Rhode Island International Film Festival PO
Box 162 Newport, RI 02840 USA Street Address:
96 Second Street, Newport, RI 02840 Office: 268 Broadway, Providence, RI
02903
401/861-4445
fax: 401/490-6735 info@film-festival.org
RIIFF WINS NEW ENGLAND EMMY FOR ITS 2007 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS / FESTIVAL PROMOTIONS
The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) – won a New England Emmy Award for its promotional campaign that showcased the Oscar-qualifying event. The trophy was presented in the packed ballroom of the Boston Marriott Copley Place for the 31st Annual Boston/New England Emmy Awards.
The promotional campaign featured two spots. Entitled "No Excuses," the PSA's was created and directed by Providence resident, William Smyth. Miraj Berry wrote the script and composed the score, while George T. Marshall, Executive Director of RIIFF served as the Producer. The campaign featured the talents of Richard Donnelly and Phyllis Kay of Trinity Repertory Company. The spots aired in July and August 2007 on WJAR TV, Rhode Island’s NBC affiliate.
“This campaign would not have existed without the creativity and commitment of William Smyth and Miraj Berry,” noted George T. Marshall, who accepted the award. “The edgy, memorable spots have served to brand the Festival and created quite a buzz when they were released last year.”
Marshall noted that he and Smyth have worked together since 1986 when Smyth was a film studies major at Rhode Island College and he was an Assistant Professor of Communications.
“Bill has always had an amazing visual sensibility and his work continually surprises and inspires me,” Marshall noted.
This marks the third time Public Service Announcements produced by RIIFF been nominated for Emmy Awards. This marks the second win. All spots were created and directed by William Smyth.
Also winning an Emmy that evening was Rhode Island director, Cherry Arnold. Her film, “Buddy: The Rise and Fall of America’s Most Notorious Mayor,” which aired on WJAR, had its World Premiere at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2005 where it won the Viola M. Marshall Audience Choice Award.
To see a complete list of this year's nominees, please click here.
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RIIFF DOCUMENTARY FILM "FROM THE 50 YARD LINE" PLAYS IN CHINA THANKS TO FESTIVAL PARTNERSHIP
The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF)– New England’s largest film festival and its only Academy Award qualifying event – is pleased to announce the screening of “From The 50 Yard Line” at the prestigious Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China thanks to a special partnership between the RIIFF and Guangzhou Documentary Film Festival (GZDOC).
“The Rhode Island International Film Festival takes great pride in helping filmmakers who play the Festival achieve success,” said George T. Marshall, RIIFF’s Executive Director.
“From The 50 Yard Line” won the Audience Choice Award at the 2007 RIIFF. The film documents the emotional story of two high school marching bands: one an Ohio championship winner, the other a newly reborn city band from Los Angeles.
Through RIIFF’s partnership with the Guangzhou Documentary Film Festival (GZDOC) – China’s largest documentary festival – top RIIFF documentaries have an opportunity to screen at the Chinese film festival. Additionally, RIIFF docs have been chosen by GZDOC to participate in the Sapphire Moving Image Salon traveling film series and special events for trade, cultural, and educational organizations.
Just Completed April 5-6th: RIIFF at the 15th Original GLBT Expo,Jacob Javits Center, W. 38th & 11th Avenue, NYC. Every year, RIIFF participates in this respected Expo in the Big Apple where we promote the Festival, our GLBT sidebar and encourage visitors to come visit the Ocean State. The event draws about 20,000 over the two-day period. This year, along with our popular booth, we co-hosted the first-ever video lounge with our friends at the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. This was an exciting event as many of our alumni filmmakers were on hand to answer questions and present new work. Our thanks to the City of Providence, the Providence/Warwick CVB, and the City of Warwick for their support. Click here for a link to learn about the Expo ••To see our photo album from this event, click here
•To see Paul Ruggeri's photos of this event, click here
RIIFF 2008 News & Events:
Monthly through June 2008: The Return of "You Be The Judge" Nights: Last year, over 2,400 films were submitted to the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF). The reputation of our festival continues to grow as filmmakers and audiences from around the world spread the word about RIIFF. It is the largest film festival in New England and one of only a handful worldwide that is a qualifying event for the Academy Awards (“Oscars”). “You Be The Judge” is a unique opportunity for you to help us select the best films for screening at RIIFF 2008. Throughout the year, RIIFF will be organizing special screenings and inviting you to be a festival judge for the night. Your comments will be recorded and used in helping us to determine which films make the cut. No experience necessary; just be prepared to watch an eclectic mix of shorts, documentaries, animations, local, and foreign films.
