Exclusive: Newly Released Trailer Commemorates 15 Years of the Lower East Side Film Festival, Starting Thursday.
Honoring the spirit of independent filmmaking in NYC, the Lower East Side Film Festival makes its return this Thursday for its 15th edition, running until May 5. This year’s lineup includes the Opening Night selection, the New York Premiere of Pete Ohs’ SXSW entry The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick, as well as Joel Vargas' Sundance and New Directors/New Films featured work, Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), and Amy Landecker’s For Worse, which stars Bradley Whitford, Nico Hiraga, Missi Pyle, Gaby Hoffmann, and Ken Marino. In celebration of this milestone, we are excited to exclusively unveil a new trailer that commemorates 15 years of the festival.
John Fink, in his SXSW review of The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick, remarked, “Understanding the creative process might enhance the viewing experience. Tick was collaboratively created by its main cast: Ohs conveyed during the SXSW premiere that they embarked on a retreat at a country home where they would write three scenes at a time, film them, analyze the results, and then continue. The outcome resembles a mumblecore version of an Ingmar Bergman film, balancing a feeling of both looseness and strict control. However, if the film's rhythm does not resonate with you, it could come across as a disjointed mess. Much like the wellness remedies proposed by AJ (James Cusati-Moyer), the group's resident chef, they necessitate belief and engagement. Framed by Baz Luhrmann’s adage that ‘a life lived in fear is a life half-lived,’ it was purely the film’s title that was compelling enough to draw frequent collaborators of Ohs on board.”
Check out the exclusive trailer for the 15th anniversary celebration and the lineup for this year's festival below, and purchase tickets here.
**Special Screenings**
**THE TRUE BEAUTY OF BEING BITTEN BY A TICK** (Opening Night Film & Party | New York Premiere)
Directed by Peter Ohs. Starring Zoë Chao, Jeremy O. Harris, Callie Hernandez, and James Cusati-Moyer.
Thursday, May 1 at 8:30 PM | Village East Cinema
*Ticket includes access to the opening night party featuring an open bar, DJ, and special guests.
**THE BIG JOHNSON** (Closing Night Film & Party | New York Premiere)
Directed by Lola Rocknrolla. Featuring NYC legend Dean Johnson
Monday, May 5 at 7:30 PM | Village East Cinema
*Ticket includes access to the closing night party at The Slipper Room with an open bar, DJ, and announcement of 2025 Award Winners.
**FOR WORSE** (Marquee Spotlight | New York Premiere)
Directed by Amy Landecker. Starring Liv Hewson, Amy Landecker, Bradley Whitford, Nico Hiraga, Missi Pyle, Gaby Hoffmann, and Ken Marino.
Saturday, May 3 at 7:30 PM | Village East Cinema
**NOT ONE DROP OF BLOOD** (Stay Indie Project Spotlight)
Directed by Jackson Devereux, Lachlan Hinton
Sunday, May 4 at 6:30 PM | DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema
**TRUE CRIME, TRUE BEGINNINGS: The Catfish 15-Year Retrospective with Nev Shulman** (15th Anniversary Screening)
Directed by Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost. Featuring Nev Schulman
*Includes a conversation with Nev Schulman
Sunday, May 4 at 8:30 PM | DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema
**Feature Films**
**BATTERSEA**
Directed by T.J. Sandella and Jad Adkins. Starring Nancy Kimball and Jesse Howland
Friday, May 2 at 7:30 PM | Village East Cinema
**MAD BILLS TO PAY (OR DESTINY, DILE QUE NO SOY MALO)**
Directed by Joel Vargas. Starring Juan Collado, Destiny Checo, Yohanna Florentino, and Nathaly Navarro
Saturday, May 3 at 3:00 PM | Village East Cinema
**MICRO BUDGET** (New York Premiere)
Directed by Morgan Evans. Starring Patrick Noth, Emilea Wilson, Jon Gabrus, Nichole Sakura, Brandon Micheal Hall, Jordan Rock, and Bobby Moynihan
Saturday, May 3 at 5:00 PM | Village East Cinema
**ALI EATS AMERICA** (New York Premiere)
Directed by Roush Niaghi, Greg Morris. Featuring Ali Allouche, Jen Danko, José Andrés Puerta, and Anthony Bourdain
Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 PM | DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema
**Short Film Programs**
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Exclusive: Newly Released Trailer Commemorates 15 Years of the Lower East Side Film Festival, Starting Thursday.
Honoring the independent filmmaking essence of NYC, the Lower East Side Film Festival kicks off this Thursday with its 15th edition, continuing through May 5. Highlighting the Opening Night feature, the New York Premiere of Pete Ohs' SXSW selection, The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick, the schedule also showcases Joel Vargas' film from Sundance and New...