Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Tomorrow marks the start of the the ninth annual Central Park Conservancy Film Festival. The films featured in this year’s festival celebrate great musicians and the best in popular music, with each night showcasing a different musical icon.

You can view the official event page here. All screenings begin at 8:00 pm, rain or shine. Gates open to the public at 6:30 pm, and guest DJs will start playing then. The screenings are just north of Sheep Meadow and south of Terrace Drive — click here for a map. The most direct entrance from Central Park West is at 69th.

All movies will be closed captioned. Feel free to bring a picnic, but note that alcoholic beverages and glass bottles are not allowed. Also not allowed are video cameras, tape recorders and  flash photography. All bags are subject to search.

• Tuesday, August 23: El Cantante (2006) – The life story of Hector Lavoe, who started the salsa movement in 1975 and brought it to the United States. Starring Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. 106 min.
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• Wednesday, August 24: Bird (1988) – The troubled life and career of legendary jazz musician, Charlie “Bird” Parker. Starring Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora, and Michael Zelniker. 161 min.
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• Thursday, August 25: Dreamgirls (2006) – Based on the Broadway musical, a trio of black female soul singers crosses over to the pop charts in the early 1960′s. Starring Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. 130 min.
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• Friday, August 26: Shine a Light (2008) – A career-spanning documentary on the legendary rock group, the Rolling Stones. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film includes concert footage from the band’s “A Bigger Bang” tour. 122 min.
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• Saturday, August 27: A Star is Born (1976) – A has-been rock star falls in love with a young, up-and-coming songstress. Starring Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson and Gary Busey. 139 min.

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Tags: 9th Annual Central Park Conservancy Film Festival, A Star Is Born, Barbra Streisand, Beyonce Knowles, Bird, Central Park, Central Park Conservancy, Central Park Conservancy Film Festival, Charlie Bird Parker, Charlie Parker, Diane Venora, Dreamgirls, Eddie Murphy, El Cantante, Forest Whitaker, free film, free movie, Gary Busey, Hector Lavoe, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Kris Kristofferson, Marc Anthony, Martin Scorsese, Michael Zelniker, New York City, NYC, Rolling Stones, Shine A Light, Upper West Side, UWS