Welcome to the Festival The 18th Annual Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), welcomes stellar filmmaking talents from all over the world to beautiful Providence, Rhode Island—one of America’s oldest and most beloved cities. For nearly two decades, RIIFF has embraced its visitors with the sort of warm-hearted, independent spirit that fosters long-lasting friendships, sparks exciting creative projects, and inspires guests to return again and again. It’s little wonder that Chris Gore’s Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide praises RIIFF as “the kind of intimate festival experience that will change your life.” Last year, RIIFF presented 210 films from 52 countries and welcomed more than 300 filmmakers, producers, cast, and crew. Now it’s gearing up to be even bigger and better than ever, maintaining its reputation as the largest and most visible film festival in New England. With a slew of unique offerings—including the Rhode Island Film Forum, ScriptBiz, The Future Filmmaking Symposium, Extended Filmmaking and Animation workshops for kids featuring accepted filmmakers, and a closing night block party —RIIFF ensures each of its participating visitors is treated to an enriching, inspiring, and unpredictable festival experience. RIIFF is proud to be one of 19 Festivals in the world that is an Academy Award qualifier in both the Live-Action Short Film and Short Subject Documentary categories. With vanguard programming that seeks to showcase new voices in independent filmmaking from across the globe, RIIFF serves as an exceptional platform from which to launch exciting careers. Seven films that have premiered at RIIFF have won Academy Awards, and another 32 have been nominated, while many have gained distribution with the likes of HBO, Showtime, and IFC. A wide range of competitive categories—including Horror, Children’s, Gay & Lesbian, Documentary, Science Fiction, and Animated films—offers entrants and audience members a veritable buffet of great stories, surprises, and narrative formats. There’s even a screenplay and teleplay competition, designed to give talented screen scribes some well-deserved industry credibility. At RIIFF, there’s no shortage of ways to get noticed! MISSION AND OBJECTIVE RIIFF is dedicated to the creation of opportunities for artistic exchange among independent filmmakers, directors, producers, and the film-going public. The festival’s mission is to discover fresh and talented voices in the world of independent film. MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL RIIFF encourages exhibiting filmmakers—and all entrants-- to attend the Festival, and offers all-access passes, plus reduced rates on area hotels, inns and B&B’s, and the option to stay free of charge with community hosts. RIIFF grants over $50,000 USD worth in prizes to winning filmmakers, including software, scholarships, consulting, and production services. The festival hosts a series of educational events, master classes and symposia on filmmaking, drawing leaders in the field to present. Nightly after-parties throughout the city of Providence are designed to provide a networking platform for visiting filmmakers and industry professionals. RIIFF offers a variety of prestigious awards to some of the most talented artists in (and soon to be in) the business. The festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award has been bestowed upon Oscar-nominated actors Seymour Cassel and Cicely Tyson, Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine, and acclaimed actor of stage and screen, Paul Sorvino. The festival’s Crystal Image Award for Excellence, introduced to honor emerging artists with powerful voices, has been awarded to talents including Zach Braff, Danny Trejo, Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Showalter, composer Klaus Badelt, and children’s book author Sandra Boynton. More than simply a film festival, RIIFF champions artistic vision in any form and is dedicated to sharing that vision with a and enthusiastic audience that hungers for great storytelling.
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