New York City is playing host to a string of specialized film festivals this weekend.

The Margaret Mead Film Festival at the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, the Architecture and Design Film Festival, and the Chelsea Film Festival are currently underway, drawing emerging and international talent across different genres.

Monica Castillo, film critic and journalist, says the dramas, documentaries, and historic deep-dives at these festivals are a unique movie-going opportunity for film buffs and new fans alike.

"Not all of these movies may get distribution down the line," Castillo said. "So this is your one chance to see them in a theater, see them with an audience, and really get the full experience."

Castillo spoke with WNYC's Richard Hake.