Last Call: The Shutdown of NYC Bars

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NOMINATED - BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
NOMINATED - BEST NYC FILM

2020
United States
59 mins
Documentary Film Competition

Directed By	Johnny Sweet
Produced By	Bryan TwZ Brousseau, Lisa Edward
Starring	Nick Elezovic (Himself), Willie McIntyre Jr. (Himself), Jena Ellenwood (Herself), Nicci Carnaggio (Herself)

A small tavern in Queens, New York becomes the meeting spot for young hopefuls who move to NYC in pursuit of their dreams, forming a bond of friendship and building a neighborhood community spot likened to “Cheers”. Everything changes as COVID-19 transforms Queens into a major hotspot in the global pandemic; Sparrow Tavern is closed and its staff are among the tens of thousands of service workers laid off across the city. Observing strict COVID protocols and using remotely operated cameras, director Johnny Sweet creates a powerful testimonial that documents the psychological impact of COVID-19 on a group of young adults working in the hospitality industry, as well as the healthcare workers tirelessly fighting the virus on the frontline.

About the Director

Born and raised in NYC, Johnny Sweet was recently nominated for an Emmy for Best Long Sports Documentary for Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story. Sweet was an Emmy Award winning feature producer at ESPN for 10 years and in 2016, Sweet directed his first long form documentary, Vick which won the Associated Press Sports Editor Award for journalism, his second APSE award. His second film, Quiet Storm, a documentary about the life of Ron Artest, was released in 2019 on Showtime.