Spike Lee and Questlove Are Throwing a Massive Movie Block Party at BAM

Spike Lee knows exactly how to throw a party, and he is bringing the function to Fort Greene. The director is teaming up with New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai and producer Nicholas Ma for Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party, a new two-day film festival taking over the Brooklyn Academy of Music on November 6 and 7.

This is not another stuffy industry event where audiences sit silently in the dark. It is a loud, communal celebration of the movies that shaped some of New York's best cultural minds. By handing programming duties over to a stacked roster of guest curators and opening up the street outside for a free block party, the organizers are giving your fall calendar a much-needed shot of adrenaline.

Wu Tsai, who also owns the Brooklyn Nets, previously collaborated on the WNBA documentary "Unfinished Business" with Ma. Now, the two have brought Spike Lee into the fold to build a completely new kind of watch party. Guest curators for the inaugural run include The Roots drummer Questlove, actor John Turturro, and Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson. They are not just programming the screens. They are showing up in person to defend their picks and explain why these specific movies matter, blending cinema with live conversation.

The Screenings

Opening Night: Crooklyn

Fort Greene · BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Ave · $30 and up WebsiteMap

Lee kicks off the weekend on Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m. by screening his 1994 love letter to the borough, "Crooklyn." He is bringing the cast with him. Alfre Woodard, Zelda Harris, Cinqué Lee, and Joie Lee will join the director for a talkback after the credits roll. The night begins with a celebratory procession into the theater with the curators and hosts before the lights go down, setting a high bar for the rest of the weekend.

Go for: The rare chance to hear Spike Lee dissect his own classic with the people who helped him make it. Know before you go: Tickets go fast, so book exactly when the public sale opens on October 1 through the official BAM site.

Questlove's Picks

Fort Greene · BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave · $30 and up WebsiteMap

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson steps up on Saturday, November 7 to present two deeply different movies. First up is Denis Sanders's 1971 concert documentary "Soul to Soul," which chronicles an independence day concert in Ghana featuring Wilson Pickett and Ike and Tina Turner. He pairs it with Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy," the uncomfortable 1982 satire starring Robert De Niro as a desperate, unhinged stand-up comedian.

Go for: The pivot from a legendary soul concert to Scorsese's darkest, most cynical look at fame. Know before you go: You buy tickets per screening, so if you want to see both, you need to budget accordingly.

John Turturro's Picks

Fort Greene · BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave · $30 and up WebsiteMap

Frequent Spike Lee collaborator John Turturro brings a distinctly international flavor to his Saturday selections. He chose Gillo Pontecorvo's groundbreaking 1966 war film "The Battle of Algiers," which remains one of the most influential political movies ever made. He follows it with a sharp tonal shift, screening Pietro Germi's 1961 dark comedy "Divorce Italian Style."

Go for: A heavy dose of mid-century global cinema curated by one of New York's greatest working actors. Know before you go: Both of these films are presented in their original languages with English subtitles.

Bryan Stevenson's Picks

Fort Greene · BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave · $30 and up WebsiteMap

Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, focuses on stories of youth and survival on Saturday. He selected Fernando Meirelles's kinetic 2002 masterpiece "City of God," set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. He pairs it with Mira Nair's 1988 drama "Salaam Bombay!", which follows children navigating the streets and slums of India. Nair will attend the festival in person to join Stevenson for a live conversation after the film screens.

Go for: The live discussion between Stevenson and Mira Nair following "Salaam Bombay!". Know before you go: These are heavy, emotionally taxing films, so plan to grab a strong drink at a dive bar afterward to decompress.

The Block Party

Playback Street Party

Fort Greene · Lafayette Ave between Ashland Pl and St Felix St · Free Website

Things start early on Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Playback and The Soapbox Presents are shutting down Lafayette Avenue for a free, all-day street fair right outside the theater. You do not need a ticket to show up. There will be music from Soul Summit and local Brooklyn DJs, a Bring Your Own Vinyl station where attendees can spin their own records, live art by Katie Merz, double dutch, and plenty of food and drinks. It is easily one of the best free things to do in the city this season.

Go for: The daytime dance floor right outside the cinema doors. Know before you go: You can bounce between the street fair and the theater all afternoon, making it a perfect excuse to spend the whole day exploring Fort Greene.

The Shout NY Take

Film festivals usually feel like a marathon of red carpets, closed doors, and industry exclusivity. Playback flips the script. By handing the auxiliary cord to cultural heavyweights and physically opening the theater doors to the neighborhood, BAM has built a weekend that actually feels like Brooklyn. See a masterpiece in a dark room, hear brilliant minds talk about it, and then walk outside and dance on the asphalt.