Welcome to the 20th Annual FLICKERS: PROVIDENCE LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL

June 10-12th 2016 & August 9-14, 2016

2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF). For the past 13 years during the month of June, Flickers has hosted a sneak peek of its main Festival LGBTQ sidebar. The annual event is called a “Secret Cinema” since Flickers’ schedule has not yet been officially released. This highly popular program is part of the newly launched Providence International Arts Festival and part of the Countdown to Pride 2015. Flickers will donate a portion of the admission fee to local LGBTQ organizations. This marks the second year of the Festival’s partnership with The Vets (Veterans Memorial Auditorium) for a special screening in their 6th Floor Ballroom.

The films to be presented at the “Secret Cinema Date Night” screenings this year represent a diverse collection of newly discovered shorts and feature films chosen from a pool of over 5,500 international submissions to the Festival.

This year’s “Secret Cinema” will be a special countdown event for Rhode Island Pride and be presented in recognition of Gay Pride Month as part of the Festival’s community outreach efforts.

“RI Pride is happy to include the RI International Film Festival's preview among our official Countdown to Pride events leading up to PrideFest June 20. We'll be there to enjoy the evening and engage film-goers about opportunities for involvement in the Rhode Island Pride season,” said Jen Stevens, of RI Pride.

Friday’s screening at The Vets features a highly entertaining screen memoir that premiered at South by Southwest and centers on a colorful figure attracted to envelope-pushing music and includes the history about bands and artists. Critically acclaimed, this first-rate documentary includes a mix of sterling archival materials and starry talking heads echoing the subject’s gossipy, impudent manner. The soundtrack, needless to say, is a mix-tape dream.

Saturday night screenings at the Bell Street Chapel Theatre will showcases and introduces a critically acclaimed romantic comedy that explores all the possibilities of love in the LGBT community from a wry and touching perspective. Short comedic films will proceed the feature.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE AND THE GAY COMMUNITY

Providence is among the top LGBT-friendly cities in the country, according to a NerdWallet study. Providence ranked fourth, behind San Francisco, which was first; Portland, Ore., second; and Austin, Texas, third. Baltimore was fifth.

NerdWallet said that in the Providence metro area, 4.4 percent of the population identifies as LGBT, and that in June, the city hosts the annual RI PrideFest. It also notes that the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau even has its own “Glambassador,” drag queen Haley Star.

“The area also has Pride RI, Youth Pride Inc., ACLU of Rhode Island and other civil rights organizations promoting equal rights and visibility for the local LGBT community,” NerdWallet stated.

ABOUT THE FLICKERS’ PROVIDENCE LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW

The annual Providence LGBTQ Film Festival is a Flickers’ sidebar that showcases cinematic work that reflects all aspects of the LGBTQ experience. Programming will include an expanded focus on the growing social and political awareness of the international transgender community, marginalized LGBTQ youth and an exploration of relationships within the international LGBTQ community. Flickers’ programming and community outreach efforts are supported by the Rhode Island Foundation’s “Equity Action”; a field of interest fund at the Foundation that advances equitable treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Rhode Island residents.

Flickers’ “Secret Cinema” LGBTQ Festival Preview, will be presented this year at The Vets on Friday evening, June 12th and at the historic Bell Street Chapel on Saturday, June 13th. Both screenings will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for both screenings. A $10 donation is suggested for admission.

Flickers’ portion of the proceeds from the Friday and Saturday night screening will be donated to Options Magazine, a non-profit publication of news and events within the Rhode Island LGBTQ community.

THE WHO, WHAT AND WHERE OF IT:

The screening of RIIFF’s "'First Look' SECRET CINEMA LGBTQ Preview" will take place at both The Vets new 6th Floor Ballroom located at 83 Park Street (rear of bldg.) and the Bell Street Chapel Theatre which is located at 5 Bell Street, both in Providence, RI.

The Vets (formerly VMA Arts & Cultural Center)

6th FLOOR BALLROOM
83 Park Street entrance (rear of bldg.), Providence, RI 02903
401.621.9660
1,900 seats downstairs,150-200 seats upstairs, www.vmari.com

Map it:

Bell Street Chapel Theatre

5 Bell Street, Providence, RI 02909

401.273.5678

50-75 seats downstairs, www.bellstreetchapel.org

Map it:

THE WHO, WHAT AND WHEN OF IT:

Dates: Friday -Saturday, June 12-13, 2015

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Locations:

• The Vets, 6th Floor Ballroom, 83 Park Street, Providence, RI

• The Bell Street Chapel Theatre, 5 Bell Street, Providence, RI

Cost: $10 donation; $8 for RIIFF CinemaRI members. Tickets available at the door.

Contact 401-861-4445 for more information.

All proceeds generated by the screening will be used for the planning and production of RIIFF’s 19th Annual Season or donated as noted above to LGBTQ non-profit organizations. RIIFF is a 501-C(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.

FLICKERS: Providence LGBTQ Film Festival

PO Box 162 • Newport, RI 02840 (United States)

Office: 83 Park Street, Suite 5, Providence, RI 02903
Tel/Fax: (401) 861-4445/490-6735

info@film-festival.org

Some Rhode Island LGBTQ Organizations we support and endorse:

The Bell Street Chapel

Rhode Island LGBTQ Resource Listing: click here

Providence LGBTQ Film Festival Exclusive Sponsors:

Main LGBTQ Festival:

August 4-9, 2015

Note that this year's screenings, while spread across the city of Providence, will once again primarily be based at the Bell Street Chape Theatrel, 5 Bell Street, just off of Broadway in Providence

• GBLT News of Note • Upcoming Events of Interest to the GLBT Community

• How you can help

• Why Support the Providence LGBTQ Film Festival

• Films we recommend • Planning your own LGBTQ Festival

• Other LGBTQ Festivals • Alternative Film Blog

• Link to last year's programming: click here

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