How the Rhode Island Film Festival Is “Writing a New Narrative”

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How the Rhode Island Film Festival Is “Writing a New Narrative”

As a gamer who grew up in Rhode Island, I’ve always been proud of our small but mighty state. But this year, my pride has reached new heights! The 42nd Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing a diverse slate of films from around the globe.

Despite being the tiniest U.S. state, Rhode Island is making a big impact in the world of filmmaking.

Approximately 300 films were shown at the 42nd Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival held in Providence from August 6th to 11th. This event showcased a variety of narrative features, documentaries, and short films hailing from 51 different countries worldwide. The festival is among ten international events that qualify for the Academy Awards’ live-action, animated, and documentary short categories, having received over 7,000 submissions this year alone.

For executive director Shawn M. Quirk, who has been with the festival for 13 years, RIIFF has a two-pronged approach to serving filmmakers both in Rhode Island and beyond its borders. “It’s really about building this global community, as well as helping our local filmmakers who need that access,” Quirk tells THR.

Quirk mentions, “It’s wonderful to envision Rhode Island as a premier film location worldwide,” he says. “Back when Rhode Island was a colony, it had a mindset of being its own small nation – they were always striving for independence from the rest.”

Three of the festival’s offerings are its official Academy Award submissions: “Hearts of Stone”, a live-action short directed by Tom Van Avermaet, “And Granny Would Dance”, an animated short helmed by Maryam Mohajer, and “Eternal Father”, a documentary short from Omer Sami. These three short films will be added to the esteemed roster of RIIFF submissions. Since 1998, a total of 87 films that debuted at RIIFF have received Academy Awards nominations, with 14 of these being recognized in the shorts categories. The festival also functions as a qualifier for the BAFTAs, the Canadian Screen Awards, and Spain’s Goya Awards.

How the Rhode Island Film Festival Is “Writing a New Narrative”

Although RIIFF has traditionally been known as a platform for short films, Quirk emphasizes its dedication towards long-form storytelling through feature films. This year marked the world debut of Chakib Taleb Bendiab’s crime drama “Algiers”, which garnered the best feature award and became the first Algerian feature to win an accolade at a significant American film festival.

Notable highlights among the offerings are:

Another highlight was the repertory screening of Richard Stanley’s Color Out of Space, the cult director’s 2019 H.P. Lovecraft adaptation starring Nicolas Cage (and his first feature after being infamously fired from The Island of Dr. Moreau). Stanley appeared in person to announce his next project: another adaptation from the catalog of the horror master (and Providence native), this time an ambitious two-part adaptation of The Dunwich Horror.

In today’s digital era, an intriguing dilemma arises when organizing a local festival: With an abundance of streaming content readily available at home, and the perception that people are less likely to visit cinemas than pre-pandemic times, what unique experiences can a film festival provide for potential viewers? However, Quirk doesn’t view streaming as a rival. Instead, he posits that the increased accessibility to a wide variety of programming has fueled audience curiosity about the festival’s offerings. “They’re watching shows from various parts of the world,” explains Quirk. “I believe their taste has evolved. A decade ago, people might have complained about reading too many subtitles. But I no longer hear such comments.”

How the Rhode Island Film Festival Is “Writing a New Narrative”

This also presents a chance to introduce RIIFF’s viewers to cinematic perspectives of the world they haven’t explored before. Quirk remarks, “I think sometimes there’s an excessive focus on catering to the audience. However, it’s possible to stimulate and provoke them instead, and they often embrace this experience gladly.”

The festival demonstrates its approach when curating the movie lineup: “I believe it’s less about whether this film suits our audience, but rather finding an exceptional film and then knowing our audience will embrace it. There are numerous movies that people yearn to watch, they just don’t know what those films are yet.”

2022 marked the tribute to our festival’s founder, George T. Marshall, who passed away this year. A distinguished professor of film at both the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University, Marshall established Flickers, the Newport Film Society & Arts Collaborative, in 1981. In remembrance of him, we initiated the George T. Marshall Production Grant at RIIFF, an annual $10,000 award bestowed upon two former RIIFF filmmakers pursuing funding for a fresh project.

Tiffany Kimmel was among the first recipients, and her stop-motion animated TV series pilot titled “Civil Service” is currently under development with Nihil Declarandum Productions. Meanwhile, Reshad Kulenovic, the other recipient, has his feature film titled “Selma” in development, receiving support from the Bosnian National Film Fund, BH Telecom, and Tallinn ScriptPool. This upcoming movie will feature rising star Muhamed Hadžović.

One of Quirk’s aspirations for RIIFF’s future includes the grant, but he also envisions a broader growth for the festival. Specifically, he aims to establish a development and production division, much like Sundance’s multiple labs and fellowships. In his words, “We are writing a new story.” He aspires for RIIFF to lead the way, becoming a pioneering festival that mirrors today’s global scene.

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2024-09-06 14:54