Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Discovering the new voices of independent film

• FAQS for Filmmakers/Screenwriters who enter our Competitions: click here

When is the Rhode Island International Film Festival?

The next FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival will take place Tuesday, August 6th through Sunday, August 11th, 2019.

Where does the festival take place?

RIIFF takes place in venues around the Rhode Island area. It is the only United States Festival that is truly statewide in its presentation. 2019 screenings will be held at The Vets (formerly VMA Arts & Cultural Center), Metcalf Auditorium at RISD Museum, The Moses Brown School, The Greenwich Odeum, and others. Panel discussions in 2019 will be held at the select sites in the city of Providence. Parties will be held at The Vets, The Rooftop at the Providence G, Trinity Brew Pub, The Hotel Providence, The Dean Hotel, and other sites throughout the capital city.

Who can attend the Festival?

The Festival attracts a huge spectrum of audiences from New England and across the globe. This year, we anticipate over 46,000 attendees for RIIFF events and programs throughout the year. Everyone is welcome to attend.

What kind of films will I see?

The festival shows independent narrative features, documentaries, and shorts from around the world. We promise that these aren't the Hollywood films at the local multiplex. These are independent films that you may not have the opportunity to see anywhere else. Many will have their world premiere with RIIFF.

How do you choose the films you show?

Filmmakers submit their films to the festival. Every submission is viewed by at least three members of the Program/Adjudication Committee, and films are invited to the festival at the discretion of the Executive Director. In 2018, the Festival received over 6,500 entries from around the world from which to create the Festival. In 2019, we expect the number will be just over 6,900 entries.

How many films play in the Festival?

Approximately 40 features, 65 feature documentaries and 195 shorts make up the main body of the Festival. In 2019 we plan on screening 300 titles.

What awards are given out at the Festival?

Read about the RIIFF awards.

What else do I need to know?

Seating is available at all performances on a first-come, first-served basis. No late seating. We strongly recommend that you arrive at the theatre 30 minutes prior to each screening to get in the ticket holders line. All programs are subject to change without notice. No refunds or exchanges can be given, except in the case of program cancellation. All films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles, unless otherwise noted.

With the exception of the KidsEye™ series, children under six years old will not be admitted, and children six and over will be charged regular ticket prices.

All audience members must leave the theatre following each screening. Leaving belongings and/or saving seats between shows is not allowed. Please do not leave empty seats in the middle of a row.

Cameras and recording devices are not permitted in the theatre. Please silence all cellular phones, pagers and watches when in the theatre.

How do I purchase tickets or passes to a screening?

Festival passes for the 2019 Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival are on sale now. Tickets to individual screenings will be available for purchase by July 20, 2019; normally one month prior to the Festival. Passes and tickets can be purchased on this web site or over the phone at 401-861-4445. Walk up sales of passes and tickets will begin at Festival venues in early August 2019.

What are some films that have played in past festivals?

Tons. Quite simply, thousands of titles. Some of the films screened in the past have included Walt Disney's The Little Matchgirl and Waking Sleeping Beauty, Stu Pollard's Keep Your Distance; Josh Staub's The Mantis Parable; John Williams’ Hibernation; Richard Gibson’s Message from Fallujah; Jeff Zimbalist & Matt Mochary’s Favela Rising; Cherry Arnold’s Buddy; Mary Mazzio’s Lemonade Stories; Mary Healey Conlon’s Holy Water Gate; David Rittey’s Closer; Stephen Collins’ Next of Kin and Tiffani Thiessen’s Just Pray. In recent years, the Festival has also presented the World or American debuts of Destino; Listening; Kiss the Bride; Gregor's Greatest Invention; The Personals; News for the Church; Bonhoeffer; Unknown Soldier and Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin; among many many others. Check out our awards section to discover more about the films that have played the Festival.

RIIFF also has premiered 66 films that have gone on to be nominated for Academy Awards in the short film division. Ten of these films have taken home the coveted Oscar®.

