How to Participate

Cinema Cocktail 2020 Virtual Film Festival – How to Participate

The Cinema Cocktail Virtual Film Festival is designed to utilize the streaming services we all use everyday and introduce us to a few services that we may have overlooked before now – many of which have generous free trials. I’ve tried to structure the festive in such a way that it’s entirely possible to view the majority of the films without having to spend any money at all. However, with many incredible releases being moved to Video-On-Demand platforms early due to the current health crisis, I couldn’t help but program a selection of current titles that I’ve been eager to see as well.

I’ve also found several Filmmaker Conversations and embedded the links or videos for those on films throughout the festival. These are typically conversations with directors and casts from previous festivals to help give this as authentic a festival experience as possible. Those will typically be on YouTube, but they will occasionally be found on another streaming service. If so, the link will be included on the film page.

If you’d like to know more about the streaming services we’ll be using throughout the festival (along with some deals of free trials), read on. Otherwise – happy viewing!

Video-On-Demand Titles

Since there are some many services providing the same Video-On-Demand titles, rather than direct you to a single provider, all of our Video-On-Demand films will direct you to the film’s JustWatch page, which will allow you to choose the provider of your choice – iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, etc. Most of the Video-On-Demand titles we have chose are rental titles and will be between $4 and $6 a rental. However, there are a few theatrical-at-home titles that run between $12 and $20 a titles. And our Opening Night Film, Emma., was originally supposed to be a theatrical-at-home titles, but is now only available to purchase for $14.99. It’s less expensive than the theatrical-at-home price and still feels like the perfect film to open the festival, so we decided to keep things as they were.

Amazon Prime

If you use Amazon Prime for shopping, you can also use it for viewing a fairly decent selection of films. They do have quite a few films that we will be viewing on this service.

The Criterion Channel

The Criterion Channel is one of the crown jewels of the streaming world. The streaming home of the Criterion Collection, each month they present curated bundles featuring classic from the golden age of Hollywood, filmmaker retrospectives, the masterpieces of world cinema, and highlights from the new masters of the art form. You can sign up below for a free 14 day trial.

Hoopla

Hoopla is a free digital streaming service that you can get access to through your library system. While many of the titles available are not very interesting, there is the occasional gem or obscure and surprising title for which they have the exclusive streaming rights.

Hulu

While it’s primarily known as a platform for television, Hulu has a great collection of international and independent cinema, thanks to exclusive deals with a handful of great distribution companies. Our Closing Night Film, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is currently streaming exclusively on Hulu. Get your free one month trial by following the link below.

Kanopy

Kanopy is the other free streaming service from libraries. It has a much more interesting and extensive selection than Hoopla, but it’s also in fewer libraries across the country. Still, you can’t beat the incredible titles here. There are limits to the number of films you can watch, so I kept the number of films from Kanopy down to five.

MUBI

MUBI has a rather unique model – every day they premiere a new film on their service, and every day another film leaves the service. Their lineup is pretty stellar and this month in particular sees films that would have premiered at the First Look Film Festival. You can sign up for a 90 day free trial and also support the Seattle International Film Festival by following the link below!

Netflix

Netflix is the original streaming giant and, while most of us have Netflix, most of us don’t really explore some of its hidden corners. So hopefully the films you’ll see during our festival will help you catch a few films you wouldn’t think to catch otherwise. If you don’t already have Netflix, you can signup for a free month by following the link below.

OVID

OVID is another really incredible little indie streaming service. They specialize in foreign, art-house, and documentary cinema and they have some of the most incredible films out there. You can sign up for a free 14 day tries by following the link below.

Shudder

Shudder is the premiere platform for streaming horror films and is how we’ll be watching most of our Midnight Movies during the festival. They have a number of classic horror titles, as well as a number of exclusive modern titles from around the world. If you sign up on their website below and use the promo code SHUTIN, you can get a month free.

Closing Night Gala | May 31, 9:00 pm PST

Join us on Closing Night to celebrate the start of the Cinema Cocktail 2020 Virtual Film Festival!

Because we’re united through cinema from all across the country – and possibly from various corners of the world – we’ll be experimenting with ways to hold virtual galas and celebrations throughout the festival. We’ll close out the festival on May 31 at 9:00pm (PST). Some of you may have had a chance to see our Closing Night Film, some of you might be getting ready to watch it. Either way, join us for a brief time of snacks and cocktails as we start to form community around this celebration of film. Email josh@cinemacocktail.com for the Zoom invitation to join the party!

Cocktail of Choice: Fireball Sangria

This cocktail crackles with a rich blend of European wine and secret fire, sweetened with just a touch of summer fruit. One taste, and the passion will sweep you away.

Ingredients:

- - 1 bottle sangria (or any dry red wine you have on hand)
  - 1 cup Fireball Whisky
  - 1 cup orange peach mango juice
  - 3 whole fruits (orange, lemon, green apple, pineapple, peach, or mango will all do nicely)

Dice the fruit and freeze overnight. Combine the wine, whisky, and juice in a pitcher. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Pour and add the frozen fruit to keep your fiery sangria on ice.

