Gold Standard Arts Festival

A festival that celebrates emerging & established film, theater & comedy artists 50+

Gold Standard Arts Festival April 25-May 1 #GoldStandardFestival goldstandardartsfestival.org Proceeds benefit programs for older artists

Thank you for joining us for the Gold Standard Arts Festival!


Goddard Riverside’s Community Arts program presents the Gold Standard Arts Festival from April 24, 2022 – May 1, 2022, in partnership with festival co-directors Caytha Jentis and Eileen Katz. While the artists recognized in the festival must be a minimum of fifty years old, their art can address any topic or age group.

“Art is Ageless”

Opening with a jazz brunch at Stand-Up NY, the Gold Standard Arts Festival features a cabaret headlined by Steve Ross and a stand-up comedy evening including Judy Gold and Greer Barnes. The festival will also offer a matinee and evening of short plays that includes Broadway playwrights Marc Acito, Sheldon Harnick, Tina Howe, and Academy Award-nominated Alex Dinelaris.

An amazing weekend of films will feature many new indie works plus special event screenings—from Academy Award-nominated short Joe’s Violin, directed by Kahane Cooperman, to The Last Laugh directed by Ferne Pearlstein and Hysterical directed by Andrea Nevin.

See the full list of events and purchase your tickets below!


Thank you to all who joined us at our kick-off party on February 16th! At the Kick-Off Party, 97-year-old Henrietta Mantooth exhibited her artwork. Mantooth describes her work as “witnessing” since it often focuses on those “who are usually nameless — refugees, rebels, farmers, men and women who tend and defend their land, homes, children, animals, and ideas.” Watch the CBS spotlight featuring Henrietta Mantooth.

Other special guests at the kick-off party included Brenda Vaccaro, Richard Kind, Judy Gold, and Colin Quinn.

“Thank you to everyone who came to the celebratory kick-off party for the festival! It’s was very much a fundraiser. We welcome any donations to support our mission that art is ageless. Stay tuned for the week long festival starting April 25th!”

Caytha Jentis, festival co-director

Gold Standard Festival Events

City Covid Protocols will be strictly enforced. All attendees must be vaccinated.

Gold Standard Arts Festival April 24th- May 3rd, 2022, NYC celebrating emerging and established artists 50+ 24april 12:00PM

Gold Standard Arts Festival: ALL ACCESS PASS

One ticket gets you access to the entire festival at a discount.
Your pass Includes: Jazz Brunch, Cabaret, Stand Up Comedy, Short Plays. Film Festival and it’s panels.
poster for gold standard arts festival opening party. there are 2 men in front of instruments in the middle of the poster. 24april 12:00PM

The Gold Standard Jazz Brunch Opening Party

Live jazz  and a Zabar’s Brunch!

Mingle with the festival team, friends of the fest, special guests & accepted artists as we get this week celebration started.

Tickets: $20 includes jazz & brunch

2 drink minimum (2 for 1 Mimosas)

Special Guests Scheduled to appear thus far include: Council Member Gale Brewer

Located: Standupny – 236 W 78th St, New York, NY 10024

red background with black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival, encore ovation gold standard cabaret. 25april 6:00PM

Encore Ovation Gold Standard Cabaret

In partnership with Encore Ovation.

Cabaret Artists
Steve Ross
Marta Sanders Cooper
Leah Finnie
Cynthia Kaplan
Sandra Rodriguez
Anthony Santalmo, Jr.
Nancy Simpson Moore

Located: Da Marino – 220 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019

poster for stand up comedy show, pictures of the people preforming 3 men and 2 women. 26april 8:00PM

The Gold Standard Comedy Night

Judy Gold hosts a night of stand up comedy from some of the funniest 50 + comics.

Comedians
Greer Barnes
Karen Bergreen
John Fugelsang
Gary Gulman
Lizz Winstead
Eddie Brill

Located: Standupny – 236 W 78th St, New York, NY 10024

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival play fest 27april 2:00PM

Gold Standard Arts Festival: Play Fest!

Gold Standard Arts Festival presents two blocks (2 PM & 7 PM) of short plays from some of the region’s most accomplished older playwrights.

