Screening and Talkback: CUBBY (2019) dir. by Mark Blane and Ben Mankoff

Presented by the Graduate Arts Council at Virginia Tech and The Lyric Theatre

Admission: Free

"With a bold voice reminiscent of heyday 90s independent cinema, CUBBY gives a whole new meaning to 'adventures in babysitting.' Written and co-directed by breakout star Mark Blane and shot in crisp 16mm, this quirky dark comedy tells the semi-autobiographical story of an anxious midwestern twenty something who moves to New York City in hopes of becoming an artist. We follow Mark as he navigates his new life in this overwhelming city and chemically imbalanced flights of fancy, all while fostering a friendship with Milo, a precocious 6-year-old he begins to babysit in brownstone-filled Brooklyn. This simultaneously off-the-wall and oddly charming debut features a superhero named Leather-Man, a bizarre closet-dwelling roommate, psychedelics, and a heartwarming performance by Emmy Award-nominee Patricia Richardson (HOME IMPROVEMENT). CUBBY is sure to make you reconnect with your inner child." - NEWFEST FILM FESTIVAL, New York City

Join writer/director/producer and star, Mark Blane, and co-director Ben Mankoff immediately after the screening for a discussion and Q&A about the making of the film (shot on 16mm) on location in New York City, with a gem-filled cast assembled by Henry Russell Bergstein (Black Mirror, Moonrise Kingdom). Animation in the film is by French artist, Antoine Presles, and the Original Score composed by Jon Natchez (Grammy Winning musician of the band, The War on Drugs). Cinema/drama/writing students, coming-of-age enthusiasts, cinephiles, actors, writers, VT faculty/staff and community members are all welcome to this free screening and talkback.