Dates and lineup of the Downtown Festival NYC

Every year, Hollywood superstars recharge and storm the film festival’s seasonal schedule, whether they’re walking the red carpet in fur-trimmed puffer jackets at Park City or couture at Cannes. But now there’s a newcomer to the circuit that’s bringing all your favorite New Yorkers—including Chloë Sevigny, Julian Casablancas and Lucien Smith—right together in their own backyard.

From October 4-20, the Downtown Festival will feature film screenings, live music from artists like Malice K, panel discussions, and special events throughout Lower Manhattan in a crazy and stylish celebration of the city’s coolest independent artists. The event kicks off at the Roxy Cinema with the world premiere of Jeffrey Scotti Schroeder’s Or so with Kareem Rahma from Subway Takes, followed by a Q&A moderated by Jeremy O. Harris. Day two continues with Light falls by Phedon Papamichael and a panel discussion moderated by Jack Doyle Smith and Tommy Davidson of Beach Fossils. Later, Sevigny will moderate a post-screening discussion of Alexi Wasser’s feature film directorial debut. Messy (There is also an after-party with The Ion Pack DJing). The last day of screenings includes The code by Eugene Kotlyarenko and ZOPA by Victoria Imperioli.

Together, the festival aims to support independent filmmakers and their unusual projects in a system that “doesn’t work,” founder Rebekah Sherman-Myntti tells NYLON. “Corporations have become de facto patrons of the arts,” Rahma adds. “But the Downtown Festival is a return to form – a celebration of art and culture in the heart of downtown New York.”