2:00pm Program – Jammie Patton (Director)
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD – Marc Acito & Sheldon Harnick (Playwright)
OLD TIMERS DAY – Marc Acito (Playwright)
I KNOW – Jacquelyn Reingold (Playwright)
HAIR UNDONE  – Cheryl Davis (Playwright)
SKIN DEEP – Tina Howe (Playwright)
FIGHT THE POWER – Caytha Jentis (Playwright)

7:00pm Program – Kathryn Markey (Director)
CENSUS – Susan Miller (Playwright)
MIRACLE OF THE MALL – Frederick Stroppel
HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN – Alex Dinelaris (Playwright)
TRUTH AND SEX – Susan Cinoman (Playwright)
DOWN THERE – Lucy Wang (Playwright)
FIGHT THE POWER – Caytha Jentis (Playwright)

Located: Goddard Riverside’s Bernie Wohl Center – 647 Columbus Ave

Film Festival: Thursday, April 28th – Sunday, May 1st

Sign up to be a Gold Standard Arts Festival Volunteer!

Gold Standard Arts Festival April 24th- May 3rd, 2022, NYC celebrating emerging and established artists 50+ 28april 12:30PM

Gold Standard Arts Festival: ALL ACCESS FILM PASS

One ticket gets you access to all the films and panels in the Festival at a discount.
Your pass Includes: Film Festival (all the listings below) and it’s panels.

Thursday – Located: New Plaza Cinema – 263 W 86th St, New York, NY 10024

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 28april 12:30PM

Film Festival: Jewish Themed Short Films (Thursday)

This ticket is good for one or both blocks

12:30pm Block: Great Jewish ‘Plotz’

Films Include:

  • The Violin – Academy Award Nominated Short
  • Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archives: A Journey of Identity

2:00pm Block: Talmudic Tenders

Films Include:

  • Neshamah
  • Kinderland
  • The Day Before Creation

 

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 28april 4:00PM

Film Festival: Jewish Themed Fun Shorts (Thursday)

Borscht Belters – so good, they could have headlined at Grossingers – followed by talkback with the filmmakers

Films Include:

  • Chemistry Read
  • Julie Leaves the Nest
  • Quarantween
  • The Trust

 

28april 7:00PM

Film Festival: The Last Laugh (Thursday)

World-famous comedians including Mel Brooks, Sarah Silverman, & Judy Gold pitch in with their own views on the boundaries of comedy

THE LAST LAUGH dares to ask: “Are we allowed to joke about the Holocaust?” This outrageously funny and thought-provoking film puts the question to legends and critical thinkers including Mel Brooks, Sarah Silverman, Gilbert Gottfried, and many others (including survivors), offering fresh insights into the Holocaust and what else-9/11, AIDS, racism-is or isn’t off-limits in a society that prizes freedom of speech.

Followed by director Ferne Perlstein and comedian Judy Gold In Conversation with Montclair Film Festival Artists Director Tom Hall.

Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzvz9OOqqdM 

Friday to Sunday – Located: Goddard Riverside’s Bernie Wohl Center – 647 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 29april 10:00AM

Film Festival: Shorts Block One (Friday)

Otherworldly & very real short films!

Films Include:

  • Cosmic Playster
  • The Old Rogue
  • Innocent Chat
  • Dignity
black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 29april 12:00PM

Film Festival: Shorts Block Two (Friday)

Big powerful stories in small packages!

Films Include:

  • Dog Walker
  • Mum
  • The Lingering
  • Heartbeat
  • Mislead
black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 29april 2:00PM

Film Festival: Short Docs Block (Friday)

Powerful personal true stories!

Films Include:

  • New Voice In Mississippi
  • Beneath the Surface: Water Polo
  • Married To Math
Sunset with buildings and water with words saying cant stop the sun from shining. 29april 4:00PM

Film Festival: Can’t Stop the Sun From Shining (Friday)

Documentary feature about four centenarian and almost centenarian women living in New York who unravel their courage, strength and zest for life in unique and inspiring ways. An homage to aging without regrets.

