Mobile version of popular movie fan stockroom attracts hundreds of visitors at New York Film Festival.
The New York Film Festival this year featured a unique attraction that stole the spotlight – a van. The mobile version of the Criterion Closet, a small space filled with DVDs and Blu-rays from the prestigious Criterion Collection, was parked next to Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Festival attendees lined up around the block for a chance to experience their own version of the Closet Picks videos, where celebrities like Bill Hader, Ayo Edebiri, and Willem Dafoe select their favorite films from the collection.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Criterion transformed the Closet experience into a mobile setup inside a van and made it accessible to the public during the first two weekends of the festival. The next stop for the van will be at Brooklyn Bridge Park on October 26 and 27 in partnership with St. Ann’s Warehouse. Visitors can film their own Closet Picks videos and choose films from the shelves to discuss on camera. While they have to pay for their selections, they receive a 40 percent discount on their purchases.
Rainna Stapelfeldt, a 26-year-old resident of Bed-Stuy, excitedly shared her experience of waiting in line for 10 hours to select films like “Sid and Nancy,” “Midnight Cowboy,” and “Memories of Murder” from the van. The unique opportunity to engage with the Criterion Collection in this mobile format was a hit among festival attendees.
The Criterion Closet van experience offers film enthusiasts a chance to explore and discuss their favorite films from the collection while enjoying a discount on their purchases. The innovative concept has garnered attention and enthusiasm from attendees at the New York Film Festival.
Source: The NY Times
