#ridgefieldct

Ridgefield Independent Film Festival returns May 15th to 18th

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Fans of creative independent film should head to Ridgefield Connecticut for the annual Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (RIFF). The Ridgefield Independent Film Festival is back for its 10th  year..  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 numerous (over 30) films in the festival so we encourage you to check the RIFF website for more details and ticket information. We encourage you to buy tickets in advance.

The festival will kick off on May 15th with Rebel With a Clause which will also include a filmmaker Q and A as well as a reception and book signing.  Friday the festival will get into full swing with the Psych Night program featuring “Thanks for the Room” at 4pm and then a slate of 5 short films at 7pm.

Saturday May 17th will feature a full slate of movies. “Across the Lens” is a series of narrative short films at noon on Saturday.  There will be additional short films series “Black Flag Shorts 1 and 2” that will be screened at 2pm and 4:30pm.  Short films really allow independent film makers a forum to present their craft to a wider audience. 

Saturday will  continue with a documentary feature, “The Trouble with Mr.Doodle” and wrap up with the Saturday night feature film “Under the Volcano” at 7pm.

Sunday May 18th the festival will wind down with the RIFF 10th Anniversary Awards ceremony and brunch at Keeler Tavern.

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 10th 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 film.f

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.

For tickets and information https://www.riffct.org/

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Magnifique! The Baker’s Wife now on stage at the Ridgefield Theater Barn

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The set of the Baker’s Wife

The Ridgefield Theater Barn presents another outstanding musical. The Baker’s Wife is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and the book by Joseph Stein, based on the 1938 French film of the same name by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono. The musical premiered in the West End of London in 1989 for a short run but, toured the United States but unfortunately it was  never produced on Broadway.  Now  it is  on stage at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield Ct.

Stephen Schwartz  has an impressive resume with his work on such hits as  Godspell, Pippin, and Wicked.  He has also penned the music and lyrics for movies such as The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted.

The story of The Baker’s Wife is set in a small remote village in rural France that has recently lost its only baker.  The villagers are miserable without fresh bread until Aimable (Joe Harding) the baker and his much younger wife, Genevieve (Claire Simard) move to the village and open a bakery.   The villagers rejoice but the audience soon learns about the tensions and issues between many of the citizens.

It is not long before Genevieve realizes that she is not happy with her life and wonders why she is in this village married to man many years older.  When a new man comes into her life, her world, the village, and the bakery is turned upside town.   She runs away with her new love and the bakery ceases operation.   The villagers now have a common cause and they rally to the baker and work together to reunite the baker and his wife.

The two act, two hour production moves along quickly and the audience is drawn into the story immediately.   The songs are catchy and memorable, and the vocal performances by the large 17 member cast are captivating.   The set design is beautiful and the band (now located to the side of the stage) was wonderful.  Direction by Rena Gavigan was first rate and the entire production was high quality that one would see in a much larger venue.    Music direction is by Sarah Fox.

The show runs through June 22, 2024 . Check out their website for the 2024/25 season as well as donate to the Barn as it has recently undergone many improvements.

The Ridgefield Theater Barn https://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/

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Ridgefield Independent Film Festival returns May 16th-19th 2024

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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.

Like I On The Valley on facebook http://www.facebook.com/ionthevalley

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