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The Story of The Fringe

The film tells a story of social change and artistic expression as it chronicles 20-years of an indie theatre festival in NYC, FringeNYC. As it struggles to find its own voice in the world, it gives voice to thousands of artists worldwide, and becomes part of a global fringe movement that has helped redefine society.

Sypnosis

The NY International Fringe Festival was founded in 1997 by four Lower East Side artists. The festival quickly took root in the LES each year in the dog days of August by presenting 200 shows in 20 venues over 16 days. With an average of 7 performances each, that’s over 1400 performances in 16 days.

Began by artists, driven by dedicated leadership and fueled by a die-hard corps of volunteers, the festival has overcome the obstacles of art in the big city, the frenzy of over a thousand artists participating each year, and natural disasters.

Director’s Statement

  • Why is this story valuable? +

    We’ve been following the festival for 11 years, and have shot hundreds of hours of footage including performances, behind-the-scenes action, and interviews. We have tens of thousands of photos as well as archived video from 1997 through 2001. We have media clips and newspaper clippings. The list of assets goes on and on.

  • The film’s subjects are the festival and New York City +

    Perhaps not surprisingly, the two have become inextricably entwined, growing and changing together. We have watched the festival battle with NYC politics, money and natural disasters. Most of all, we have watched the festival change as NYC and the world have changed over the last 20 years. This film will show how a simple idea, galvanized by the passion, dedication and sacrifice of individuals working as a team, will overcome all types of obstacles and become larger than one person or group of people.

  • Overall, I see the film as a balance +

    between documenting the history of the festival, the journey of the participants/staff for a personal story element, and putting it all into perspective using NYC theater and the changes that have come about because of the festival in the last twenty years.

  • The story behind this festival is unique and powerful +

    It speaks to an international audience on a human level. It is one that deserves the greatest benefits to get into the world.
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