Thursday, October 29, 2009

Award Winners Announced for 2009 Horror Festival


37 films from across the globe vie for adjudicated genre awards

PROVIDENCE, RI (October 29, 2009) – The eerie, macabre and bizarre in the world of cinema were given their due with the wrap of the tenth Annual RI International Horror Film Festival through adjudicated awards. From an entry base of more than 250 entries, 37 films were screened during the cinematic symphony of horror, October 22-25th at the Bell Street Chapel and Providence Public Library in Providence. Attending this year were the cast and crew from 11 of the films screened during the Festival including "Crooked Lane,” “Happy Face,” “Broom Ride to Salem“ and “Maggots” for their World premieres, along with directors Chase Bailey, Jared Skolnick, Franklin P. Laviola, Amybeth Parravano, Andrew Landauro and Matt Giannini. Author Christopher Rondina was also on hand and spoke about his latest book, “Ghost Ships of New England.” This year’s event was sponsored in part by MGM HD, the Providence Phoenix, WJAR TV 10, and Amtrak.

“Without question, this was a strong year for entries and quality genre films,” said George T. Marshall, the Executive Director of the Rhode Island International Film Festival, which produces the Horror Festival sidebar. “One of our ongoing goals has been to refocus the event and create a program with greater community appeal. The use of the Bell Street Chapel helped us achieve that, making the Horror Festival more intimate.”

“With the HP Lovecraft Walking Tour to the horror book signing, we continue to expand our offerings while holding true to the mission of the Festival. The Festival ended in the black and frankly, was enjoyable for all who attended and participated.”

Winners of top prizes for the 2009 Festival:

Best Picture – Dawning (2008, U S A), directed by Gregg Holtgrewe
tied with Circuit (2009, U S A), directed by Andrew Landauro


Best Short - Lazarus Taxon (2008, Spain), directed by Denis Rovira
tied with The Taxidermist ( 2009, United Kingdom), directed by Bert & Bertie

Best Documentary - Nightmares in Red, White and Blue (2009, U S A), directed by Andrew Monument

Directorial Discovery -- Happy Face (2009, U S A), directed by Franklin P. Laviola

Best New England - Crooked Lane (2009, U S A), directed by Chase Bailey

Best Makeup FX - Werewolf Trouble (2008, U S A), directed by: Charlie Anderson

The next edition of the RI International Horror Film Festival will take place October 21-24, 2010.

ABOUT THE RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The mission of the Rhode Island International Film Festival is to discover and empower filmmakers. Held in Providence, and at locations throughout the state, RIIFF is one of only 63 film festivals worldwide that is a qualifying event for the Oscars. It is also New England’s largest film festival. 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. The next Festival will take place August 10-15, 2010. For more information about the festival, please visit www.rifilmfest.org.

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