Gala Gourmet

The Simply Dried Fruit Gift Tray offers sumptuous dried pears, apples, plums, kiwis, apricots, and more for your evening with Sciamma’s masterpiece of romantic cinema. The perfect complement to your glass of sangria. ($30)

For something more satisfying, try this sampler of tender vegetables marinated in herbs and olive oil. Feast on olives, asparagus, French beans, and artichoke marinated in thyme, rosemary, oregano, and basil while basking in the grandeur of Sciamma’s ode to love. A variety of sizes and prices are available. ($30)

Centerpiece Gala | May 23, 8:30 pm PST

Join us on May 23 to celebrate the mid-way point of the Cinema Cocktail 2020 Virtual Film Festival!

Because we’re united through cinema from all across the country – and possibly from various corners of the world – we’ll be experimenting with ways to hold virtual galas and celebrations throughout the festival. We’ll hold our second gala as a celebration midway through the festival on May 23 at 8:30pm (PST). Some of you may have had a chance to see our Centerpiece Film, some of you might be getting ready to watch it. Either way, join us for a brief time of snacks and cocktails as we continue to form community around this celebration of film. Email josh@cinemacocktail.com for the Zoom invitation to join the party!

Cocktail of Choice: The Supa Modo Sling

Legend has it that Ngiam Tong Boon invented the Singapore Sling in 1915 so that Singapore’s elite women could sip booze in public, while passing it off as fruit punch. So mix one up and raise it to Jo, the superhero of Supa Modo. She seems like your average girl but packs more adventure than anyone bargained for.

Ingredients:

- - 1 oz. gin
  - 1 oz. benedictine
  - 1 oz. cherry heering
  - 4 oz. soda water
  - 1 oz. lime juice
  - 2 dashes bitters

Add all ingredients in a hurricane glass, finishing with the soda. Stir, then garnish with a cherry and lime slice.

Mocktail for 20 and Under: The Superhero

Adapted from the Savvy Mama, this drink offers loads of sugar with a twist of mint in a neon-blue package. Just like Jo, it seems simple but dresses up to become something special: the superhero of mocktails.

Ingredients:

- - 4 drops of Kool Aid Blue Raspberry Liquid
  - 3 oz. Coconut Water
  - 4 oz. Sprite
  - 1 drop of Mint extract or syrup
  - Ice

Blend Sprite and coconut water, then add mint syrup and Kool Aid. Finally, fill a glass with ice and pour in your mocktail. Garnish with fresh mint.

Gala Gourmet

Order one of these packs from Amazon and treat yourself to one of the best parts of any film fest gala: the food.

The Broadway Basketeers Snackers Heaven Gift Tower offers dessert for the whole family—or your inner child. With chocolate-covered pretzels, almond roca, caramel popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, and more, it’s got your sweet tooth covered. ($20)

If you’re craving something a bit more savory, try the Crunch ‘n Munch Snack & Nut Variety Tray Gift Box. While it still has caramel popcorn and a sweet pretzel and peanut mix, you’ll also have Asiago cheese crisps, honey mustard pretzels, and a spicy jungle mix. ($25)

Opening Night Gala | May 15, 8:30 pm PST

Join us on Opening Night to celebrate the start of the Cinema Cocktail 2020 Virtual Film Festival!

Because we’re united through cinema from all across the country – and possibly from various corners of the world – we’ll be experimenting with ways to hold virtual galas and celebrations throughout the festival. We’ll hold our first gala as a kick-off to the festival on May 15 at 8:30pm (PST). Some of you may have had a chance to see our Opening Night Film, some of you might be getting ready to watch it. Either way, join us for a brief time of snacks and cocktails as we start to form community around this celebration of film. Email josh@cinemacocktail.com for the Zoom invitation to join the party!

Cocktails of Choice: The Highbury Bramble and the Woodhouse Manhattan

The Highbury Bramble captures the quaint charm of the village where Emma stirs up so much trouble. Stir up some of your own with gin and blackberry liqueur.

Ingredients:

- - 2 oz. gin
  - 1 oz. lemon juice
  - 1/2 oz. simple syrup
  - 1/2 oz. blackberry liqueur

Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass with ice, and pour the blackberry liqueur over the top. Garnish with the lemon slice and blackberry.

The Woodhouse Manhattan is mixed with blackberry liqueur rather than vermouth to capture the picturesque countryside of Emma’s estate, where there was “very little to distress or vex her.”

Ingredients:

- - 2-1/2 oz. whiskey
  - 1/2 oz. blackberry liqueur
  - 2 dashes bitters

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a blackberry or a cherry – or both!

Gala Gourmet

It’s not your birthday, but who cares? Gift yourself this pack of 15 chocolate-covered cookies in the spirit of our fearless, if clueless, heroine. After all, she said it herself: “I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with any other.” And if 15 cookies won’t be enough, it also comes with 20. ($25)

Wanting something dairy and nut-free? Look no further than these fruit tarts, shortbread cookies with raspberry, apricot, or prune filling. Put on a pot of tea for the complete Highbury experience. ($20)