The Rhode Island International Film Festival’s 2007 Audience Choice Award Winner Screens at Prestigious Sun Yat-sen University

PROVIDENCE, RI (April 9, 2008) – The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF)– New England’s largest film festival and its only Academy Award qualifying event – is pleased to announce the screening of “From The 50 Yard Line” at the prestigious Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China thanks to a special partnership between the two festivals.

“The Rhode Island International Film Festival takes great pride in helping filmmakers who play the Festival achieve success,” said George T. Marshall, RIIFF’s Executive Director.

“To that end, we have built a number of collaborative partnerships with film festivals across the globe which allows us to cross-promote, share work and actively encourage the screening of exceptional films that appeared in Rhode Island.”

“From The 50 Yard Line” won the Audience Choice Award at the 2007 RIIFF. The film documents the emotional story of two high school marching bands:  one an Ohio championship winner, the other a newly reborn city band from Los Angeles.

“We are excited that we have been able to subtitle the film in Chinese first and show it to audiences in China,” mentioned Dave Johnson, who produced the documentary film. “They appreciate the film and its story of young music students in the United States.”

Through RIIFF’s partnership with the Guangzhou Documentary Film Festival (GZDOC) – China’s largest documentary festival – top RIIFF documentaries have an opportunity to screen at the Chinese film festival. Additionally, RIIFF docs have been chosen by GZDOC to participate in the Sapphire Moving Image Salon traveling film series and special events for trade, cultural, and educational organizations.

“The mission of RIIFF is to discover and empower filmmakers,” commented Adam Short, Producing Director of RIIFF. “Our collaboration with GZDOC enables us to expand significantly on what we can offer to our filmmakers in terms of reaching a more diverse audience and wider exposure for their films. This is a unique opportunity for Chinese audiences to connect with Western filmmakers – and vice versa.”

ABOUT THE RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) discovers and empowers filmmakers.  Held in Providence, and locations throughout the state of Rhode Island, RIIFF is one of only a handful of festivals worldwide that is a qualifying event for the Academy Awards (i.e. “Oscars”).  RIIFF incorporates gala celebrations, premiere screenings, VIP guests, industry seminars, educational programs, and award ceremonies into a week long extravaganza.  Cited as one of the "Best International and Short Film Festivals in the United States," RIIFF is New England’s largest film festival, screening a record 300 films.  Its innovative programming, cultivated industry ties, and loyal audiences have made the Festival a strategic and desirable platform for film premieres, drawing hundreds of independent filmmakers from around the globe. This year’s Festival takes place August 5-10, 2008.

For more information, write RIIFF, P.O. Box 162, Newport, RI 02840. Telephone: 401-861-4445. E-mail: info@film-festival.org, website: www.RIFilmFest.org

ABOUT THE GUANGZHOU DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL

The Guangzhou International Documentary Festival (GZ DOC) started in 2003 and, after five editions, has secured its status as the top documentary film festival in China, as well as an important part of the international documentary market in Asia.  The festival is held annually in December in Guangzhou and includes a Documentary Market, public screenings, a thematic competition, and documentary-making seminars.  All sections are open for application to participants internationally and domestically.  For more information, please visit us on the web at <www.gzdoc.com>.

ABOUT THE SAPPHIRE MOVING IMAGE SALON

Sapphire Moving Image Salon (SMIS) is a co-presented screening project by Guangzhou International Documentary Festival and Sapphire Art Space.  It is devoted in introducing Chinese audiences to fresh and versatile Chinese and international documentaries, as well as other images which are rarely accessible to them. SMIS started in October 2007 and has held weekly screenings every Sunday afternoon in the Sapphire Art Space, a rising venue for independent arts in Guangzhou. After seven sessions, it was followed by an intense week of documentary screenings during the 2007 Guangzhou International Documentary Festival. In 2008, SMIS will hold free screenings in universities in Guangzhou and an online SMIS forum (http://blog.sina.com.cn/sapphire86) is open for all audiences to share their thoughts and ideas. SMIS 2008 screenings will hold special programs of Environmental Crises, Youth & Education, Short Docs & Films, as well as many others. It will provide a supportive and encouraging platform for independent filmmakers.

ABOUT SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1924 by Dr. Sun Yat-sen — Sun Yat-sen University is a vibrant community of scholarship and learning characterized by its revolutionary spirit. The mission of SYSU is to advance knowledge and educate students in arts, science, technology, and other academic areas that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century. <http://www.sysu.edu.cn/en/index.html>