Solar-Powered Film Series Returns for a Fourth Summer of Green Cinema
2011 Solar-Powered Film Series — Aug 18-27
Green Edge NYC and Solar One are teaming up once again. For the fourth year in a row, they’re bringing free outdoor films to New York City—powered entirely by the sun.
This summer’s Solar-Powered Film Series runs on two consecutive weekends:
📅 August 18, 19, 20 and August 25, 26, 27
📍 Location: Stuyvesant Cove Park
🎟️ Admission: 100% free
🌞 Power: 100% solar
🎬 Start Time: Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; films begin at 8:30 p.m.
Sponsored by Chapin Hill Advisors, this year’s lineup dives deep into the environment, clean energy, and sustainability—with something for everyone.
Week One: Focus on Food and Farming
From August 18 to 20, the spotlight is on food systems and urban agriculture—two of today’s most urgent environmental issues. The film selections include stories about dirt, rooftop farms, and the local food revolution.
Each night features more than just a movie. The Eagle Street Rooftop Farm will host a farm stand, offering fresh, Brooklyn-grown produce. Meanwhile, guest speakers from the Lower East Side Ecology Center, Build It Green! NYC, and Just Food will lead discussions on sustainable living.
Week Two: Activism, Energy, and Aerial Beauty
The second weekend brings variety and insight. On Thursday, August 25, local cycling advocate and Solar One supporter Matthew Modine will host an evening of his own short films. He’ll also be on site to answer questions and sign memorabilia.
On Friday, August 26, Dirty Business exposes the myth of “clean coal” and dives into the true cost of fossil fuels.
Finally, on Saturday, August 27, the series closes with Home—a stunning, emotional journey across the planet. Featuring sweeping aerial shots and narration by Glenn Close, it challenges us to see Earth from a higher perspective.
Audiences gather at Solar One in Manhattan’s East Village to enjoy a film powered entirely by clean, renewable solar energy.About the Series
NYC’s First Solar-Powered Film Series Returns with Clean Energy and Big Ideas
The Solar-Powered Film Series is back—and it’s still the first of its kind in New York City. Powered entirely by the sun, this outdoor “eco-theater” runs on clean, renewable, carbon-free solar energy. Hosted at Solar One’s scenic space in Stuyvesant Cove Park, the series combines art, sustainability, and community.
Each film night blends natural and urban elements. Together, they create the greenest movie experience in the city. Best of all? It’s free and open to everyone.
Solar Power Meets Storytelling
This six-night series proves solar energy works—even in the heart of Manhattan. As clean energy takes center stage in global conversations, events like this make climate solutions feel real and accessible. You’ll get powerful films, expert talks, and hands-on green info. It’s entertainment with impact.
Solar-Powered Film Series Lineup
📅 August 18 – DIRT! The Movie (2009, 86 mins)
Directed by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow, this documentary digs deep—literally. It tells the story of soil, Earth’s most overlooked natural resource. From its powerful beginnings to human-caused decline, the film reveals why dirt matters. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, it’s eye-opening and urgent.
📅 August 19 – Urban Roots (2011, 90 mins)
Detroit rises through urban farming in this moving and timely film. Directed by Mark Mac-Innis and produced by Leila Conners (The 11th Hour), Urban Roots captures a community reshaping its future with shovels, seeds, and hope.
📅 August 20 – Food Fight (2008, 83 mins)
This documentary challenges how we eat—and why. It explores the roots of America’s industrial food system. Then, it highlights the California food revolution pushing back. Expect food policy, activism, and inspiration all in one plate.
📅 August 25 – An Evening with Matthew Modine
Join acclaimed actor and environmentalist Matthew Modine for a night of short films. Modine is the founder of Bicycle For A Day (BFAD), a global effort to cut carbon emissions through cycling. He’ll present his work, take questions, and sign posters. It’s a rare chance to hear from an artist who walks—and bikes—the talk.
🌇 Event Details
📍 Location: Solar One – 23rd Street & East River, NYC
🎟️ Admission: Free
🕖 Doors Open: 7:00 p.m.
🎬 Films Start: 8:30 p.m.
🌱 Power: 100% solar energy
August 26 Dirty Business
(2010, 90 mins)
Can coal ever really be made “clean”? If we were to try to wean ourselves off coal, how would we keep the lights on? Is renewable energy ready for prime time? Dirty Business reveals the true social and environmental costs of coal power and explores the murky realities of “clean coal” technology.
August 27 – Home (2009, 93 mins)
For over 200,000 years, humans have altered the Earth’s natural balance. Yet the planet’s stability took nearly 4 billion years to evolve. Now, Home challenges us to see that impact from above.
Through breathtaking aerial footage shot across more than 50 countries, artist and activist Yann Arthus-Bertrand reveals the beauty and fragility of our shared home. He shows us Earth as we’ve never seen it—vivid, vulnerable, and deeply interconnected.
Join the Conversation
After the screening, local experts will lead a public discussion. They’ll break down the issues raised in the film and offer ways to take action. It’s a chance to reflect, ask questions, and connect.
Event Details
🎬 Location: Solar One, 23rd St. & the East River
🕖 Doors Open: 7:00 p.m.
🌙 Film Starts: 8:30 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free and open to all
📽️ Note: This is an outdoor event. Seating is first come, first served.