The Golden Jasmine Chinese Film Festival Preview Screenings. The Golden Jasmine Chinese Film Festival (GJCFF) is a new initiative aimed at introducing authentic Chinese culture to American audiences. It is a collaboration between the US-China Institute and Confucius Institute at Bryant University, the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) and the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. Up next: A monthly Chinese film screening will be open to the general public. Audiences will have the chance to preview and judge the latest Chinese films submitted to the RIIFF. Your scores will help us determine which films to include in this year’s Festival. To download the flyer,click here. To learn more, click here.
May 13th: RIIFF FilmMaking Forums at Borders Bookstore. Join us at Borders Bookstore in Providence Place Mall for timely discussions about the filmmaking industry and you. Programming will take place at 7:00 p.m.Tonight: Making it in Rhode Island: The Impact of Film Tax Credits. They began as a simple idea to spur more film business in the Ocean State. And they quickly achieved their goal. Now they are a source of controversy and may soon be repealed or capped. What is the lure of these credits? What is happening in neighboring states? How does Rhode Island stay competitive and build a filmmaking infrastructure? Learn first hand just what the tax credits mean for Rhode Island, who is impacted and why you should care. Featuring members of the Rhode Island film community, producers and directors. Hosted by Adam Short, RIIFF’s Producing Director.
May 16th: Heather Henson presents "Handmade Puppet Dreams." This amazing event that premiered with RIIFF in 2006 for our 10th Anniversary, returns to Providence as part of the programming of FirstWorks with all new work. What is it? Shorts films by puppet artists. "Handmade Puppet Dreams" is a touring festival of independent artists films exploring their handmade craft specifically for the camera. These films have allowed artists to build their vision, then breathe life into their dreams. To learn more about Heather Henson's work, click here.
Here's the programming schedule:
Handmade Puppet Dreams for Kids
Friday, May 16 at 6 p.m.
Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, Providence
Admission to the museum is free from 5-8 p.m.
May 20th: Courthouse Center for the Arts, Third Tuesday Encore Films Series of the 2007 RIIFF, Show time at 7:30 p.m. Admission Donation of $5; CCA & RIIFF members $4. For more information,click here.
May 30th:THE MUSIC OF A LIFE: First Annual Joseph & Viola Marshall Memorial Benefit Concert. Two of the founding members of theFlickers Arts Collaborative and the Rhode Island International Film Festival are paid tribute in this moving and entertaining multimedia celebration that showcases popular and contemporary music as interpreted by Rhode Island musicians. The program is under the musical direction of Eric R. Bronner. All proceeds will be used to build the Joseph and Viola M. Marshall Scholarship Fund; designed to support high school and college students in the study of the film arts. Concert at 8:00 p.m. Recommended donation: $15, $10 for seniors and students. For more information,click here.
June 10th : RIIFF FilmMaking Forums at Borders Bookstore. Join us at Borders Bookstore in Providence Place Mall for timely discussions about the filmmaking industry and you. Programming will take place at 7:00 p.m. Tonight: Breaking in to the National Market: Tales from the Darkside. You’ve spent years working on your dream film project. You’ve taken your original idea, gotten the funding, hired the cast and crew, shot the film and spent months in post production. You’ve fine-tuned and honed your film thanks to feedback from private screenings, focus groups and the film festival circuit. Now where do you take it? How does it reach wide distribution? Learn first hand from award-winning filmmaker, Erik Latek whose acclaimed film “Sweet Dreams” has made this journey. This promises to be a lively and entertaining evening. Hosted by George T. Marshall, RIIFF's Executive Director and Adam Short, Producing Director.
July 7-11th:KidsEye Summer Filmmaking Camp. Celebrating it's 10th Anniversary. Applications are available online now. Click here for more details.
July 8th: RIIFF FilmMaking Forums at Borders Bookstore. Join us at Borders Bookstore in Providence Place Mall for timely discussions about the filmmaking industry and you. Programming will take place at 7:00 p.m.
Week of July 14th: RIIFF 2008 Programming Schedule Released.
