The Rhode Island International Film Festival Brings Big Hollywood to Little Rhody
Now in its twenty-ninth year, the festival kicks off at PPAC on August 5.
Last year’s event. Photography courtesy of Rhode Island International Film Festival
It’s that special time of year again when Little Rhody is crawling with national and international filmmakers, actors, screenwriters and production teams, thanks to the Rhode Island International Film Festival. The Oscar-qualifying film festival was created by the late George Marshall in 1997, beginning the tradition of welcoming foreign and domestic short and long-form films to premiere in the smallest state.
RIIFF, throughout its almost twenty-nine-year run, has brought stars like Julie Andrews, Karen Allen and Andrew McCarthy to Rhode Island. Actors and special guests appear on panels, accept awards and see their film premiere at one of the various screenings. Films that have premiered at RIIFF have gone on to earn ninety-four Oscar nominations with fourteen wins coming out of the festival.
After Marshall’s passing in 2022, the festival’s then programming director Shawn Quirk took over as executive director. In the years since 2022, the festival has maintained its prestigious reputation in the film festival world while also keeping Marshall’s legacy alive.
“It’s wonderful we’re able to make that vision come alive despite his passing. George has become a forever producer and his name will always be attached to these projects,” says Quirk.
Actress and film producer Ericka Atwell-Cardona recently moved back to her home state of Rhode Island after thirteen years in Hollywood to start Ejoya Productions. She joins the team as the festival’s director of community engagement and development. Atwell-Cardona’s presence has helped the festival gain national exposure.
“While Shawn was here in Rhode Island with George building this festival, I was in Hollywood building everything we need to take it to the next level,” says Atwell-Cardona.
Trevor Emma, Ericka Atwell-Cardona, Shawn Quirk, Zack Koehler and Scout Lyons in the studio for the Flickers Podcast. Photography courtesy of Rhode Island International Film Festival
Atwell-Cardona has elevated the festival’s Hollywood industry presence to include notable film moguls. The weeklong festival’s panels are stacked with executives from heavy hitter agencies like The Arlook Group (Space Oddity), Platinum Dunes (Transformers, A Quiet Place), LD Entertainment (The Zookeeper’s Wife, Judy), Gersh talent agency (Adam Driver, J.K. Simmons), and United Talent Agency (a top three agency in Hollywood).
“Agencies are the backbone of Hollywood,” Quirk says.
There will also be summits on AI, Crypto and financing films, all necessary additions to stay up to date with the evolving world.
“It’s going to be the Sundance of the East,” says Atwell-Cardona about RIIFF, which is already considered the top film festival in New England.
The festival kicks off on Aug. 5 at PPAC for opening night, before spreading out to venues like the Avon Cinema, Providence Public Library and the District Innovation Park, drawing to a close on Aug. 10. Quirk has carefully curated the films showcased at the screenings, making sure all genres are represented and celebrated.
A few stand-outs include the film Pools by Sam Hayes, and director and producer Joe Picozzi’s My Kind of People, which won a Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum grant, enabling him and producers Lauren Germani and Alex Berard to make the film in their small state.
“It’s amazing what kinds of films are out there that are pushing buttons in such amazing ways. People are going to be entertained, challenged and inspired to celebrate independent film and dream big,” Quirk says. film-festival.org
