The Ridgefield Independent Film Festival is back for its 9th year. This year’s edition of RIDGEFIELD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL shines the spotlight on several filmmakers from the surrounding area. All films this year will be at the Prospector Theater in downtown Ridgefield. The festival is an exciting venue filled with independent short film, narrative films and documentaries. There is something for everyone. This is one of our favorite events of the year and if you love film, this is a great way to experience cinema you just do not see on your streaming service.
There will be 39 films in the festival so we encourage you to check the RIFF website for more details and ticket information.
The first film features Easton, CT filmmaker, Karen Thorsen, whose award-winning documentary, JAMES BALDWIN:THE PRICE OF THE TICKET opens the festival on May 16th at The Prospector Theater. Using rarely-seen archival footage, the film melds intimate interviews with the author and civil rights luminary, along with interviews with Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and Frances Foster, public speeches and glimpses of Baldwin. There will be a reception at 7pm, catered by GALLO Ristorante of Ridgefield in the Star Bar of the Prospector Theater, followed by the 8pm screening and a Q&A with the filmmaker, moderated by RIFF Board Member, Lisa Cambridge-Mitchell.
Darien, CT filmmaker Eden Wright is 5th generation in the film business and currently co-stars in “City on a Hill” (Showtime) produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. She brings her short film CUTTER to RIFF’s PSYCH NIGHT! On Friday, May 17th at 9pm. When her newest client sends them both out to sea, a desperate maritime hairdresser learns an important lesson about internet strangers; the hard way. Its just one of 6 short films in Psych Night!
HOW TO PAINT A PEACE SIGN by filmmaker Rick Gomez is part of the Heroic Docs series . It takes an intimate look at grief and healing as Redding, CT artist Dave Daignault teaches viewers a technique to paint prominent peace symbols and, in the process, gives his audience the tools necessary to cope. Rick says of the film, “I have been friends with Dave Daignault for over 30 years. When his wife’s life ended by suicide in 2020, and he decided to move from the barn where they raised their children and painted enormous peace signs for the entire neighborhood to experience, I knew I had to document that departure. What we created was an ode to the power of art and hope and a simple philosophical strategy to cope with grief.” The film is part of the HEROIC DOCS 2, Saturday, May 18th 5pm Theater 2.
Norwalk filmmaker, Alix Speyer Bacher gives us a look inside the world of roller derby with her very entertaining film, DON’T BE DAINTY… IT’S DERBY! Played by women young and old, the emerging sport of roller derby has confident, powerful, female identifying athletes with bodies of every size and shape, at its core. The skaters explain how liberating it is to experience the aggressive power that has long been traditionally reserved for male athletes. Alix is an award winning independent filmmaker. emerge as HEROIC DOCS 2, Saturday, May 18th 5pm Theater 2.
All films will screen at The Prospector Theater – 25 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT May 16-18.
“I am thrilled to bring so many local filmmakers to screen their films at the beautiful Prospector Theater,” states festival founder/director, Joanne Hudson. “Our goal is to create an ecosystem for independent filmmakers in Connecticut.”
Many of these filmmakers will also take part in the MAKE YOUR MOVIE panel on May 17th 2pm at the Lounsbury House. This panel moderated by filmmaker, Daniel Schechter (LIFE OF CRIME, AFTER CLASS, SUPPORTING CHARACTERS) will help to assuage your fears about taking the leap into filmmaking.
Please visit RIFF’s website https://www.riffct.org for more information and tickets.
Background:
Ridgefield Independent Film Festival was founded in 2015 by local playwright and filmmaker, Joanne Hudson and presented its first iteration in May of 2016 at ten venues throughout Ridgefield, CT; screening 72 films from 26 countries. Now in its 9th year this intimate and highly curated festival continues with the same independent spirit in which it began: in the hopes of making the world a more compassionate place through the sharing of stories through cinema”
As we have done for years, I On The Valley is proud to promote the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival. It is a local treasure we encourage local residents to take advantage of this cultural resource. See you at the movies.
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