Ep. 014: PRIMATE VISION, Pt. 1 with NICO PEDRERO-SETZER

Apes, monkeys, and all manners of missing links have invaded the silver screens at Roxy Cinema and Spectacle this month via the rep film series — Primate Vision: Man or Monkey? — programmed by Nico Pedrero-Setzer and Steve McFarlane. Nico is my guest on the show to tell us all about it including his journey to becoming a programmer which began during his days as a volunteer at Spectacle. This is his first time programming for Roxy Cinema and working with 35mm prints, too!

Selected titles from the rep film series, Primate Vision: Man or Monkey?

Here’s the description for the series:

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻? looks at the contested territory between the end of ape and origin of man through multiple films that investigate the distinction between animal behavior and human society. Bringing titles like Ernest B. Schoedsack’s Pre-Code monster flick SON OF KONG (1933) in conversation with Michel Gondry’s lab-room farce HUMAN NATURE (2001), this program aims to make audiences think about their distance, or proximity, with their genetic predecessors.

I’m looking forward to making this my first visit to Spectacle to watch some selected titles from Mexican director René Cardona — and admission is only $5 plus you can bring your own food in! At the Roxy, I have my targets set for ALTERED STATE and HUMAN NATURE (both on 35mm). All titles in the series are movies I’ve never seen before so I’m looking forward to these first time watches.

The Roxy Cinema is an immaculate space tucked beneath The Roxy Hotel in Tribeca with it’s red velvet walls and drapes, a plethora of celluloid presentations and countless filmmaker Q&A’s — the Roxy should be on your priority list of cinemas to experience in NYC. I was in love right away after my first time visiting during Holiday 2021 for a 35mm screening of SPEED RACER!

Primate Vision: Man or Monkey? is screening now through June 7 at Roxy Cinema and Spectacle. Get your tickets HERE!

I was so happy to meet Nico and learn about his career as a film critic and programmer in NYC. I hope you also enjoy our conversation captured in this episode of Marquee Mixtape.