Editor

The High Falls Film Festival is proud to announce the arrival of its new Executive Director, Rosie Taravella, who started April 2nd.

Originally from western New York and a former theater major at Nazareth College, Taravella spent 25 years in Los Angeles, acting, writing and producing. Starting on the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and following up with several television appearances (Who's The Boss, Full House, Married with Children to name a few), she wrote and starred in her own screenplay – Carlo's Wake – which ran the film festival circuit in 1999 and 2000. The film starred Oscar winners Martin Landau and Rita Moreno in a story about the death of an Italian-American patriarch and the effect it has on his colorful, dysfunctional extended family.

Shifting gears to a career in non-profit in 2001, Taravella turned to the arts, first as managing director of Interact Theatre Company (led by Tony winner John Rubinstein), where she grew their operating budget by 300% in two years. A position at Los Angeles Opera followed, where she worked alongside general director Plácido Domingo in securing the company's first NEA artistic grant for the world premiere opera Grendel, co-written and directed by Julie Taymor.

Taravella has a history of raising money for important causes. The 1994 production of her play The Wives, a comedy directed by Charles Nelson Reilly, offered a portion of its proceeds to Haven Hills, an L.A. shelter for victims of domestic violence. Her most recent post was as Assistant Vice President for Advancement at Mount St. Mary's College, which educates a significant number of first generation college students from diverse backgrounds. There, she co-managed a capital campaign to improve facilities and augment scholarships, and helped raise $40 million in two years.

Taravella joins the High Falls Film Festival management team of Artistic Director Catherine Wyler and Festival Director & Co-Programmer Ruth Cowing. “I can't imagine a more perfect combination of talent, experience and energy than we have found in Rosie Taravella,” said Wyler. “Her name alone makes you want to dance for joy! And her personality is even more winning. Rochester is in for a real treat.”

Taravella is pleased to be returning home in a job capacity that will allow her to use her unique combination of skills. When actress Rita Moreno signed on to play “Angela” in Rosie’s film, Carlo’s Wake, she told her she was attracted to the role because she was called upon to play a vibrant, sexy woman who happened to be in her 60's. Taravella recognized that as a screenwriter she had created a rare role for women over 40.

"I am thrilled to be associated with a film festival that celebrates women in film,” Taravella says. “This is a festival with other relevant purposes, as well. We promote Western New York as a beautiful locale for filmmakers to shoot their stories. We acknowledge Rochester as the birthplace of film. And, we show appreciation for our intelligent, cultured audiences by giving them a sneak peek at a wide range of the hottest new films and filmmakers.”