The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival is coming to Ridgewood and with it a bevy of local and international filmmakers and some Hollywood celebrities. Premiering at the festival is the Joshua Coats film Hollywould starring Eric Roberts and Ridgewood's own RJ Konner. Eric Roberts will grace the Red Carpet on Thursday, April 25th at 6pm.
The 9 day festival officially begins on April 10th with a showing of the Oscar-winning movie Roma. Main nights at the Bow Tie Cinema are April 24th and 25th. The Red Carpet outside the theater is free, to get entry into all films for an entire night is $12 per day.
Other highlights this year include:
Skin - This Oscar-winning film stars Lonnie Travis from This is Us
Out Fox the Holidays - This comedic short stars Andy Richter and is made by Bergen County's Emmy-winning director Glenn Clements of the Late Late Show with James Corden
Awakening Arlene -This short by returning filmmaker and former Ridgewood resident Brad Forenza stars Vince Pastore (The Sopranos).
Silk City Artists and Musicians - By award winning Paterson filmmaker Vince Parrillo
A Case of Blue Trailer - The premiere of this film shot in Ridgewood made by many Ridgewood residents starring Stephen Schnetzer and Annapurna Srirum. It was written and directed by Ridgewood resident Dana Glazer. The Executive Producer is Scott Rosenfelt, the EP of Home Alone
TEEEM – Videos will show how local high school children are giving back and helping families in Africa and Peru. Viewers of this films will gain an understanding of how this organization helps children learn about families in third world countries and also how it activates them to help them.
Films by Students: From Bergenfield, ridgewood, Allendale, Waldwick, Mahwah, Middletown, Hudson County, NY and elsewhere. Several of these films deal with social issues faced by students.
There are over 100 films to watch by talented new and seasonsed filmmakers. There will be shorts, documentaries, music videos, digital shorts, trailers of new movies and animation. You can hop from theater to theater to see the ones you want. There is also ample opportunity to meet and talk to the filmmakers as well as the actors.
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| Filmmaker Brad Forenza stands with RHONJ Dolores Catania at RGIFF 2018 |
Events and Activities Dates
April 10 World Film Night at the Ridgewood Public Library showing the multiple Oscar-winning movie ROMA. FREE ENTRY.
April 18 Foreign Film Night at the Ridgewood Public Library (A series of foreign shorts submitted to the festival). FREE ENTRY.
April 22 Launch Party: Raymond’s Restaurants 101 E. Ridgewood Ave. 7:30PM $40 per person for questions call 201-493-9911
April 24 Opening Night at Bow Tie Cinema, Red Carpet at 6pm Cost is $12 for the evening (Seniors $5)
April 25 Closing Night at Bow Tie Cinema, Red Carpet at 6pm (Hollywould Film Premiere Night) Cost is $12 for the movies only or $30 which includes the movie & entry to the After-Party at Felina Restaurant. Note: The Awards & After-Party at Felina starts immediately after the film festival concludes. (approx. 10:30pm) Your chance to mingle with “Eric Roberts” the cast / crew and the other filmmakers. Tickets for After-Party alone at the door are $20 each.
May 10 Human Rights Festival in conjunction with the Unitarian Church 7pm- $10 per screening block or $25 for all three screenings
May 11 Human Festival in conjunction withe Unitarian Church 1pm and 7pm $10 per screening block or $25 for all three screenings
To purchase tickets: https://rgiff9.brownpapertickets.com/
Wednesday April 24th all films, pay one price
Thursday April 25th all films, pay one price
To purchase tickets for the Thursday April 25th Hollywould Premiere including the Awards Party at Felina’s visit: https://hollywould.bpt.me
"This is our 9th year hosting this festival in Ridgewood, " states Tony Damiano, President of the Guild. "Each year we offer something new and different to the viewer. We are very happy to have an Oscar-nominated actor gracing our Red Carpet this year." Dottie Fucito, RGIFF Chair states, "We had more submissions this year than every before. We have a great reputation in the filmmaking community and are happy to present the works of many northern NJ artists."
As each year, there will be a plethora of films to watch by talented new and seasonsed filmmakers. There will be shorts, documentaries, music videos, digital shorts, trailers of new movies and animation. You can hop from theater to theater to see the ones you want. There is also ample opportunity to meet and talk to the filmmakers as well as the actors.
More on Hollywould
This year, Hollywood really does come to Ridgewood. The film Hollywould, which stars Eric Roberts, wil premiere at the festival. This Joshua Coates film is an action movie about a man who returns to his hometown and meets a woman named Holly. It also stars Pete Postiglione, Caitlyn Fletcher, Torrei Hart and Ridgewood's RJ Konner. Cast and crew are slated to attend.
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| Alysia Reiner (OITNB, Egg,) and David Alan Basche (Equity, Egg) at RGIFF 2017 |
The festival is still confirming other special appearances. In the past the Festival has hosted such celebrities as Danny Aeillo, Tony-award winning actor Christian Borle, Three-time Emmy Winner Martha Byrne, Chris Mann (Oscar-nominated for Loving), RHONJ Dolores Catania, Executive Producer of Home Alone Scott Rosenfelt, Soap Icons Terri Conn, Austin Peck, Tonja Walker, Cady McClain, Orange is the New Black's Alysia Reiner, David Alan Basche (Equity and Egg films), Sarah Megan Thomas (Equity, Liberte: A Time to Spy), Vincent Curatola (The Sopranos), Jack Mulcahy (The Brothers McMullen) and more. Check our media for updates.
You may like: Highlights from 2018 #RGIFF Festival
As of publication, the RGIFF would its Signature Sponsors which are Boiling Springs Bank, TEEM and P.G Guiren.
For more information:
Always check the website for updates and a full schedule. Use the hashtag #RGIFF to find information.
RGIFF social media
Twitter: @RidgewoodFilmFe
Facebook: @TRGIFF
Instagram: @RidgewoodGuildNJ
Website: www.RidgewoodGuildFilmFest.com
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TRGIFF/
General Inquiries: Contact Tony Damiano at 201-493-9911
Tickets can be purchased online or
at the venues the day of the screenings: