Red Carpet Experience: Providence Gala to Benefit Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (JANUARY 31, 2020) – Walk the Red Carpet. Pose for Paparazzi. Hobnob with members of the film industry. The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to The Graduate Providence Grand Ballroom, 11 Dorrance Street, Providence, Rhode Island on Oscar Night®, Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. Residents of New England can experience the thrills and surprises of the 92^ndAcademy Awards^® at the 11^th Annual Red Carpet Experience: Providence Gala celebrating the 38^th Anniversary of the Flickers Arts Collaborative, producers of the annual Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF). The theme for the event not only salutes Disney’s Academy Award-nominated “Toy Story 4” but the 71 films from the Festival nominated for Academy Awards since the Festival began and the top films nominated for this year’s Best Picture Award. The motif for 2020 will be modeled after the Toy Story slogan, “To Infinity and Beyond,” and will feature live coverage by WLNE ABC6.

The Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) has secured its place in the global community as the portal for the best in international independent cinema, earning the respect of domestic and foreign filmmakers, filmgoers and trend watchers. Ranked as one of the top 10 Festivals in the United States, RIIFF is a qualifying festival for the Live Action, Documentary Short Film and Animation Short Academy Awards through its affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). There are only 10 film festivals worldwide that share this distinction. The Festival takes place every August.

“Oscar Night is my favorite time of year as we celebrate cinema and the very best crop of motion pictures made by the world’s greatest moviemakers,” said Steven Feinberg, Honorary Chair.  “The stars will be shining as our glamorous guests stroll past the paparazzi and enter this year’s magical Red Carpet Experience. The blockbuster evening will include a welcome reception for this year’s special Award winners, tasty hors d’oeuvres, specialty drinks, live music, a Hollywood-style silent auction, a gourmet dinner, delicious desserts and most importantly, a big screen, ballroom viewing of the 92^nd Annual Academy Awards.”

Feinberg continues, “Attendees will help us also cheer on the five (5) films nominated from the Rhode Island International Film Festival, including RIIFF’s Official Nominee, “A Sister,” by Delphine Gerard.”

Since RIIFF became an Oscar®-qualifying Festival, 71 films that premiered at the Festival have received nominations and 10 have won Academy Awards.

Tickets for the event are $125@ and can be purchased at this URL: http://www.film-festival.org/RedCarpetExperience.php or directly at

The Neighbors’ Window | Directed by Marshall Curry | USA (First Prize, Best Short)

Nefta Football Club | Directed by Yves Piat | France

A Sister | Directed by Delphine Girard | Belgium (Grand Prize, Best Short Film- Oscar Qualified)

St. Louis Superman | Directed by Sami Khan and Smriti Mundhra (First Prize, Best Documentary Short)

Sister | Directed by Siqi Song | China, USA

Names in memory of Diana Drywa and Ross Feinberg, the Scholarship was created to support students studying Education with a focus on teaching. It is open to young scholars who are attending Rhode Island institutions of higher education.

Presented to members of the community who have actively worked to support and promote the mission of the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival. These Friends of the Festival have had a significant impact on the growth, evolution and quality of what has become RIIFF as well as the arts and humanities locally, nationally and internationally.

• David M. Dooley, President, University of Rhode Island

• Dominick J. Ruggerio, RI Senate President

• IATSE, Local 481 (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), represented by Chris O’ Donnell & Kevin Sciotto

• Daniel Sousa, Filmmaker/animator

• Michelle D. Abbott, Producer, WSBE, RI PBS

The Georges Méliès Sci-Fi & Fantasy Award is presented to a filmmaker with a unique and creative vision, reflecting the work of the visionary French illusionist and film director who pioneered many technical and narrative developments in the earliest days of cinema. Méliès films include A Trip to the Moon (1902) and The Impossible Voyage (1904), which both are considered among the most important early fantasy and science fiction films, thus establishing the importance of the genre.

• Robert M Schulbaum, writer/director, “The Wrong Todd”

The Dream Maker Award recognizes those who provide incredible service and support of the local film community and are a voice for advocacy of the film industry.”

• Lawrence J. Andrade, Flickers Board; Director Research & Development at Dominion Diagnostics.

The Honorary Chairs for the Red Carpet Experience: Providence are Steven Feinberg, Executive Director/RI Film & Television Office and Michael Drywa, Esq. RIIFF Advisory Board President. Hosts for the evening are WLNE ABC6 “Good Morning Providence” anchors Doreen Scanlon and John Krinjakare who will also undertake live interviews during the half hour segments.

 The elegant catered dinner is provided by the Graduate Hotel and Just Ellen’s Catering and Event Planning; Stage and Set Design by Quality Rental; Media Design by Timothy Haggerty; Audio & Video Services by Event Audio Visual, LLC, Salem NH; Desserts by Carina e Dolce Specialty Cakes & Cookies, Sin Bakery, PVDonuts, Knead Doughnuts, June Loves English Bakery, Solitro’s Bakery, Ivy and Lace Bakeshop, and Seven Stars Bakery. Coffee provided by Bolt Coffee. Specialty cocktail by Granny Squibb’s Iced Tea, Music for the evening will be provided by Billy Quirk, piano; Focal Winds, a woodwind trio; and singer, Ava Gaudet.

To learn more about this year’s Red Carpet Experience: Providence or to order tickets, visit www.RIFilmFest.org or call 401.861.4445.

The Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival will take place August 4-9, 2020 at The Vets, One Avenue of the Arts, Providence and locations across the state of Rhode Island.