AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Dallas Stars may have lost the Stanley Cup, but Austin is about to host a championship of its own. No, it’s not a hockey tournament on ice – this competition is on a table the size of the one in your kitchen, and it’s appropriately called Table Hockey.
Lisa Melmed’s new short film, Little Rink, is having its Texas premiere at the 27th Austin Film Festival. It is also entered in the Documentary Short Competition and will compete for the Audience Award. Watch on Eventive (https://bit.ly/3iIFSyH) beginning October 25th anywhere in North America & around the world.
The film previously played at the Middlebury New Filmmakers Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival & The New York World Film Festival.
“When you watch Little Rink, you’ll see that, while everyone wants to win, the real motivation is the love of the game and intense friendships it fosters,” says Director, Lisa Melmed. “There’s exciting face to face competition, camaraderie and nostalgia for a game that doesn’t require a screen or a remote control.”
The Hockey Maven-historian Stan Fischler says, “I’ve been playing table hockey since I was a little kid.” “Nothing captures the essence of this remarkable sport more than Little Rink. It’s fun, accurate and filled with some of the most unusual characters this side of an NHL face-off.”
ABOUT THE FILM
In the sphere of revered sporting events, there’s the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the World Series. And then there’s the TJ Rugg Table Hockey Tournament. Eighteen of North America’s most elite players travel across the continent to Carragher’s Bar in NYC to be named the champion of the little rink. Throughout the day, we meet several of the players and learn why they are devoted to this quirky sport.
Watch the Trailer: https://vimeo.com/422918719
EVENT DETAILS
Tickets are $30 for access to the entire festival. Purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com.
Or, buy a $10 ticket to watch Little Rink and the shorts docs program at https://bit.ly/3iIFSyH
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
Lisa Melmed is a film writer & director based in Brooklyn, NY. The film was produced by David Broad of Left Of Frame Pictures.
COMMENTS FROM THE PARTICIPANTS
“I started playing when I was four years old, and I’m 47. The motivation, it’s not like a video game. We control all the rods; the motivation is to outsmart your opponent and then you can nag him a bit.”
Carlo “The King” Bossio, Player
“I try to play an aesthetically pleasing type of table hockey. I played guitar for 30 years; maybe I treat a table hockey game much like I’d treat a guitar, it’s an instrument.”
Kenny “The Professional” DuBois, Player
“The players in Little Rink are table hockey gladiators. The best of the best.”
John “JohnNY Lightning” Fayolle, Tournament sponsor and maker of the Soho Pro Tournament Table Hockey Game
“Every single guy that knows I play table hockey, they initially think it’s a joke, until they try it. Once you play it and see how much fun it is, then everybody wants to play.”
Vinny “The Vinner” Catania, Tournament Head Referee
“Anywhere there’s a tournament, I’ll be back. Anytime there’s a tournament being played, I’ll show up because I love the game, deep down, that’s what it’s about – playing and getting together.”
Steve “The Stein” Bernstein, Player
CONTACT INFORMATION
David Broad, Left Of Frame Pictures
646.820.3659
david@leftofframe.com
Lisa Melmed, Little Rink Productions
347-623-5434
https://www.littlerink.com/contact
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