Rooftop Films, which has been championing interesting outdoor cinema since 1996, just announced the lineup for its 20th season, which will start in just a few weeks. This year, the series will screen over 50 movies, and, as part of its 20th anniversary celebration, will include retrospectives such as "Best of New York Non-Fiction" and "Best Of New York Shorts." Films will screen at over 13 venues across the city, and there will also be film installations at the Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, NY.

The series kicks off on Wednesday, May 18th at Industry City in Sunset Park with a sneak peek screening of Weiner, which opens on May 20th. The documentary, which released a promising trailer earlier this week, will take viewers inside Anthony Weiner's scandal-rife 2013 mayoral campaign. Doors open at 8 p.m., and early birds will be treated to live music before the film screens at 9 p.m. A Q&A with the filmmakers will follow the screening.

Then, on Friday, May 20th at the Bushwick Generator, Rooftop Films will celebrate its 20th anniversary by screening 10 short films in an evening titled "This Is What We Mean by Short Films." That includes four films by Steve Collins—The Position, Avant Garde, Thunder P., and Dr. Meertz—as well as Stations by Robby Hyduk; METUBE 2 - August Sings Carmina Burana by Daniel Moshel; Temporary Color by John Wilson; Mining Poems or Odes by Callum Rice; AN ECSTATIC EXPERIENCE by Ja'Tovia Gary; and Bad at Dancing by Joanna Arnow. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for a reception with live music, and the films will screen at 9 p.m., followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Tickets for those opening screenings are currently available for pre-sale only to Rooftop Films members, but will be available to the public online on Thursday, May 5th. Here's the rest of the lineup, with dates and more films to be announced soon:

The Bandit
 (Jesse Moss)

Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham recount the strange, wild making of Smokey and the Bandit.


Cameraperson 
(Kirsten Johnson)

Cinematographer Kirsten Johnson’s deeply poetic memoir, culled from footage shot for other films.


Danny Brown Concert Documentary (Title TBA)
 (Andrew Cohn) 

An intimate, behind-the-scenes adventure with Detroit rapper Danny Brown during a hometown show.

Don Juan
 (Jerzy Sladkowski)

A 4-sided love triangle, complete with autism & neuroses in the Russian city Nizhny Novgorod.

Goodnight Brooklyn - The Story of Death by Audio 
(Matthew Conboy)

The origins, influence and ultimate closure of one of Brooklyn's best DIY music venues.



In Pursuit of Silence 
(Patrick Shen)
A contemplative meditation that explores our relationship with silence, sound, and the impact of noise on our lives. The film will be presented as a special silent screening, with the audience listening to the film on headphones.

Life, Animated 
(Roger Ross Williams)

A young man with autism discovers a way to make sense of world via classic Disney animated films.



Los Punks: We Are All We Have 
(Angela Boatwright)

All thrash, noise, and pits; meet the fans and bands of the thriving backyard punk scene in LA.


The Music of Strangers: Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble 
(Morgan Neville)

The extraordinary story of the renowned international musical collective which was created by famed cellist, Yo-Yo Ma.


Tickled
 (David Farrier & Dylan Reeve)

The shadowy world of competitive tickling is exposed in this stranger than fiction tale.


Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru
 (Joe Berlinger)

Go behind the scenes of renowned life and business strategist Tony Robbins in a revelatory cinema verite by renowned director Joe Berlinger.


Donald Cried 
(Kris Avedisian)

Stranded in his hometown, a favor from Peter’s old friend becomes a long van ride into the past.



The Fits 
(Anna Rose Holmer)

A tomboy's desire for a dance team's acceptance warps when its members fall prey to mysterious spasms. 


Hunt For the Wilder People (Taika Waititi)
Raised on hip-hop and foster care, a defiant city kid starts fresh in the New Zealand countryside.

Hunter Gatherer (Josh Locy)
A darkly comic tale of unlikely friendship with an indelible central performance by Andre Royo.

In the Treetops (Matthew Brown)
Driving all night, packed in a car, 5 high school friends avoid their final destination: home.

Jacqueline, Argentine (Bernardo Britto)
A playfully mysterious whistle-blower comedy from Film Fund Grantee Bernardo Britto.

White Girl (Elizabeth Wood)
A NYC college girl goes to wild extremes to get back her drug dealer boyfriend.