The Rhode Island International Film Festival Proudly Hosts its 10th Annual KidsEye™ Sidebar Festival August 4-10thth 

Providence, R.I. (July 27, 2008)—The KidsEye™ International Film Festival will once again showcase the best works of young filmmakers from around the world August 4-10th. This year, the Bell Street Chapel, 5 Bell Street in Providence will serve as the central host for the program. Other screening locations include the Providence Place Cinemas 16, the Providence Performing Arts Center, the Columbus Theatre Arts Center, and the “Empire Theatre” at the Providence Public Library. The KidsEye™ International Film Festival is a sidebar of the annual Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) and serves as an opportunity to all young filmmakers to present their latest work which includes documentaries, features, music videos, dramas, animation, oral histories, video poetry, experimental, & even PSA’s

KidsEye™ at RIIFF is a two-part program. The first part takes place in July with the annual KidsEye Filmmaking Summer Camp. The KidsEye™ program is directed by Alyssa Holland Short and Keith Brown. The summer camp is based at the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston Campus, with support from the College Arts & Sciences and the Film Media Program. This year,  35 campers from across the country put their filmmaking skills to use. They produced films that will make up a part of the August film festival. These films along with others received from young filmmakers from around the world compose the twenty-seven films that will be screening at this year’s Festival.

The 2008 KidsEye™ Festival features work by already established young filmmaker Joseph Procopio from Toronto, Canada. Joe has been screening his work at RIIFF and KidsEye™ since he was eight years old. He is now 14. Having already created more than a handful of short films, Joe has screened his films at many festivals internationally including: South by Southwest (SXSW) and The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, among others. He brings two new premieres to Rhode Island this year: “Contagious” and “Tiny Pillows.”

Some of this year’s highlights include the memorable action/adventure film “The Flyboys” directed by Rocco DeVilliers, which will be given two screenings, one at the Bell Chapel and the other at Providence Place Cinemas 16; the hilarious “The Adventures of Food Boy,” directed by Dane Cannon, and featuring Lucas Grabeel, fresh from Disney’s popular “High School Musical” series where he played Ryan Evans; Michele Meek’s locally directed charmer, “Red Sneakers;” Christopher R. Watson’s heartwarming “The Rainbow Tribe” with David James Elliott from TV’s “Jag;” “JUMP!”  directed by Helen Hood Scheer, about competitive jump rope that follows five teams nationwide for two years as they single-mindedly pursue the dream of becoming World Champions; and “Katrina’s Children” directed by Laura Belsey, a timely and memorable, multi-faceted portrait of nineteen children, ages 5 through 13, from different neighborhoods of New Orleans.Told entirely from the children's point of view, the film captures with vivid poignancy the tragic ramifications of the greatest man made and natural disaster in modern American History.

KidsEye Festival awards are offered for Best Feature, Best Short and Best Animation. Winners receive trophies, passes and an opportunity to have their work screened during RIIFF’s “Best of Fest Week” after the main festival.

The Rhode Island International Film Festival is supported in part by the City of Providence, the Providence Tourism Council, the Providence Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism, WJAR TV10, The Providence Phoenix, Clear Channel Communications, Sony, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Amtrak, Rule Broadcast/Boston Camera, the Biltmore Hotel, Amtrak, H.B. Communications, the URI's College of Arts and Sciences, URI's Feinstein College of Continuing Education, the URI Film Media Program, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Art New England Magazine and contributions from members and community supporters.

The Rhode Island International Film Festival and the KidsEye™ program are produced by the Flickers Arts Collaborative; an organization with 25 years of experience presenting major artistic events as well as independent and foreign films to the public.

HOW TO BUT YOUR TICKETS & GENERAL INFORMATION:

Ticket PRICES:

Morning Single show:

Adult $8         Child $6 with group discounts available 

Afternoon & Evening shows:

Adult $10       Child $6 with group discounts available

Advance ticket sales for screenings and special events are available through the RIIFF website (www.RIFilmFest.org). Student, group, and senior discounts are also available with advance booking. All tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the screening. To purchase tickets or obtain more information about any aspect of RIIFF, call 401-861-4445; or write RIIFF, 268 Broadway, Providence, RI 02903; email info@film-festival.org. or log onto www. RIFilmFest.org.