RIIFF Podcasts

These podcasts were undertaken by Toni Pennacchia and Paul Elsnau for Spolier Alert Radio. To hear their most recent podcasts, click here.

More: pages 1. 3. 4

Lidia Sheinin and Gary Cohen - Happily Ever After, Sunday, October 28, 2007

Hailing from St. Petersburg, Russia, Writer/Director/Editor, Lidia Sheinin has made her first film Happily Ever After, unique short short story telling a sad romantic tale in four minutes using split screens. It won 1st Place for Best Experimental Film at the 11th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival.

The film was produced by Gary Cohen, who had brief career as a child actor, later working at KROQ-FM in LA, and eventually for Adobe Systems on their Photoshop and Photoshop Elements products.

Together, Gary and Lidia formed Scared Mouse Productions to produce Happily Ever After and other projects.

Happily Ever After recently screened at the 2007 MergingArts Short Short Story Film Festival, where it won the Imagination Award for excellence in artistic vision.

Click here for more Information and to download.

Matt Wittmer - The Regiment
Sunday, October 28, 2007

Matt Wittmer is a graduate of the Documentary Institute at the University of Florida and a former intern at the documentary production company, Kartemquin Films.

He has recently directed the short documentary film The Regiment, which tells the unusual story of a group of Dominican youth from Providence, Rhode Island who take part in a civil war re-enactment in Olustee, Florida.

The 14th Rhode Island Reenactors Program helps Providence high school students recreate the history of the 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Regiment. By being immersed in the life of the Black soldier of the Civil War, the students learn about the role of African Americans during the war and about the history of the war generally. They are led by Robert Goldman, a veteran Civil War reenactor.

The Regiment had its World Premiere at the 11th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Click here for more Information and to download.

Rob Sorrenti - Wednesday
Sunday, October 21, 2007

Rob Sorrenti is the writer and director of the short film Wednesday which won Second Prize for Best Editing at the 11th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Rob graduated from Ravensbourne School of Professional Broadcasting in 2000 at the age of twenty as the youngest student ever to graduate from the course. He founded his own production company, Future Time Pictures in 2004, and has directed and edited many behind the scenes featurettes including The Real Billy Elliot Diaries (for ITV1), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Pride and Prejudice, United 93, and The Bourne Ultimatum.

Wednesday is Rob’s short film debut and a very personal, intimate film for him. It is an observational piece about love, life, and pre-determined destiny. It features the concept of soulmates who meet 25 years later on a Wednesday.

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Nitzan Mager - I Am God
Sunday, October 21, 2007

Nitzan Mager, is the writer and director of the short film I Am God which had its World Premiere recently at the 11th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival. She has also appeared as an actress in a number of films and theatre including Nobody Loves Alice and Hag Same’ach!.

I Am God is a powerful short film based on a Israeli poem about a man traveling in Israel who has lost himself. He meets a grieving mother, her orthodox neighbor, a soldier, and a young Palestinian in his travels and discovers that sometimes finding yourself is not enough.

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Javier Gutierrez and Susana Jacques - Voodoo Bayou, Sunday, October 14, 2007

We speak with the creators of the animated short film Voodoo Bayou, which won Second Prize for best animation at the 11th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival and screened at the eighth annual RIIFF Horror Film Festival.

Javier Gutierrez is the film’s writer and director and Susana Jacques is the executive producer of the film. They have used their artist’s eye from the world of advertising at Ciber Films to develop a dark and enchanting tale of a Voodoo doll that comes to life and tries to escape from his nemesis, the witch-doctor.

This short represents the first film of three planned chapters. The captivating original score, which won First Prize for best score at RIIFF, was composed by Rodrigo Barbera.

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Stacy Dymalski and Billie Harsh - The Write Stuff
Bayou, Sunday, October 14, 2007

Filmmaker Stacy Dymalski and actress Billie Harsh speak with us about the comedic short film The Write Stuff which satirizes the hypocrisy of critics.

A stand-up comic and writer, Stacy is the founder of the independent video production company Saffire Systems. A member of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), she’s also written, directed and produced several successful commercials and short films.

Billie started performing at the age of three and has appeared in several musical productions across the country. She currently works with Stacy and three others at Crazy Parkite Productions, where she works managing production in addition to acting.

The interview was recorded live at the 11th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Click here for more Information and to download.

Chris Burgard - Border
Sunday, October 7, 2007

Chris Burgard is the director of the provocative documentary Border, which gives viewers a front row seat along the United States Border with Mexico.

The film screened to much acclaim at the 11th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Chris has quite a varied background which includes having worked as a ballet dancer, stunt double, and actor - both on television roles in Tour of Duty and Growing Pains, and in numerous films including Pirates of the Caribbean and The Last Samurai, featuring his horsemanship. He even wrote and directed a Troma film cult classic, The Ruining.

Chris is touring the United States with his latest film Border aboard his “Big Blue Bus” in order to educate people on the situation on the southern border. Details on the tour dates can be found by visiting his website.

Click here for more Information and to download.

More: pages 1. 3. 4