named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Children’s Cinema
Special film program for young audiences featuring classics and experimental works by filmmakers like Marie Menken and Charlie Chaplin.
Earth Day Celebration: LAST THINGS
Community event featuring a shoreline cleanup, cyanotype workshop, and free screening of Deborah Stratman's film about Earth from a geological perspective.
Ecstatic Plasmatic
Annual program of independent animations guest-curated by Jonah Primiano, showcasing experimental and visionary animated works.
Movie Match Cup
Season-ending event in the Movies & Matches series, combining film and soccer culture ahead of the World Cup final.
Rockaway Chamber Music
Live musical performances by chamber ensembles, often paired with film screenings or as standalone cultural events.
SHORTS Programs
Curated collections of short films organized thematically, such as coastal mythologies, digital identities, animal relationships, and personal memory.
Shoreline Cleanup
Environmental stewardship event at Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary combining cleanup with collaborative printmaking.
Stop Motion Animation Workshop
Free, all-ages workshop led by Buena Onda Collective in partnership with Materials for the Arts, teaching stop-motion animation techniques.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 4 activities
- Facilitates filmmaker engagement and guest presentationsHosts in-person appearances by filmmakers, directors, and guest curators for screenings and discussions, including Q&As and behind-the-scenes conversations with community members and artists such as Jem Cohen, Shaka King, Eliza Hittman, and Azazel Jacobs.
- Hosts themed screening series and special eventsPrograms thematic film series such as Movies & Matches, culminating in the Movie Match Cup sand soccer tournament, and co-presents special events like Benny Beya Bash. Events include team competitions, viewing parties (e.g., World Cup final), and ticketed registrations that support participation.
- Organizes and hosts an annual film festivalHosts a five-day annual film festival in August in Rockaway, New York, featuring curated film screenings, live performances, and community events. The festival includes free public screenings, filmmaker appearances, and post-screening discussions.
- Presents film screenings with live artistic accompanimentPrograms film screenings paired with live music, original scores, or live chamber music performances, including 16mm and archival films. Examples include live-scored screenings of Buster Keaton’s THE CAMERAMAN and silent classics with original musical accompaniment by Order of the Illusive.
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Experimental Circus and Immersive Theater Production 1 activity
- Hosts live performance and multidisciplinary art eventsPresents live circus performances, stilt dancers, brass bands, and paper maché sculptures as part of festival programming, including co-presentations with the Film-Makers' Cooperative and events like "The Upside Down World Circus" that blend protest and celebration.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Organizes community workshops and family-friendly programsHosts free, all-ages educational and creative events including stop-motion animation workshops, cyanotype workshops, and children's cinema programs featuring classic short films, often in partnership with organizations like Materials for the Arts.
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Site-Specific Artistic Installations and Performances 1 activity
- Produces public art installations and exhibitionsHosts looping film installations and public art displays in Arverne Alley and other outdoor spaces during the festival, featuring works by artists such as Jodie Mack, Lisa LaBracio, Gloria Chung, and Brice Goldberg.
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Beach and Waterway Cleanup Initiatives 1 activity
- Supports community engagement and sustainability initiativesOrganizes shoreline cleanup events combined with collaborative art-making, such as printmaking at Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary, and integrates environmental stewardship into festival programming through Earth Day events.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Provides logistical and hospitality support for visiting artistsArranges community-hosted accommodations for visiting international filmmakers and supports event operations through local vendors, such as food service by Brothers, a Rockaway-based vendor.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$535K
Contributions & grants$490K92%
Program service revenue$26K5%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$19K
expenses
Total expenses$276K
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead27%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$129K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$305K
Cash$260K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$305K
Liquid reserves11.3 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +278.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHY DEL BECCARO | MANAGING DIRECTOR | 40 | $31K |
board members · 5
- ANDREW VANWYNGARDEN — DIRECTOR
- COLIN GILLESPIE — SECRETARY
- DAN NUXOLL — DIRECTOR
- NADIA HALLGREN — DIRECTOR
- PRERANA REDDY — CHAIR
relationships · 45
Who they work with
- Alfreda's Cinema Partner — Co-presented the screening of Passing Through in celebration of Juneteenth.
- Alfreda's Cinema Partner — Co-presents THE DEVIL QUEEN in celebration of Juneteenth and Pride Month.
- Amateur Astronomers Association Partner — Provides stargazing during the screening of NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT.
- Brothers Partner — Local Rockaway food vendor that provided catering for a film screening event.
- Buena Onda Collective Partner — Leads a stop-motion animation workshop in partnership with the festival.
- City Council Government — Partners with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs to support the Rockaway Film Festival
- FRANC Funder — Provided support for the Rockaway Film Festival.
- FRANC Funder — Provides support to the Rockaway Film Festival
- Film-Makers' Cooperative Partner — Co-presents the Bread & Puppet: The Upside Down World Circus event.
- Filmmaker Magazine Partner — Co-presents film screenings with Rockaway Film Festival.
- Filmmaker Magazine Partner — Co-presents film screenings with the Rockaway Film Festival.
- Fund for the City of New York Funder — Provided support for the Rockaway Film Festival.
- Fund for the City of New York Funder — Provides support to the Rockaway Film Festival
- Hell Gate Partner — Co-presented the screening of Rhythm Thief.
- Hell Gate Partner — Co-presents screenings of Sidney Lumet's NETWORK at the festival.
- Hell Gate Partner — Co-presents the film NETWORK.
- Istic Illic Pictures Partner — Sponsor of the Rockaway Film Festival
- Istic Illic Pictures Partner — Sponsored the Rockaway Film Festival.
- Kassia Meador Partner — Co-hosts the Benny Beya Bash with the festival.
- Leah Dawson Partner — Co-hosts the Benny Beya Bash with the festival.
- Materials for the Arts Partner — Partners to deliver a free stop-motion animation workshop.
- NYC Ferry Partner — Sponsor of the Rockaway Film Festival
- NYC Ferry Partner — Sponsored the Rockaway Film Festival.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Awarded funding to support the Rockaway Film Festival
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Funded the festival through an award.
- Neighbors and volunteers in Arverne Partner — Collaborated on the construction of the outdoor cinema in Arverne
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provided public funds for the festival in partnership with the City Council.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funds for the Rockaway Film Festival in partnership with the City Council
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Funded the festival with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary public funder supporting the Rockaway Film Festival
+ 15 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Analog Preservation as Cultural Practicemethodology: analog_preservationBy using 16mm film and live musical accompaniment to present cinematic works in their original format, the festival preserves analog aesthetics and enhances viewer immersion because material authenticity fosters deeper appreciation of film history and craft.
- Community-Engaged Arts Programmingmethodology: community-engaged_arts_programmingBy hosting arts programming in a coastal, community-oriented setting, the festival fosters unique collective experiences between artists and audiences because shared physical and cultural space deepens engagement and emotional connection.
- Culturally Resonant Curationmethodology: cultural_thematic_programmingBy aligning programming with cultural observances and regional narratives through thematic pairings and co-presentations, the festival strengthens community relevance because timing and context make art more meaningful and accessible.
- Multidisciplinary Immersive Experiencemethodology: multidisciplinary_programmingBy integrating film with live music, environmental action, and art workshops, the festival creates immersive cultural experiences because combining artistic forms increases audience investment and broadens community participation.
- Radical Accessibility and Inclusionmethodology: radical_accessibilityBy offering free and affordable access to screenings and hosting events open to all skill levels, the festival increases public engagement with cinema because removing financial and experiential barriers enables broader, more diverse participation.