2017 FLICKERS' VORTEX SCI-FI, FANTASY &
HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS FOR THE 18th ANNUAL EVENT

52 films from across the globe vied for adjudicated genre awards

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PROVIDENCE, RI (October 23, 2017) – A phantasmagoric symphony of international genre films were given there due with the wrap of the 18th Annual Flickers’ Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Film Festival through adjudicated awards. The Festival celebrated and showcased imagination and creativity in filmmaking and included a bevy of World and U.S. Premieres. In all, films were selected from over 3,000 genre submissions, representing 17 countries

This year's Festival included a return of its popular H.P. Lovecraft Walking Tour over a two-day period presented in collaboration with the RI Historical Society, free in-school programs, an expanded Campus Connections program that brings free Festival programming to area Colleges and Universities, and two free Forums that look behind-the-scenes at creating genre films in the Ocean State. The Forums featured an exclusive conversation with Executive Director of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office, Steven Feinberg and actor, Robert Capron (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”).

The 2017 festival screened 52 titles at venues in Providence which included The Vets, the Providence Public Library, Providence College, Johnson and Wales University, the Rhode Island Historical Society, along with satellite programming at the Tiverton Public Library, Warwick Public Library and Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. Special screenings also took place at Westerly High School and the Beacon School in Woonsocket.

“We made a concerted effort this year to expand our programming to include a dynamic mix of the Horror, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi genres,” said Shawn Quirk, Program Director of the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, which produces the Vortex sidebar. “These films represent the vanguard of genre filmmaking from across the globe, and showcase a rising generation of filmmakers, who are redefining genre films for the next generation of cinephiles.

“These filmmakers are leaders of tomorrow's entertainment industry, and it's our mission to empower them and help them move forward in their respective careers through showcasing their work.

“From our ongoing educational outreach with area colleges and universities, free library screenings, high school-based programs, to a master class on filmmaking and a conversation on the film industry, this year's Vortex Film Festival laid the foundation for an expanded event next year” noted Quirk. “We continue to be proud to see that this sidebar to RIIFF has become an important cultural event for the State.”

Winners of the 2017 Festival Awards:

BEST SCI-FI SHORT FILM:

GRAND PRIZE:

My Best Friend Is Stuck on the Ceiling | Matthew Vesely, Director | 10 min. Australia, 2015.

 

FIRST PRIZE:

Real Artists | Cameo Wood, Director | 12 min. | USA, 2017.

BEST FANTASY SHORT FILM:

GRAND PRIZE:

Ovum | Luciano Blotta, Director | 17 min. USA, 2016.

 

FIRST PRIZE:

Nimmer | Lieven Vanhove, Director | 16 min. Belgium, 2016.

BEST HORROR SHORT FILM:

GRAND PRIZE:

Robb’s Problem | Dianna Ippolito, Director | 19 min. USA, 2017.

 

FIRST PRIZE:

When Demons Die | Daniel Rübesam, Director | 19 min. Germany, 2016.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM:

GRAND PRIZE:

Meeting MacGuffin | Catya Plate, Director | 10 min. USA, 2017.

 

FIRST PRIZE:

Garden Party | Théophile Dufresne, Director | 8 min. | France, 2016.

BEST FEATURE FILM:

GRAND PRIZE:

Charismata | Tor Mian, Director | 96 min. United Kingdom, 2017.

DIRECTORIAL DISCOVERY AWARD:

Red Ruby | Jose Holder, Director | 21 min. Canada, 2016.

Plans are already in development for an expansion of the Festival and a greater high school, college and student presence in 2018.

This event is sponsored by Flickers, the Rhode Island International Film Festival, The Rhode Island Film & Television Office, RI PBS, Amtrak, RISCA, Cox Media, Eurochannel, CW28, Diabolique Magazine, GoProvidence.com, The Harrington School of Communication and Media at the University of Rhode Island, The URI College of Arts & Sciences, The Film Media Program, The Vets, the Providence Public Library, the Tiverton Public Library, the Warwick Public Library, Beacon High School, Westerly High School, Providence College, Johnson and Wales University, Roger Williams University and the RWU Film Production Collaborative.

The next edition of the Flickers' Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Festival will take place October 15-21, 2018.

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Sponsors for 2017:

The University of Rhode Island Harrington School of Communication and Media,

The URI College of Arts & Sciences and The Film Media Program are proud sponsors of the

Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Film Festival.

© 2017 Rhode Island International Film Festival®. All Rights Reserved.