Event starts with a viewing of the music video Falling Directed by Melissa Hacker and The New Abolitionists film trailer directed by Christina Zorich.

man with a hat and headphones holding a phone with a microphone on top 29april 5:00PM

Gold Standard Arts Festival: iPhone Filmmaking Salon (Friday)

Learn how to shoot a professional feature film on your iPhone with award winning filmmaker Paige Morrow Kimball.

You know that film idea you have that you’ve been wanting to make for years? But you felt it was: too expensive, too time-consuming, not good enough, too late, nobody cares, and a list of other reasons you have and have convinced yourself that it just cant be done. Filmmaker Paige Morrow Kimball is here to debunk those self-limiting beliefs!

pink background with words saying the fabulist. 29april 6:00PM

Film Festival: The Fabulist (Friday)

Documentary Feature about the fabulous Sandi Marx, a fixture in the NYC storytelling scene. Followed by Q/A with Sand and perhaps a story!

Event starts with a viewing of the short Chemistry Read Directed by Norm Lang.

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 29april 8:00PM

Film Festival: Funny Ladies (Friday)

Ruthless Comedy Live, Hey Lady trailer & FX’s Hysterical Screening!

Night includes:

  • A Taste of the Ruthless Comedy Hour – with Karen Bergreen, Cynthia Kaplan & Corey Kahaney
  • Hey Lady Trailer (sneak peak)
  • Hysterical Special Event Screening
black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 30april 9:30AM

Film Festival: Covid Short Stories (Saturday)

With humor and grace, filmmakers use art to get through the pandemic.

Films Include:

  • Remotely Learning
  • The Trust
  • April Showers
  • QUARANTWEEN
  • Kurtis on Zoom
soviet film star. defector. OLEG. 30april 11:00AM

Film Festival: Oleg Screening (Saturday)

The incredible story of Oleg Vidov. Followed by Q/A with the filmmakers.

Based on his soon to be published autobiography, OLEG tells the incredible life story of Oleg Vidov. Born in communist Russia to a teacher, by the age of 25, Oleg had become one of the Soviet Union’s most celebrated actors of his time. However, no amount of fame could save him from the political system that tried to control his life. He married into General Secretary Brezhnev’s inner circle only to wind up blacklisted, threatened with death, and forced to defect to the West. Reinventing himself in Hollywood, his efforts to counter anti-Russian stereotypes were attacked by the same forces that ruined his career decades earlier. Finally, in October 1991, with Oleg’s fears of persecution calmed by rise of perestroika, he returned to Moscow to star in a Danish film. Two months later, on Christmas Day 1991, President Gorbachev resigned from office and the USSR collapsed.

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 30april 1:00PM

Film Festival: Edge of Your Seat Shorts (Saturday)

Thrillers and Biting Satire for you Saturday Afternoon.

Films Include:

  • Tiffany Brittany Brooke
  • Greetings from Sarajevo
  • The Pepper Project
black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival crimes does pay 30april 3:00PM

Film Festival: Crime Does Pay: T.J. English In Conversation with Richard Price (Saturday)

NY Times Best Selling Author T.J. English In Conversation With Multi Award Winning Oscar nominated screenwriter and novelist Richard Price.

Presented by writer/producer Marc Johnson, T.J. English and Richard Price will talk about how age, lives lived and maturity shaped their writing.

This event is in person and will be live streamed. All who register will receive a special live streaming link.

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 30april 5:00PM

Film Festival: Short but Sweet Block (Saturday)

Coming of age can happen at any age.

Films Include:

  • The Clam Kid
  • 40 Years From Now
  • How Am I Doing?
  • Full Circle
black background with 4 images of films with words saying shorts after dark 9:00pm hosted by the queen of drag Stella D'Oro 30april 9:00PM

Film Festival: Shorts After Dark (Saturday)

Gold Standard Cult Classics hosted by our favorite Drag Queen Stella D’Oro!

Films Include:

  • The Libby Show: Lunch with the Ladies
  • Son of the Seed
  • Driftwood III – Baby Alien
  • Driftwood II – Lizard Mom
2 men sitting on a couch 30april 7:00PM

Film Festival: Give or Take Screening (Saturday)

A special event screening of Give or Take, a newly released award winning heart warming film. Followed by Q/A with director.

