2006 Producer's Circle Awards

• RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO HONOR COMMUNITY & BUSINESS LEADERS

• PRESENTATIONS OF THE FIRST ANNUAL PRODUCER’S CIRCLE AWARDS TO TAKE PLACE JULY 20TH

The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Year. What started in the Blackstone Valley as an offshoot of the Jubilé Franco-Américain, a regional arts festival that celebrated the region’s rich French Canadian heritage, has now blossomed into an internationally recognized cinematic event. To commemorate its first decade, RIIFF will present the inaugural Producer’s Circle Awards to community and business leaders who have helped to nurture and build the event. The Awards program takes place on Thursday, July 20th at the Federal Reserve in Providence and will feature a preview of this year’s Festival.

According to George T. Marshall, RIIFF’s founder and Executive Director, “It began as a dream: to create in Rhode Island an event that for the first time underscored film as an art form. The initial discussions began in 1994 and took place all over the state with arts and business leaders to make this dream a reality.

“By 1996, the prototype was ready to launch - a series of films from the archives of the Québec Consulate General-Boston and the former Union Saint Jean Baptiste. The location was humble: the Woonsocket Library and two senior hi-rises. It proved an exceptional test run and laid the foundation for what was to come.

“In 1997, the Stadium Theatre Foundation secured rights to acquire Woonsocket’s faded and long-closed movie palace. After being approached by former Mayor Francis Lanctot, the decision was made to officially launch the Rhode Island International Film Festival at the Stadium. The Festival sprang from the Jubilé Franco Américain, an award-winning cultural event that showcased the best of Franco-American culture. The first Rhode Island International Film Festival was born.”

Fast forward ten years later and the Rhode Island International Film Festival has now become one of the leading film festivals in the United States. It is recognized within the industry as New England’s largest annual film event. It was recently cited as one of the “Top 12 Film Festivals” in the US by Travel Smart Magazine and it has been called one of the “Best Short and International Film Festivals,” by film guru, Chris Gore.

Out of over 7,000 film festivals worldwide, RIIFF is one of only 63 that has an award affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars). In nine years, 11 films that have had their premiere at the festival have been nominated for Academy Awards; four have won. RIIFF is the only film festival in the United States which also nominates music score and composers for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (aka - the Grammys).

“In short, the Rhode Island International Film Festival has become a world-class event,” added Marshall. “RIIFF has developed a solid international reputation which could explain the record number of submissions—this year over 2,000 from across the globe.”

The success of the Rhode Island International Film Festival would not have happened, according to Marshall, had it not been for the strong community support it received during its first decade. To honor those who selflessly supported the Festival’s mission inspired the creation of the Producer’s Circle Awards.

The community and business leader to be honored are ~

• Hon. Lincoln Almond, Former Governor, State of Rhode Island
• Jon & Betty Jane Berberian, Columbus Theatre Arts Center
• Bob Billington, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
• Eric Bilodeau, Cable Car Cinema
• Winifred Brownell, Dean of Arts & Sciences, University of Rhode Island
• Louise Champigny, USJB/Catholic Family Life
• Lisa Churchville, CEO/President, NBC10
• Hon. David Cicilline, Mayor of Providence
• Michel Coutu, President/CEO, Brooks Pharmacy
• Mark & Lynnette Daponte, Mirage Design
• Michael F. Drywa, Jr., Esq., Legal Counsel
• Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Lamoureux, Jubilé Franco-Américain
• Hon. Francis Lanctot, Former Mayor, City of Woonsocket
• Michele Palmieri Maker & Tim Gaulin, Clear Channel Communications
• Don Manley, Wiggleroom Design
• John Palumbo, RI Monthly
• John Rule, Rule Broadcasting
• Jim Vickers, Motif Magazine
• Cliff Wood & Lynne McCormack, Providence Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism

THE WHO, WHAT AND WHERE OF IT
The RIIFF Producer’s Circle Awards will take place at the Federal Reserve located on 60 Dorrance Street in Providence, RI. The date is Thursday, July 20th, and will run from 5-7:00 p.m. The event is open to the general public.

A donation of $35.00 per person is suggested and includes admission, hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast to the honorees and two tickets to a Festival screening (excluding opening and closing night.)

Tickets are available by calling the Festival’s office at 401-861-4445. An RSVP is requested.

All proceeds generated by the Producer’s Circle Awards presentation will be used for the planning and production of RIIFF’s 10th Anniversary Season.

RIIFF is a production of the Flickers Arts Collaborative, a Rhode Island-based 501-c non-profit arts and educational organization. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.

The Rhode Island International Film Festival is generously supported by WJAR TV 10, the CW, The Providence Biltmore, The City of Providence, the Providence Tourism Council, Clear Channel Communications, the Feinstein IMAX, Rule Broadcast Systems, Sony, Motif Magazine, Amtrak, Southwest Airlines, and individual contributions. The Tenth Annual Rhode Island International Film Festival will take place August 8-13, 2006. For more information, write RIIFF, P.O. Box 162, Newport, RI 02840. Telephone: 401-861-4445. E-mail: info@film-festival.org