Ridgefield Independent Film Fest Approaches

From the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival:

Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (RIFF) Runs May 20-22 in Ridgefield, Connecticut

• Showing More Than 70 Movies From 23 Countries -- Features, Shorts, Animation, Documentaries and Narrative Films
• Seven curated venues including The Ridgefield Playhouse and The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

• Horror Night On Friday, May 20th at the Keeler Tavern Barn
• Master Classes And Special Programming Featuring Blue Sky Studio’s Chris Wedge, Screenwriter Billy Shebar and Q & A Sessions With Several Directors

• Outdoor Screening of “A Hard Days Night” Plus Concerts In Ballard Park
• RIFF Kids Program Provides Affordable Babysitting at Boys & Girls Club
• RIFF Awards Ceremony Set For May 22 at Keeler Tavern Garden House

Filmmakers from as far away as China and Korea and as nearby as Ridgefield and Katonah will come together in the picturesque town of Ridgefield Connecticut to attend the first ever Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (RIFF) making its debut this month. Running May 20-22, with film and music events happening all along Main Street, the festival, created by local playwright and theatre director, Joanne Hudson, is a site-specific film festival that aims to make the world a more compassionate place through the sharing of stories from around the world through cinema. Local residents have opened their homes to traveling "official selection" filmmakers of the more than 70 films from 23 countries that will be given thoughtful screenings in seven curated venues. RIFF also offers master classes in different aspects of film and filmmaking. And, RIFF Rocks the Park will bring concerts and an outdoor showing of a classic Beatles film to Ballard Park. In addition, affordable babysitting is available through the RIFF Kids program at the Boys & Girls Club. RIFF wraps up with an awards ceremony and garden party on Sunday, May 22nd at the Keeler Tavern Garden House.

Venues

Hudson’s theatre background shaped her vision for the festival and led her to partner with seven different venues, all within walking distance from one another, to create a unique filmgoing experience for attendees throughout the weekend. Films will be shown at The Ridgefield Playhouse (80 East Ridge Road), Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum (258 Main St.), The Prospector Theatre (25 Prospect St.), The Keeler Tavern Museum (132 Main St.), Ridgefield Library (472 Main St.), Ballard Park (485 Main St.) and Luc’s Cafe & Restaurant (3 Big Shop Lane).

"A riff is an improvisation, a series of unique moments to be played once or repeated. I've been walking this town for seven years now and think of Main Street as a stage in which to create our little performance art 'happening.' It's such a beautiful town and I wanted to share it with my artist friends, many of whom are filmmakers. My hope is that filmmakers and attendees will experience many unique moments throughout the festival, that the sharing of art in these beautiful venues will inspire." says Founder and Festival Directpr, Joanne Hudson

Horror Night

The Keeler Tavern Museum’s Barn, which dates back to Revolutionary War times, will be transformed into a creepy cinema -- complete with spirit-stomping shoes discovered in the tavern's rafters-- for RIFF’s Horror Night on Friday, May 20th at 10p.m. Two shorts -- “How to Make A Nightmare” and “Vial” -- along with a chilling feature-length film, “...In the Dark,” will be shown.

Master Classes

In addition to films, RIFF offers master classes in different aspects of film and filmmaking. Some highlights below:

* What Is It? Case Studies in Celebrity, Cults & Culture from John the Baptist to Michael Jackson with Drs. Shawn Marie Garrett and Kathleen Mary Howard

Two academics take you on a deep dive into the history of charisma, celebrity, and iconography from saint worship to the celebrity selfie. Before Bjork, before Brando, audiences thrilled to Sarah Bernhardt, the Barrymores, and The "It" Girl Clara Bow; before Cher came Callas and Chopin; before Billy Graham and Martin Luther King, Jr., Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield set Americans' souls aflame. This 90-minute Master Class will interweave lecture, discussion, and clips in search of possible answers to the age-old question, "What Is ‘It'"?

Storytelling for Filmmakers with Billy Shebar

What makes a good story? Writer-producer Billy Shebar will lead a hands-on exploration of story construction in both narrative and documentary film. Participants are encouraged (but not required) to submit an idea for a fiction or nonfiction film one week before the class. Shebar will select one or two ideas to be developed in a group brainstorming session. The goal is for everyone to walk away with a better appreciation of the craft, as well as tools and techniques they can use to turn an idea into a finished script.

* Reading in the Dark with Emily Keating

We all know how to watch a film, but how much do we actually see? In this fun and interactive workshop, expert viewers of visual images (kids!) will learn some of the language of film as the invisible becomes visible. From the cut to the camera, participants will leave geared with tools to see, appreciate, and talk about movies, tv, and video games in a new way and even put some ideas into practice in the creation of a short media project. Recommended for young people ages 8-12. Emily is Director of Education at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY.

* Micro-Budget Filmmaking (Under 100k) with Dan Schechter

Take the fear out of filmmaking in this 1 hour master class on making and financing your own independent micro-budget film. Dan will share his experience and tips making and budgeting films such as his micro-budget film, Supporting Characters, starring Alex Karpovsky (GIRLS) which premiered at Tribeca in 2012 and the pros and cons involved with higher budget projects, such as his film adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel, Life Of Crime starring Jennifer Anniston and Tim Robbins, which closed Toronto in 2014.

RIFF Rocks the Park - Ballard Park, Ridgefield, Connecticut

The two-day event will celebrate the connection between music and film. On Friday, May 20th at 7:30 p.m., the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra’s Wind Ensemble, led by Albert Montecalvo, will officially open the film festival, playing a selection of themes from famous film scores. The concert will be followed by a screening of The Beatles classic forerunner for indie film, “A Hard Day’s Night,” in the park. RIFF Rocks the Park resumes on Saturday at 11a.m. - 6p.m. with an all-day music festival in the park. Eight local indie bands, including Lys Guillorn & Her Band, Chica Non Grata, the Sawtelles, Telegram Scam, Blank Slate, Spectral Fangs and Ridgefield band, Rori and the Renegades will perform throughout the day, playing original material and covers of songs that have appeared in films or on soundtracks over the years.

RIFF Kids

RIFF teams up with the Ridgefield Boys & Girls Club to offer fun for kids and time for adults to attend the festival. On Saturday from 12noon until 4p.m., the Boys & Girls Club (41 Governor St.) will open its doors to RIFF attendees (present RIFF ticket or pass at drop off) for a special program of kid-friendly films and activities for kids in grades K-8. This drop-off, pick-up program is open to members and nonmembers of the Boys & Girls Club. Pizza will be served for lunch. Fee: $10 per child. R.S. V. P. 203-438-8821 by May 14th. "Drop your kids off and know they are safe and entertained while you come RIFF with us!" says festival director, Joanne Hudson, "Or attend 'Reading In The Dark' with Jacob Burns education director, Emily Keating (1:30pm Aldrich Ed Center - ages 8-12) to learn how to watch a film.

Click here for tickets and passes.

Click here for more information on how to RIFF hour by hour.