RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2005 AWARDS
The Ninth Annual Festival Concludes A Great Success Attracting Record Crowds

PROVIDENCE, RI (August 14, 2005) The 2005 Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) announced the winners in this year’s film competition at its annual closing-day Awards Brunch held this morning at Fire & Ice Restaurant in Providence.

This year, RIIFF received 1,507 entries in competition and 61 titles out of competition. 272 titles were chosen as finalists and screened at this year's RIIFF at locations throughout the state of Rhode Island. Films were entered from 32 states and 62 countries. Of those films selected for exhibition, 48 were World Premieres.

123 filmmakers, producers, distributors, cast and crew registered with and attended the festival. Attendance levels were above 2004 records with seven sold-out screenings throughout the week. More than 1,900 people attended the three screenings for the eagerly anticipated documentary about former Providence Mayor and perennially controversial figure, Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci, directed by Providence filmmaker, Cherry Arnold.

“It was an exceptional year,” said Michael Drywa, RIIFF’s Board President. “RIIFF again finished strongly in the black financially and kudos go to the loyal staff of committed volunteers who worked for the past year to make the Festival such a well-organized success. Once again, RIIFF is distinguished by the superb quality of its films, enthusiastic audiences and the support of sponsors like the City of Providence’s Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism, The Providence Tourism Council, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Sony, Kodak, NBC 10, Clear Channel Communications, Motif Magazine, The Providence Phoenix, Rule Broadcasting Systems, Delta Airlines, Amtrak, the Federal Hill Gazette, Jenn Lee Design and the Federal Hill Merchant’s Association.

The RIIFF Awards were presented by RIIFF Executive Director George T. Marshall and Will Lyman, the New England-based actor/director recognized nationally as the voice of “Nova.” Presenters included Al Gomes of Big Noise, Ltd., Joce Donaghue, from the Courthouse Center for the Arts, and past documentary award winner, Guy Perrotta (“Mystic Voices”). Kerri Coletta, RIIFF Awards Coordinator was on hand to facilitate the event.

RIIFF Awards carry significance since the Festival is an official Academy Award qualifier for the short film category. Of over 1,950 festivals worldwide, only 47 share this distinction.

THE RIIFF AWARDS 2005:

BEST SHORT
Grand: Hibernation — John Williams, Director; Andy Gordon &Christos MIchaels, Producers, UK
Judge’s Commendation:
1st: Closer — David Rittey, Director, NEW ZEALAND
2nd: Lift — Hugues Dalton, Director, USA

BEST EXPERIMENTAL
Grand: Reflejos —Eduardo Fierro, Director, USA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st One Balloon —Aruna Naimji, Director, USA/CANADA
2nd Cherie —Jason Wen, Director/Producer, USA/UK

THE VIDEO TRANSFER PROVIDENCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD
(SALUTING REGIONAL FILMMAKERS)
Grand: mr. clock — John Doan, Director, MASSACHUSETTS
Judge’s Commendation:
1st Herbert III — Rebecca Abbott, Director, CONNECTICUT
2nd Island Bound — Nate Conway, Director, RHODE ISLAND

BEST ANIMATION
Grand: Surly Squirrel — Peter Lepeniotis, Director; CANADA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st In the Rough — Paul Taylor, Director; USA

BEST SCREENPLAY
Grand: The Act —Pi Ware & Susan Kraker, Directors, USA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st Midnight Clear —Kristin Ross, Director, USA
2nd Goodnight Bill —John Mitchell & Jeremy Kipp Walker, Directors, USA

BEST EDITING
Grand: Finding Home —Lawrence David Foldes, Director, USA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st God is Good – Caryn Waechter, Director, USA
2nd Favela Rising —Jeff Zimbalist & Matt Mochary, Directors, USA/BRAZIL

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Kodak Vison Award
Grand: Message from Fallujah —Richard Gibson, Director, AUSTRALIA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st Tama Tu — Taika Waititi, Writer/Director, NEW ZEALAND
2nd The Big Empty —J. Lisa Chang & Newton Thomas Sigel, Directors, USA

