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You Will Never Beat New York

At the end of March 2020 on the streets of New York City a 5-minute tradition began to honor first responders, healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, hospital staff), essential businesses, grocery store workers, delivery guys, MTA workers, doormen, warehouse workers, etc.

At 7PM hand-clapping and cheering broke out around the city in spring, summer, and beyond to honor and celebrate New Yorkers' fight against an invisible enemy.

You Will Never Beat New York captures New Yorkers clapping, ringing bells, cheering, playing music and dancing while the race continued to save lives during the worldwide pandemic.

  • Roberta Fineberg
    Director
    Roberta Fineberg is a multidisciplinary artist who works in the visual arts. You Will Never Beat New York (2020) is her first short film. She lives in New York City.
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short, Other
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Roberta Fineberg

Roberta Fineberg is a multidisciplinary artist. You Will Never Beat New York (2020) is her first short film, made on an iPhone. RF lives in New York City.

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Director Statement

The short experimental film You Will Never Beat New York (2020) sparks discussion on the extraordinary spirit of a city and the courage, strength and resilience of its people during a tough yet deeply spiritual time.

The cinema verite style of filming with no dialog, but improvised sound rhythms, chanting, and music in the streets drive this short film forward. For viewers around the world, You Will Never Beat New York remains an homage to essential workers during the pandemic global experience 2020-2021.