July 18-20th: Annual Black Ships Japanese Film Festival. We are proud to be celebrating 25 years of programming with the Annual Black Ships Festival in Newport, RI and the 50th Anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Newport and Shimoda, Japan. This year, we expand our film screenings to three days and will be bringing back an expanded version of our popular multi-media concert event, "East Meets West: The Music of Ikuma Dan." For more information,click here.
Key Events of the 2008 RIIFF: August 4-10th
August 4-5th:ScriptBiz.08.Got a great idea for a movie script, but don’t know where to begin? Or have you finished that masterpiece, but no clue what to do next? The 12th Annual Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) proudly presents ScriptBiz.08, a two day workshop that covers the nuts and bolts of being a scriptwriter. The program is broken down into two parts: introductory and advanced. The RIIFF ScriptBiz Program is designed to guide writers not only through the creative process of writing, but ways to promote a screenplay to filmmakers through effective networking with tips on how to make a compelling pitch. Click here for more details.
August 4-9th: The KidsEye™ International Film Festival.This year we expand our offerings over five mornings at a new location. Cutting edge films by and for kids compose this popular sidebar of RIIFF. Click here to see last year's programming.
August 5-10th: 12th Annual Rhode Island International Film Festival
promises to be an amazing event with new work, expanded networking opportunities for filmmakers and audiences, educational programs, an industry symposium, parties, awards, our Opening and Closing Galas, conversations with honorees, breakfast gatherings, a location tour, and a celebrity sighting here and there. This year we will be introducing several new sidebars, including the The Vortex Sci Fi & Fantasy Film Festival, which will include new cutting edge work in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres from independent filmmakers across the globe. (For more information, please click here...) We will also be introducing the Providence Underground Film Festival, with a mission to showcase new, experimental and genre bending work. (For more information, please click here...)
August 5th: 12th Annual RIIFF Opening Night Gala See and be seen. Mingle with filmmakers and celebrities at our glittering Opening Night Gala. The hot ticket for the summer, advance sales start in March...
August 7-8th:The Rhode Island Film Forum. Here’s your chance to become involved with Rhode Island’s “stars” of the film community. The two-day forum will bring together leaders of the film industry with the decision-making community leaders and historic, natural and commercial property managers of Rhode Island; plus look at what's new on the technical side of the business and how you fit in! Click here for more details.
August 9-10th: The New England Student Film Festival. Exciting, provocative and smart are words that best describe the work from students at our New England colleges and universities. This two-day sidebar will feature film work by tomorrow's leaders in the field. Click here to see last year's programming.
August 9th: RIIFF Awards Reception.
August 28-29th:Annual Best of Fest Night at the Courthouse Center for the Arts. Show time at 7:00 p.m. Admission Donation of $5; CCA & RIIFF members $4. For more information,click here.
October 10-12th: Columbus Day Weekend. Announcement of RIIFF Screenplay Competition Winners.
• RIIFF named
as one of the "Top 12 US Film Festivals" by TravelSmart, the nation's oldest consumer travel newsletter on January
16th - learn more.
Welcome to our new Community Partner...
We are very pleased to welcome aboard Rhode Island Monthly as a new community partner with the Rhode Island International Film Festival.
Rhode Island Monthly is an exceptional way to learn about all things Rhode Island. For filmmakers coming to our state, this should be your first stop to gain understanding about the Ocean State, and what makes it so special.
Congratulations to the Nominated Films
that hailed from RIIFF for the
80th Academy Awards
Best live action short film
“Tanghi Argentini” (Premium Films)
An Another Dimension of an Idea Production
Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
Best documentary short subject
“Salim Baba”
A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production
Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
A founding member of the Flickers Arts Collaborative and distinguished retired military officer, died on Wednesday, February 21st at age 90. A special scholarship program is planned in his memory.
Retired Lieutenant Commander Joseph Marshall, 90, of Newport, Rhode Island, died peacefully surrounded by his family and loved ones, Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at Heatherwood Nursing and Rehab Center in Newport, Rhode Island. He was the husband of the late Viola Mildred Beck Marshall with whom he shared his life for 57 years ... read more
Read the 2005 Festival Dedication to Joseph Marshallhere
RIIFF DOCUMENTARY FILM "FROM THE 50 YARD LINE" PLAYS IN CHINA THANKS TO FESTIVAL PARTNERSHIP 
“Tanghi Argentini” (Premium Films)
In Memoriam: Joseph Marshall 