KIDSEYE™ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD
Grand: The Mantis Parable — Josh Staub, Director, USA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st Monday — Wilhelm Ogterop, Director, SOUTH AFRICA/UK
2nd Green Tee — Joseph Procopio, Director, CANADA
3rd Aerosol — Wojciech Wawrzyniak, Director, AUSTRALIA

AVID™ STUDENT FILM COMPETITION (award includes Avid Express software)
Grand: 9:30 – Mun Chee Yong, Director, USA/SINGAPORE
Judge’s Commendation:
1st The Monster & the Peanut – Franklin jin Rho, Director, USA
2nd Moondance – Will Bigham, Director, USA

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Grand: Holy Water Gate – Mary Healey Conlon, Director, Rhode Island
Judge’s Commendation:
1st Lemonade Stories – Mary Mazzio, Director, USA/UK
2nd The Aggressives – Daniel Peddle, Director, USA

BEST SCORE
Grand: Just Pray - Tiffani Thiessen, Director; Lori McKenna, Paul Doucette, Composer, USA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st Winning the Peace – Eli Akira Kaufman, Director; Lee Curreri, Composer, USA

BEST FEATURE
Grand (Tie): Max & Grace – Michael Parness, Director, USA
Finding Home — Lawrence David Foldes, Director, USA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st Fall to Grace – Mari Marchbanks, Director, USA
2nd Hate Crime – Tommy Stovall, Director, USA

DIRECTORIAL DEBUT
Next of Kin – Stephen Collins, Director, USA

RIIFF DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD
Grand: Keep Your Distance —Stu Pollard, Director, USA

ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD
Grand: dare — Adam Salky, Director, USA
Judge’s Commendation:
1st Mormor’s Visit — Casper Andreas, Director, SWEDEN/USA
2nd Comme un frere (Like a Brother) – Bernard Alapetite & Cyril Legann, Directors, FRANCE

VIOLA M. MARSHALL AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
Best Feature:
"Keep Your Distance"
Directed by Stu Pollard
2005 World Premiere Screening

Best Documentary:
"Buddy"
Directed by Cherry Arnold
2005 World Premiere Screening

Best Short:
" Dead End Job"
Directed by Samantha Davidson Green
2005 East Coast Premiere

Previously announced awards:

CRYSTAL IMAGE AWARD
• Michael Showalter, Actor/Director
for First-time Filmmaker

CREATIVE VISION AWARD
• Rosa Von Praunheim Director

RIIFF HUMANITARIAN AWARD
• Danny Trejo, Actor

As in years past, this year’s Festival continued to be a Mecca for filmmakers. Guests included award recipients Danny Trejo (“Once Upon A Time in Mexico,” “Spy Kids,” “Con Air,” “Heat”) and Michael Showalter (star, writer and producer of the cult favorite “Wet Hot American Summer” and actor-writer-director of “The Baxter”). Other guests included actor Stephen Collins (“Seventh Heaven”) who presented “Next of Kin,” the world premiere of his first directorial effort; actor and former Trinity Rep Artistic Director Richard Jenkins (“Six Feet Under”), the country singer Billy Gilman (who debuted his new musical short, “Hey Little Suzie”), actor/writer Ernest Thompson (“On Golden Pond”) and John Fiore and other cast members of “The Sopranos” who starred in “Johnny Slade’s Greatest Hits,” another Festival World Premiere. They joined the company of such past RIIFF guests as Julie Andrews, Patricia Neal, Steve Buscemi, Seymour Cassel, Bobby and Peter Farrelly, Andrew McCarthy, Jon Cryer, Ben Stiller, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.

The next Rhode Island International Film Festival will take place August 8-13, 2006 in locations throughout Providence and the state of Rhode Island. RIIFF is a juried competition and showcase for independent filmmakers from all over the world.

Honorary co-chairs are Governor Donald Carceiri, Providence Mayor David M. Cicilline, and US Senator Jack Reed. Michael Drywa, Esq. is the RIIFF Board President. George T. Marshall is the Festival Executive Director.