chandani. A homeless immigrant from India and a disillusioned Indian American cross paths on a New York subway train. 23 min.
Legally Blind. 2005. USA. Ingrid Rojas. A blind Colombian couple struggles to make a comeback after losing their snack concession stand in the wake of 9/11. 30 min.
The Elevator Operator. 2005. USA. Jonathan Skurnik. As Eugene Sheiman operates a manual elevator in a NYC office building, his past accomplishments and future dreams are revealed. 8 min. Program 63 min.
Saturday, October 21, 8:00 (presented by the filmmakers); Monday, October 23, 8:00. T2