About the Lower East Side Film Festival: 15 years of keeping it reel

Photos and interview by Stacie Joy 

Billed as "five days of cinema, culture and chaos in the Lower East Side," this year marks the 15th anniversary of the Lower East Side Film Festival. 

I met with the festival directors, East Village residents, partners in life and work, Tony Castle and Roxy Hunt, plus their baby, Leo, and one-eyed dog, Zucchini, in Tompkins Square Park to discuss the upcoming screenings and events.

How did the Lower East Side Film Fest come to be? 

Roxy, myself, and filmmakers Damon Cardasis and Shannon Walker started LESFF in 2011 with a cheap projector, a bottle of whiskey, and a wild idea to screen indie films in a pop-up space on Norfolk Street. It was scrappy, messy, and completely DIY — but the room was packed, and the energy was undeniable. 

We knew we had something. From day one, it was about creating a space for bold, offbeat, underrepresented voices in film. 

How has it changed and evolved over the past 15 years? 

It's grown up in its own weird way. We've gone from folding chairs and extension cords to sold-out screenings at Village East and DCTV's Firehouse Cinema, but the soul of it hasn't changed. We’re still fiercely independent, still prioritizing filmmaker-first experiences, and still committed to showing work that makes people feel something — whether that’s laughter, discomfort, inspiration, or all three at once.

Has living in the neighborhood informed and affected your film selections, festival locations — and choice of judges? 

Absolutely. The East Village and Lower East Side have always had this raw, creative energy — it's punk rock and poetic at the same time. That vibe bleeds into the festival. We don't want films that play it safe. We want the weird ones, the honest ones, the ones that would feel out of place at a more buttoned-up festival. 

As for our judges, we love choosing people who feel connected to NYC's creative scene — folks who understand the hustle and chaos that often come with making something original.

We've heard that an EV Grieve post may have influenced a recent design choice? 

Guilty. We stumbled upon an EVG post that featured Kash from Village East Cinema putting up the week’s film titles on the iconic marquee on the front facade of the building, right at the same time we were developing the new brand identity with Champions Design.

Together, we had crafted a custom typeface based on the letters used on the marquee. It hit us right then — we should call the font: KASH.

Any favorite moments and memories of years past? 

Too many to count — but one that stands out is when we screened "Catfish" in our first year, before anyone knew what it was. Nev Schulman came out and did a Q&A in this tiny, packed pop-up space, and there was this buzz in the room like, "Oh, this thing is about to blow up."

We're actually bringing it back this year for a 15th-anniversary screening — which feels like a full-circle moment. We've also had so many iconic performances mixed into the festival that take the films beyond the screen — ninja-turtle-stilt-walkers, a drag Santa, aerialists, burlesque dancers, 70-year-old contortionists, brass bands, fire-breathing rappers, synchronized swimmers, amateur wrestlers, comedians, ghosts…. I could go on. This year is no different, but you'll have to come to see what surprises we have in store. 

Also, every single time we host our open beer, wine (and sometimes free weed) reception in Village East Cinema, it feels like something no other festival would get away with. And that’s exactly why we do it. 

What can people look forward to this year? 

A really wild, beautiful mix. Our opening film, "The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick," is surreal and hilarious. We've got docs that dig deep ("Not One Drop of Blood"), dramas that wreck you ("Mad Bills to Pay," "Battersea"), and shorts that get pretty unhinged ("Mind F*ck Shorts" is a fan favorite).

We've got parties, filmmaker mixers, and a lineup of jurors that includes everyone from Julia Fox to Rachel Dratch to Sophie Thatcher. It’s going to be loud, strange, and full of heart. 

-----------

You can purchase tickets here and follow the festival on social media.

Village East by Angelika is on Second Avenue at 12th Street. DCTV's Firehouse Cinema is at 87 Lafayette St. between Beach Street and White Street.