This flick will really draw you in!
A new animated short film will take viewers on a two-dimensional tour of the iconic landmarks of Kings County. “Brooklyn Breeze,” which makes its borough debut at the Coney Island Film Festival on Sept. 15, is an illustrated celebration of Brooklyn’s past, said its creator.
“I tried to use landmarks and things that disappeared during the 16 years that I lived in Brooklyn,” said Alex Budovsky. “I wanted to capture the Brooklyn that I saw when I got to New York in December 1994, and show things that are gone now.”
Budovsky, a Russian-born animator who now lives in Colombia, used his film to take a final tour of the borough — highlighting both world-famous landmarks and lesser-known spots close to his heart, including the Parachute Jump, the Kentile Floors sign in Gowanus, and Redbird subway cars.
“Overall, I showed most of Brooklyn waterfront from Coney Island to the Williamsburg bridge,” he said. “For me, this film is a way to say goodbye, and to let Brooklyn go.”
The former Brooklynite found inspiration for his animated short in the 1920s jazz tune “Breezin Along With the Breeze,” recorded by contemporary act Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra — which provides the short’s smooth soundtrack.
The three-minute short will screen during a block of other animated films on the third day of the Coney Island Film festival. The 19th annual arts event will kick off with an Opening Night Party on Sept. 13, featuring burlesque and sideshow performances, an open bar from Coney Island Brewery, and food from Gargiulo’s restaurant.
Over the next two days, 106 short films and features will screen at the fest. Highlights include the music video “The Day the L Train Died” — a parody of “American Pie” that deals with commuter woes (Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.), the festival’s annual screening of the iconic 1979 Coney Island film “The Warriors” (Sept. 14 at 10:30 p.m.), and the short documentary “How the Trumps Brought Death and Destruction to Coney Island” — about the Trump family’s real estate escapades in the People’s Playground (Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.).
“Brooklyn Breeze” in the Coney Island Film Festival at Coney Island USA [1208 Surf Ave. at W. 12th Street in Coney Island, (718) 372–5159, www.coney
