From a special effects wizard on the Harry Potter films to editors, producers
and directors, this unique two-day event addresses all elements of
filmmaking in the Ocean State


(PROVIDENCE, RI) First introduced in 1998 by the Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, The Rhode Island Film Forum returns for a special symposium on the art and craft of filmmaking in Rhode Island. Positioned as a “call out to _Rhode Island Cities & Towns, Filmmakers, Film Production Crews, Film Students, Artistic Directors, Film Vendors, Civic Organizations, Historic and Preservation Groups, Property Managers, Recreation Managers, Hotel Managers, and Rental Agencies, the Forum addresses the nuts and bolts of film production, from location scouting, licensing and production to marketing, new technologies and the internet.

Over the course of two mornings, August 8th and 9th, participants will have an opportunity to discover how they might become a part of this multi-million dollar industry in Rhode Island and southern New England. The Forum will be held at the URI Feinstein Campus, 80 Washington Street in downtown Providence. The cost each day is $45 with a special two-day discount of $75. A keynote luncheon with a noted industry leader will take place on Thursday, August 9th at 12:30 p.m. The location for the luncheon is the Providence Biltmore Hotel Ballroom, 11 Dorrance Street and will cost $20 per person.

According to Jordan Burbank, the Film Forum Coordinator for the Rhode Island International Film Festival, “Here's a great chance to become involved with Rhode Island's 'stars' of the film community. The two-day forum will bring together leaders of the film industry with the decision-making community leaders and historic, natural and commercial property managers of Rhode Island.

The film industry in Rhode Island is growing by leaps and bounds. This program is designed to help facilitate a better understanding of the needs of the industry and the wants of the community to make Rhode Island the most film friendly in the country.

Representing tourism and marketing for the Rhode Island communities are Bob Billington, President, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council; Karen Jedson, Director, Warwick Tourism; Myrna George, President, South County Tourism Council; and Kristin Adamo, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Providence Warwick Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

The expanding list of participants includes Theresa Corrao, Visual Effects producer for the Harry Potter films and Jurassic Park 3; Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of RI Film & Television Office; Loranne Turgeon, Interim Director of the Vermont Film Commission; Heidi Hamilton, Division Director of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism Film Division; Steve Dirksmeier, Sony Sales Representative; John Rule, President, Rule Broadcast Systems; Page Ostrow, President of Ostrow & Company; David Tames, Professor, MIT Media Lab; Michelle Le Brun, Documentary Director/ Producer; Michael Attardi, Director/Producer; Kevin Anderton of Midnight Chimes Productions who has made 67 successful shorts; Alexis Fish, of SAG/Indie Development and Sponsorship; Myfa Cirinna, Entertainment Partners Vice President of Marketing & Sales; Eric Latek of Phantazma Pictures; Jamie Benti, Image Icon Entertainment; David Spatt, Esq., of Ocean State Lawyers for the Arts; Michael Dawson, Director of Post-Production at TangoPix; Chris Dodge, Arts Alliance Labs; Dean Huh, Director/Producer of the feature film “Bye the Sea; Vin Fraioli, Writer/Producer of “The Strange Case of Marie France;Carson Grant, Actor/Director; Toni-Ann Baker, Filmmaker; Mick Hoegen, SAG Representative and Co-Chair of the Independent Film Committee of the Boston Organizing Committee; and Anne Mulhall, Casting Director of LDI Casting. It is also expected that many of the filmmakers who will be attending this year's Rhode Island International Film Festival will be participating in the Forum.

The Rhode Island Film Forum will present a series of “How To Sessions which include: o How to work with the film industry_o How to get the film industry to work with you_o How to be prepared and pro-active_o What are the resources that filmmakers need?_o Understand how to create a partnership so that everyone involved benefits._o What are the emerging technologies that will be impacting on future film productions? o Finding your audience & building a portfolio.

The Rhode Island Film Forum is designed to provide a networking platform, spur dialogue and get answers to your questions from those who make decisions.

This event is sponsored in part by grants from the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitor's Bureau, then South County Tourism Council, Warwick Tourism, and support from URI's College of Arts and Sciences, URI's Feinstein College of Continuing Education, and the URI Film Media Program.

For more information about the Rhode Island Film Forum or to enroll, please go to the website for the Rhode Island International Film Festival at www.film-festival.org/RIForum.php where application forms are available for download or call the RIIFF office at 401.861.4445.

The 11th Annual Rhode Island International Film Festival launches August 7-12th at locations throughout the state of Rhode Island.



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