Fern Silva, 70 min.

Rock Bottom Riser is screening Free with RSVP on 10/6 at 8PM (Doors at 7PM)

From the earliest voyagers who navigated by starlight, to present-day astronomers scanning the cosmos for habitable planets, explorers have long made Hawaiʻi the hub for their searching. Today—as lava continues to flow on the island—another crisis mounts as scientists plan to build the world’s largest telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaiʻi’s most sacred and revered mountain.

In his dynamic feature debut, Fern Silva examines myriad encounters with an island world at sea. Drawing from subjects as seemingly disparate as the arrival of Christian missionaries and the controversial casting of Dwayne Johnson as King Kamehameha, the film weaves a vital tapestry of post-colonialism and pop culture with cinematic brio and a wry wit. Rock Bottom Riser is an essential document and an exhilarating tour-de-force, a palimpsest that traverses geology, ethnography and astronomy.

7:00 PM: Doors Open

8:00 PM: Film Begins

RSVP DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENTRY. IN THE EVENT OF RAIN, SHOW WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT THE SAME LOCATION. NO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED.

Prismatic Ground is a New York film festival centered on experimental documentary, hosted in partnership with Maysles Documentary Center and Screen Slate. Its inaugural edition was held online in April 2021 and drew over 6,700 unique visitors around the world to enjoy the work of 70 filmmakers across a period of 11 days. Its second edition will take place both virtually and in person in Spring 2022.

For over 24 years, Rooftop Films has been championing the work of independent filmmakers and bringing films rooted in compassion, solidarity, learning, togetherness, exploration, and inspiration to tens of thousands of people across all five boroughs of New York City.

Screen Slate is a guide to moving image culture in New York. More info at screenslate.com.