The Disney animated movie, “Encanto,” was screened on Thursday, May 18, in the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. by NYC Department of Parks & Recreation in conjunction with District 11 City Councilman Eric Dinowitz.

 

The councilman represents the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village, Wakefield, and Woodlawn. “DC League of Super-Pets” had been screened by Parks and the councilman on Wednesday evening, May 17, in Indian Field, East 233rd Street and Jerome Avenue in Van Cortlandt Park, southwest of Woodlawn Heights.

Meanwhile, Parks and District 14 City Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez hosted a screening of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in Devoe Park on Thursday, May 4. “Spring is upon us, which means the highly anticipated “Movies Under the Stars,” our annual partnership with @nycparks, has begun,” Sanchez wrote in part. “Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in our neighborhood park!”

 

Sanchez represents the neighborhoods of Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham, Kingsbridge.

The events are free and open to the public. Popcorn, straight from a hot machine, was served by Parks’ employees at the movie night in the Oval. Glass bottles and alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited and although the rain held off last Thursday to allow the screening of Encanto to go ahead, it was still pretty chilly out there.

 

Residents are encouraged to come back and enjoy future screenings which are set to take place throughout the summer when, hopefully, temperatures will be a bit higher.

In the meantime, it’s probably a good idea to dress in warm clothes, bring a blanket and/or coat, and snuggle up accordingly. According to the Parks’ department, any decisions to cancel future events ahead of time will be made prior to the screening and will be promptly posted on the NYC Parks’ website.

 

According to Disney, “Encanto” tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz).

However, when Mirabel discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, she decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. Released on Nov. 24, 2021, the film features all-new songs by Emmy®, GRAMMY® and Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) and is directed by Byron Howard (“Zootopia,” “Tangled”) and Jared Bush (co-director “Zootopia”), co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (writer “The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez”), and produced by Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino; Bush and Castro Smith are screenwriters on the film.

 

According to imdb.com, the story of “DC League of Super-Pets,” Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime side by side in Metropolis. However, Krypto must master his own powers for a rescue mission when Superman is kidnapped. The film stars the voices of Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski and others.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” released in 2022, is the sequel to Marvel Studios’ highly successful “Black Panther” blockbuster, released in 2018. “Wakanda Forever” stars the late Chadwick Boswman, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta, Michael B Jordan, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o among others.

 

According to imdb.com, the story revolves around the people of Wakanda who fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T’Challa,” who had been played by Boseman who died at 43 in August 2020. Boseman, who had actively campaigned throughout his career to change the narrative around Black stereotypes in movies, was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, but had continued working and had not made his illness public.

For more information on the practicalities of any future scheduled screenings, residents can visit nyc.gov/parks or call 311.

 

Contact (212) 360-1430 or accessibility@parks.nyc.gov for more information regarding accessibility.