KLAUS BADELT TO RECEIVE RIIFF's

2009 Crystal Image Award

Acclaimed Composer to Receive Recognition at this Year's Film Festival

PROVIDENCE, RI: Every year, the Rhode Island International Film Festival recognizes outstanding directors, actors and film talent for their contributions to the art of filmmaking with the Crystal Image Award. The award is presented to an emerging artist whose outstanding work and vision epitomizes a new voice that must be heard; a individual whose talent will have a positive impact in the future.

This year we are proud to honor Klaus Badelt, a gentleman of astonishing talent whose music has crossed nations, cultures, and generations. As a twice ASCAP Award winner, and a World Sound Track Award winner, his is a success story in the realm of music and film.  

Klaus began his career in his homeland of Frankfurt, Germany, where he composed and wrote for many successful commercials and films. In 1998, counterpart Hans Zimmer invited Klaus to work at his studio, Media Ventures, in Santa Monica, California, where his career, and music exploded onto the Hollywood scene.

During Klaus’ collaboration with Zimmer, he contributed to the Oscar-nominated scores for The Thin Red Line, and The Prince of Egypt. He also wrote music for many other directors, such as John Woo, Jeffery Katzenberg, Gore Verbinski and Steven Spielberg. In addition, Klaus co-produced the score to the box-office hit Gladiator (directed by Ridley Scott), as well as co-writing parts of the score with singer/composer Lisa Gerrard. In addition to film work, Klaus also composed the music for the closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.

Klaus Badelt's music played a vital role in the success of many films. Due to his musical contributions to Gladiator, Mission: Impossible 2 and X-Men (along with Michael Kamen), the movies were considered the three most successful movies in 2000. Along with these remarkable films, Badelt's score for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, made him, and his music, a household name.

Currently, Klaus Badelt has been working in Macau, China putting the finishing touches on the first-of-its-kind film installation in the world: The Bubble™. This is a 360-degree theater that will serve as the front door to the largest casino in China, The City of Dreams. The animated film is based on an ancient Chinese fairytale entitled “Dragon Tales”. The film has no dialog, and the music will be played in the round. Never has a movie been scored this way, where the sound coming from all sides is different, yet is played simultaneously. 

It's always been said that music is the universal language. There is no musician who better epitomizes that statement more than Klaus Badelt. Badelt's music alone is enough to tell the story of a film, bypassing the need for words, which can sometimes offer more confusion than clarity. Having worked in Europe, the United States and China, Badelt has truly become a global citizen, a characteristic that is greatly valued and admired. Badelt's influence on the film industry has done what so many try to do; which is to change, to question, and to improve upon their field. His passion for music and film inspires all those around him, and we are honored to present this remarkable man with our Crystal Image Award.

Previous recipients of RIIFF’s Crystal Image Award have been actor/directors Michael Showalter and Zach Braff.

The presentation of the Crystal Image Award will take place on Tuesday, August 4th at 7:00 p.m. during RIIFF's Opening Night Festivities. Tickets are $20 for the screening and can be purchased in advance (see bottom of the page for a hotlink) or at the door.

RIIFF is the largest Film Festival in New England. Celebrating the art of film has always been a critical part of the Rhode Island International Film Festival a factor that has solidified RIIFF’s reputation as a filmmaker-friendly event.

The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) is dedicated to the creation of opportunities for artistic interaction and exchange among independent filmmakers, directors, producers, distributors, backer, and the film-going community. Providence Mayor David M. Cicilline, and US Congressman James Langevin serve as honorary chairs to this year’s event. During the 2009 event, 235 films will be presented.

The Rhode Island International Film Festival is supported in part by the City of Providence, the Providence Tourism Council, the Providence Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism, WJAR TV10, The Providence Phoenix, WBRU, Sony, HB Communications, CVS, NewEnglandFilm.com, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Amtrak, URI's College of Arts and Sciences, URI's Feinstein College of Continuing Education, the URI Film Media Program, Rule Broadcast/Boston Camera, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Art New England Magazine and contributions from members and community supporters. 

The Flickers Arts Collaborative, which created and produces RIIFF, is a non-profit organization with 28 years of experience presenting major artistic events as well as independent and foreign films to the public, produces RIIFF.

• PLEASE PURCHASE YOUR TICKET FOR THIS EVENT AT THE DOOR •

click here to our Opening Night Festivities page to learn more

• HOTLINK TO PURCHASE A TICKET FOR THE RHODE ISLAND FILM FORUM WHERE KLAUS WILL BE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, FRIDAY, AUGUST 7TH •

click here to our Rhode Island Film Forum page

To purchase tickets or obtain more information about any aspect of RIIFF, please call 401-861-4445; or write RIIFF, 268 Broadway, Providence, RI 02903; email info@film-festival.org.

Special thanks to American Trophy of East Providence, RI for the creation of this years,

Crystal Image Award that will be presented to Klaus Badelt.