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

Red Carpet Experience: Providence Gala to Benefit
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival
Event Kicks Off A Year Long Celebration Of The 36th Anniversary Of The Flickers Arts Collaborative
 
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (February 18, 2018) – Walk the Red Carpet. Pose for Paparazzi. Hobnob with members of the film industry. The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to The Providence Biltmore Hotel Grand Ballroom, 11 Dorrance Street, Providence, Rhode Island on Oscar Night®, Sunday, March 4, 2018. Residents of New England can experience the thrills and surprises of the 90thAcademy Awards® at the 9th Annual Red Carpet Experience: Providence gala celebrating the 36thAnniversary of the Flickers Arts Collaborative, producers of the annual Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF). The theme for the event is “Recuérdame”(Remember Me) and not only salutes Disney’s Academy Award-nominated “Coco” but industry legends no longer with us. The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. 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 crowd of paparazzi and enter this year’s magical Red Carpet Experience. The event will be hosted by our local star reporters from WLNE-ABC 6 and the blockbuster evening will include a welcome reception for this year’s Producer Circle Award winners, tasty hors d’oeuvres, specialty drinks, live music, a Hollywood silent auction, a gourmet dinner, delicious desserts, coffee and most importantly, a big screen viewing of the 90th Annual Academy Awards in the Providence Biltmore Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.
“Help us cheer on Rhode Island native and superstar actor, Richard Jenkins, who is up for Best Supporting Actor in THE SHAPE OF WATER!  It’s going to be an unforgettable night!”
Tickets for the event are $125@ and can be purchased at this URL: http://www.film-festival.org/RedCarpetExperience.php
This year, seven (7) films that premiered at the 2017 Festival are in contention for Academy Awards. Since RIIFF became an Oscar®-qualifying Festival, 56 films that premiered at the Festival have received nominations and nine (9) have won Academy Awards.
2018 NOMINATIONS:
Live Action Short:
“DeKalb Elementary,” Reed Van Dyk, director (UCLA)
 “The Eleven O’Clock,” Derin Seale, director (FINCH)
“The Silent Child,” Chris Overton, director, and Rachel Shenton, writer (Slick Films)
“Watu Wote/All of Us,” Katja Benrath, director (Hamburg Media School) – ROVING EYE

Documentary Short:
“Edith+Eddie,” Laura Checkaway and Thomas Lee Wright, directors (Heart is Red and Kartemquin Films)
“Knife Skills,” Thomas Lennon, director (TFL Films)
Animated Short:
“Garden Party,” Victor Caire and Gabriel Grapperon (Heart is Red and Kartemquin Films) – VORTEX
 
The evening will also include several awards to local members of the film, non-profit and arts community in the Ocean State:
 
THE 2018 PRODUCER’S CIRCLE AWARD HONOREES:
• Trinity Repertory Company
 
• Libby Slader, RISCA
 
• Mike Maino, Classical 95.9 FM WCRI
 
• The Odeum Theatre
 
• The Rhode Show
The Honorary Chairs for the Red Carpet Experience: Providence are Steven Feinberg, Executive Director/RI Film & Television Office and Michael DrywaEsq. RIIFF Advisory Board President. Hosts for the evening from WLNE ABC6 are John Deluca and Christina Meyers, with Doreen Scanlon undertaking live interviews during the half hour segments. Winifred Brownell, RIIFF Board member and former Dean of URI’s College of Arts and Sciences, will speak about the importance of youth film education and Flickers’ innovative new scholarship programs that will help pave the way for future cinematic artists.
The elegant catered dinner is provided by the Biltmore Hotel and Decadent Catering; 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, DeLuise Bakery, Pastiche Fine Desserts, The Original Italian Bakery, PVD Donuts, and Seven Stars Bakery.   Coffee provided by Dave’s Coffee.  Music for the evening will be provided by Billy Quirk, piano.
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 7-12, 2018 at The Providence Performing Arts Center and locations across the state of Rhode Island.