After the death of his father, a New Yorker returns to Cape Cod to prepare his childhood home for sale.With his father’s boyfriend still living there, they butt heads and negotiate how to remember the man they both loved.

Meet the writer/director and members of the cast.

The film stars two time Tony award winning actor Norbert Leo Butz (Bloodline), Cheri Oteri (SNL), Joanne Tucker and Jamie Effros.

The event starts with a viewing of the short Book Ends directed by Jennifer Rapaport.

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 1may 10:00AM

Film Festival: Light Years (Sunday)

Between Two World and the documentary feature Light Years. Follow by a Q/A with writer/director Claire Panke of Light Years.

Films Include:

  • Between Two Worlds
  • Light Years
black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 1may 12:00PM

Film Festival: Inspiring Seniors Short Docs (Sunday)

These seniors show how art enhances and extends life.

Films Include:

  • Powers
  • The Violin – Academy Award Nominated Short
  • Shu Box featuring the Human Listening and Talking Machine
black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival stories targeted to an older audience 1may 2:00PM

Panel: Can’t Spell Gold W/Out Old (Sunday)

How to succeed with stories targeted to an older audience.

This is a hybrid event – one can attend in person or remotely.

Film/Television targeted to the Gen X/Baby Boomers & older audience while they have significant buying power are considered a ‘tough demographic.’ These Industry leaders are changing that!

Panelists Include: Jerry Goerhring – President SaltboxTV, Elizabeth Sheridan, President Juno Films Sales & Distribution, Rick Dorfman, Partner Authentic Talent and Literary Agency, Sarah Condon Executive Producer Fair Haven and Freemantle Studios, Former HBO SVP of Original Programming and David Gittens, Executive Director of Age Inclusion in the Media

black and gold background with a black circle with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival 1may 4:00PM

Film Festival: Festival Favorite Shorts (Sunday)

The Gold Standard of Gold Standard Shorts Followed by Q/A with Tracy Semmler & director Neil Leifer.

Films Include:

  • Hey Lady
  • Playing with Matches
image of 4 girls underneath a black circle and black and gold background with words saying Gold Standard Arts Festival , the other F word: the reunion. 1may 6:00PM

THE OTHER F WORD: Reunion (Sunday)

The cast/creators of TOFW reunite for a once in a lifetime celebration of the hit web series, an unforgettable evening filled with iconic memories, uncontrollable laughter, happy tears and special guests because… fun never gets old.

Free to the Public. RSVP Today!

Share on Social Media! #GoddardGoldStandard





Read all About Us

NYC Post: NYC resident Henrietta Mantooth is still painting the town at 97.

The Spirit: Henrietta Mantooth, 97, to Exhibit at Arts Festival Kick-Off Party.

See coverage of the festival announcement in Broadway World.

Former Comedy Central Prez On Board For New NY Fest; FilmRise Appoints VP, Digital Distribution — U.S. Briefs


FilmFreeway logo. Submit videos for the Gold Standard Arts Festival.

Gold Standard Arts Festival Team

Caytha Jentis, festival co-director

Caytha began making movies while driving carpools in suburban New Jersey.  Four features later, her most recent film is Pooling to Paradise which was released in August and stars Jonathan Lipnicki, Lynn Chen, Dreama Walker, Jordan Carlos, and Taryn Manning.

She began her career as a literary agent in New York. Caytha was profiled by the Writers Guild as well as Screenwriter Magazine. She is a member of the Writers Guild, Film Fatales, NYWIFT, and the Producers Guild.

Caytha has produced three W.H.A.M. events for Goddard Riverside – a comedy night and two storytelling events.

Eileen Katz, festival co-director

Eileen Katz had her start in television at Late Night With David Letterman as a researcher. She went on to MTV  where as Vice President of Development, launched The Real World franchise, including Road Rules and The State, and the original Jon Stewart Show.

Eileen was then brought over to Comedy Central as Executive Vice President of Programming where she was part of the team that revamped the network by launching a slate of distinctive programming including: South Park and The Daily Show and tent pole events The Roast and Indecision Political programming.

Learn more about the directors and Festival Team members.


Community Arts Program

communityarts@goddard.org

212-799-9400 ext 4405