Award Winning Bookseller Documentary: 'BookWars'
IFP Gotham Award Nominee
As seen on Arte/ZDF, SVT, NHK, Bravo!, Metrochannels, Cinemapop, PBS, and others
Multiple Major Domestic and International Festival Selections!
(Review) The New York bookseller documentary, 'Bookwars' Directed by Jason Rosette by Matt Zoller Seitz, New York Film Critics Circle
"In BookWars, a superb nonfiction film by first-time feature director Jason Rosette, books are more than sources of knowledge. They are merchandise that’s appraised, bought and sold. They’re also artifacts, sometimes clean and intact but more often damaged, whose condition at the point of sale says plenty about the conscientiousness of the seller. Most of all, they’re an addictive substance." [Read this complete review]
See the bookseller documentary 'BookWars' on Kanopy, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Plex, and other platforms
'Superb...mesmerizing' - NY Film Critics Circle
'Terrific' - Los Angeles Times
'Abounds in fascinating detail' - The New Yorker
'Utterly Compelling' - Jacksonville Film Journal
BookWars: Award-Winning Documentary about New York Booksellers
"Abounds in fascinating detail" - The New Yorker
Journey into the gritty, untamed world of New York City's street booksellers in this critically acclaimed documentary by filmmaker Jason Rosette. Winner of Best Documentary at the 2000 New York Underground Film Festival and IFP Gotham Award Nominee, BookWars captures a pivotal moment in NYC history during Mayor Giuliani's controversial "Quality of Life" campaign.
A Raw, Intimate Portrait of Literary Street Life
Shot in a distinctive, jazzy style reminiscent of Beat Generation poetry, BookWars follows the passionate street vendors who turn Manhattan's sidewalks into impromptu bookstores. Through their eyes, discover how books become more than just merchandise—they're artifacts of urban culture and addiction-worthy treasures.
"In 'BookWars', books are more than sources of knowledge... they're an addictive substance."
— Matt Zoller Seitz, New York Film Critics Circle
Critical Acclaim & International Recognition
- Featured on Arte/ZDF, SVT, NHK, Bravo!, PBS, and more
- Multiple major domestic and international festival selections
- Theatrical premiere at New York's Cinema Village
- Part of the Museum of Modern Art's Circulating Film Collection
Don't miss this raw, authentic glimpse into the world of New York bookselling—where literature meets survival, and every book has a story beyond its pages!
Runtime: 79 minutes | Language: English | Director: Jason Rosette
See the bookseller documentary 'BookWars' INSTANTLY on Kanopy, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Plex, Mometu, Typhoon on Demand, and Other platforms
Educational Rental or Purchase from the Museum of Modern Art Circulating Film and Video Collection, New York
Audiobook about the making of the New York bookseller movie,'BookWars', on Audible - "10,000 Miles to Go: An American Filmmaking Odyssey"
