This year’s Rural Route Film Festival focuses on singer-songwriters. Each film contains live performances of original and traditional songs…as well as some element of suspense. The line-up features a sneak preview screening of Julia Halperin and Jason Cortlund’s La Barracuda, which debuted in March to stellar reviews at SXSW, and a 35mm revival screening of Robert Altman’s 1975 masterpiece, Nashville. The festival will also include the world premiere of Astoria-based filmmaker Sean Hartofilis’s Irish folk-infused thriller Covadonga, with a live musical performance and a discussion with Hartofilis. Filmmakers Chris Valdez and Theodore Griswold will be present for their documentary Olancho, about a Honduran narcocorrido musician who must flee his home country from dangerous drug cartels.

A program of international shorts will take place on Friday, July 14 at the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm on Northern Boulevard, just a few blocks from the Museum. (For more information about the Brooklyn Grange event, visit www.ruralroutefilms.com).

Now in its thirteenth year, the Rural Route Film Festival was created to highlight works that deal with unique people and places outside of the bustle of the city. Rural Route is organized by Alan Webber.

Director Sean Hartofilis will perform before the screening on Sat., July 15 at 1:30pm in the George S. Kaufman Courtyard.

Australian singer-songwriter Desmond White will perform a sneak preview of his upcoming album, Glace, before the films on Sun., July 16 at 1:30pm in the George S. Kaufman Courtyard.