You never know what film you'll be the first to discover at the Festival!

I want to get involved with RIIFF. What can I do to help?

There are a number of ways you can support the Rhode Island International Film Festival. You can~

Volunteer: We need all kinds of assistance leading up to, during, and after the festival. Click here to find out more

Sponsor: There are many opportunities and benefits for sponsoring us.

Click here to find out more

Donate: Your donation is tax-deductible.

Click here to find out more

Box Office & Theatre Policies

NO EXCHANGES OR REFUNDS. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED AND MAY SELL OUT AT ANY TIME.

• A maximum of four Tickets may be purchased per person, per screening.

• Film length, as listed in the schedule, represents the best available information at press time and is for your convenience only. Length of film does not include film introductions or Q&A sessions following the screening. Programs and schedules are subject to change without notice.

• Festival Pass holders MUST present their Passes with a ticket when entering a venue.

 

• Passes must be worn visibly in all festival venues (including screenings, panels, and parties).

• Vouchers are not tickets, but must be exchanged for a film ticket.

• Pass holders will be admitted to screenings first and are guaranteed seats up to 15 minutes in advance of the scheduled start of that screening.

 

• Ticket holders are guaranteed a seat only until ten minutes before the scheduled start of the screening.

• No entry permitted fifteen minutes after the scheduled start of any screening.

• All customers must leave the cinema and lobby following each screening.

• Bags are subject to inspection.

• No refunds or exchanges. In case of cancellation of screening, return ticket to point of purchase.

• Please silence cellular phones, pagers and watches when in the theatres.

• Cameras and recording devices are strictly prohibited in theatres. It is illegal to make a copy of a film without permission of the copyright owner. RIIFF reserves the right to undertake anti-piracy measures, expel anyone recording or photographing anything in the theatre and confiscate pirated materials.

• Our invaluable and experienced staff and volunteers are recruited from far and wide to ensure the best possible Festival experience for all. RIIFF will not tolerate mistreatment of its staff or volunteers of any kind and will take measures accordingly.

• All Festival Venues are Wheelchair Accessible. Festival patrons requiring wheelchair access, should contact the Festival Box Office in advance by calling 401.861.4445.

• Please note that the majority of festival films are not rated. We urge parents to exercise discretion. Infants and toddlers are not permitted at any screening or panel, unless they are related to KidsEye™ where age-specific materials are defined. We reserve the right to create age restrictions for films as necessary.

• Customers are limited to holding space in rush lines for a maximum of two individuals, including themselves. Please inform the Festival Staff person at the Rush Line if you are holding a place for another individual.

• Please do not leave empty seats in the middle of the row. Rush seating is less disruptive to the rest of the audience if empty seats are available on the aisles. Standing at the back of the auditorium or sitting in the aisle is not permitted due to the Fire Code.

 

Rush Tickets
Limited advance tickets will be sold prior to screenings. Rush tickets will become available for sale on a first-come, first-serve basis approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A line for these rush tickets will form up to an hour before show time. Each attendee must purchase their own ticket. Multiple rush tickets will not be sold to an individual.

How can I sponsor the festival?

Contact Shawn Quirk, Program Director, for details. He can be reached by email quirk@film-festival.org, phone 401-861-4445, or mail 83 Park Street, Suite 5, Providence, RI 02903.

How can I make a tax-deductible donation to support the festival?

Send tax-deductible donations to:

Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival
PO Box 162
Newport, RI 02840

United States

A letter for tax purposes will be mailed to you.

Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival™

Mailing: P.O. Box 162, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 (United States)
Street Address: 36 Rhode Island Avenue, Newport, RI 02840

Office: 83 Park Avenue, Suite 5, Providence , RI 02903
Tel/Fax: (401) 861-4445 / 490-6735
info@film-festival.org

• Photos courtesy Mary Hanley