On one piping hot weekend in July, 55 intrepid teams of filmmakers – formed by several hundred local residents - scrambled to assemble short films using the following elements: A pear; The line "If you see him again, tell me;" And the character, "Monica or Monte Chaney, Hairstylist." Each team also pulled a genre out of a hat – from comedy, to film de femme, from political drama to fantasy - but all committed to involving the same required elements.
The "Best of Providence" celebration awards screening will take place on Sunday, August 10th, at 7:30 pm, at the Columbus Theater on Broadway in Providence, RI, showing the best resulting films. Live music, awards, an after-party and a screening of the top films will all serve as the closing event of the prestigious 2008 Rhode Island International Film Festival.
Forty-one of the teams made it within the 48 hour deadline, and all of the results were screened for audiences and judges. Now, their favorite selections are gathered into one screening event. This event is open to the public. Tickets are $10 at the door, with proceeds going to benefit the Rhode Island International Film Festival and RIFC.
The judges for this event included David Bettencourt, Carol Conley, Katie Hedrington, Scott Levine, Rich Lupo, Abra Moore, Anne Mulhall, and Don Soucy.
One film will also be selected to represent Providence in the international competition that all 48 Hour Film Project cities partake in. This year, over 70 cities will take part, from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles and everywhere in between.
The Project’s "Best of Providence" celebration is embraced by the Rhode Island International Film Festival. "Flickers Arts Collaborative is proud to host RIFC's 48 Hour Film Festival at our 12th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival," says Alyssa Holland Short, the Festival’s Community Projects Manager. "RIIFF and RIFC share a vision of Rhode Island as a place for creative collaboration and professional advancement. RIIFF champions RIFC's mission to support new work by emerging local filmmakers. We look forward to The 48 Hour Film Festival as a fun and inspiring way to end our Festival."
The films to be shown will include "A Few Perfect Heads" by Cinemasolo.com, "Beneath the Surface" by Playomatic, "Grusha" by 80 Nights Productions ,"HJR 8" by nanoSleather, "Man of The People" by EXILE Movies, "Misery Island" by Bait and Tackle, "Monday the 13th" by Nature’s Credit Card Productions, "Monte’s Last Cut" by Fanfaire Productions, "Mr. Dord" by Tiny Penguins, "No Way to Go through Life" by Wax Idiotical, "Nun of That" by Scorpio Film Releasing, "Pear Me Up, Buttercup" by Goldilocks Productions, "RITE" by Clandestine Arachnid, "The Dirty Pair" by Anonymous Players, "The Lure of Death" by Zygote Digital Films, "The Narrator" by Spanky and the King, "Verbal Diarrhea" by The Popular Kids from Class,
Judges and staff of this project have volunteered their time to help the Rhode Island Film Collaborative, the local non-profit organization dedicated to helping independent filmmakers realize their visions, learn their craft, and form a stronger creative community.
The RIFC sponsors the Providence edition of the 48 Hour Film Project to help galvanize the local film community and provide an exciting event where people can see each other’s work, share knowledge and experiences, and have a great time.
"It’s a great way for members of the community to see what they’re capable of, and to have an extreme filmmaking experience that takes a weekend, but creates memories – and footage – that last a lifetime," says Mike Ryan, treasurer of the RIFC and co-producer with David Splinter of this year’s Providence 48 Hour Film Project.
Sponsors of the Rhode Island Film Collaborative include Have Advice Will Travel, Judge Technical Services, Ameriprise Financial Advisors, Newbury Comics, Envision Technology Advisors, The Wild Colonial, and Artini's.Also, RIFC is indebted to its in-kind sponsors: the Hilton Garden Inn Providence Airport/Warwick, Motif Magazine, Trinity Brewhouse, Cox Cable, Two Sisters' Productions, Enterprise Car Rentals, The Artists' Exchange, The Rhode Island International Film Festival, and the Columbus Theatre.