Blog: Film festivals

"One of the Best International Film Festivals and top 10 Short Film Festivals in the United States. The RIIFF provides the kind of intimate festival experience that will change your life. Don't miss it. "
Chris Gore, The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide

Now in its 25th year, the FLICKERS' RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL celebrates the independent spirit in film and has become a haven for independent filmmakers from throughout the world. In 2021, the Festival presented 476 films representing works that were shot and produced in 103 countries. There were 100 World Premieres and US/North American Premieres. Reacting to COVID-19, the event became a hybrid event with an online portal, free and on-demand screenings, geoblocking where requested and screenings at regional Drive-ins and assorted outdoor screenings.

FLICKERS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization that supports and promotes the film arts in Rhode Island and throughout New England. Over the past two decades, its production, the Rhode Island International Film Festival, has screened 5,756 independent films and videos out of 74,758 entries, presented 1,405 World/North American premieres, featured over 1,167 entries that were locally produced, and hosted 4,193 filmmakers and crew. Since its inception, over 467,000 film lovers have enjoyed the Rhode Island International Film Festival and its programming, not including those in New England watching its weekly broadcast and cable programming series, doubleFEATURE.

HIGHLIGHTS:
In 2002, RIIFF was selected as a qualifying festival for Best Short Subject through the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In December 2003, RIIFF was cited as "One of The Top 10 Short Film Festivals in the United States."

In 2006, RIIFF was cited as one of the Top 12 United States Film Festivals by TravelSmart Magazine.

In 2010, RIIFF launched the Flickers North Country Film Festival at The Balsams in Dixville Notch, NH as part of its outreach in cultural tourism.

In 2010, RIIFF became a host for the annual Oscar® Night America for the state of Rhode Island.

In 2011, RIIFF continued expanding its outreach across the state of Rhode island, hosting exhibitions, symposia, special events and outdoor screenings. RIIFF is also a member of the New England Film Festival Alliance, which it helped found with the Woods Hole Film Festival and the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival. The focus has now become international in scope.

In 2012, RIIFF solidified new programming models such as the Rhode Island Film Forum, ScriptBiz, the Future Filmmaking Symposium, and the Discover RI: Walking Tour, all free to attending filmmakers who have been accepted into the Festival. Programs continue to expand yearly including Acting for Camera Classes, Symposia and morning industry conversations.

On April 25, 2013, the Festival was notified by the Bureau of International Information Programs at the U.S. Department of State that the Rhode Island International Film Festival would be featured as one of the nation’s top summer festivals for an upcoming social media campaign promoting international tourism to the United States.

Eurochannel: a multi national, cable channel based in Paris, Sao Paulo and Miami agreed to become an official partner with RIIFF. The channel provided TV spots ten times a day during the month of August 2013 and had the RIIFF logo displayed on Eurochannel’s partner page. With IPads and smart phone devices the target platforms, Eurochannel provided both international and domestic visibility in niche cinema markets. Eurochannel is now an annual sponsor of the Festival.

In 2013, RIIFF was selected as a qualifying festival for Best Documentary Short Subject through the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In 2015, RIIFF became a BAFTA-qualifying Festival in the Short Film Division. RIIFF also partnered with Lexus Short Films and launched their 2015 Call For Entries.

In 2016, RIIFF celebrated its 20th Anniversary.

Flickers introduced the weekly series, "doubleFEATURE" on PBS. Running 58 min. the program featured interviews with members of the industry and short films that have screened at the Festival. The series is now heading into its Fifth Season with 35 fresh episodes produced each year.

In 2017, Flickers celebrated its 35th Anniversary.

In 2018, "The Silent Child" which had its World Premiere at the Festival won the Oscar® for Best Live Action Short.

In 2019, Nine (9) films from the 2018 Festival were nominated for Academy Awards® bringing the total nominations from the Festival to 66.

In 2020, Five (5) films from the 2019 Festival were nominated for Academy Awards® bringing the total nominations from the Festival to 76. To date, 13 films have won the Oscar®.

In 2020, the Festival presented a hybrid event while reacting to the impact of COVID-19. Along with using local Drive-In theatres, the Festival ran a virtual event online providing most screenings for free and a paywall for those requesting to be geoblocked. Webinars, Forums, filmmaker Q&A's plus meet-and-greets took place via Zoom on Facebook Live. The online event on all platforms registered more than 47,000 Views.

RIIFF is cited and recognized as the largest film Festival in New England and one of the Top Ten Regional Events.

RIIFF is a qualifying event for the Canadian Screen Awards.