Rhode Island International Film Festival Underway
Wednesday, August 06, 2014
Flickers: The Rhode Island International Film Festival is underway and features a varied collection of films at several locations around the state. This year, the Festival presents over 240 films from 62 countries and 34 US states.
A Leading Festival
In its 18th year, RIIFF’s stature has grown considerably on the national scene. In fact, the RI event is an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences qualifying festival for the “Shorts” and “Documentary Shorts” categories. Last year’s festival produced three Oscar nominations.
In addition to the regular festival, a number of satellite events are happening. The Providence LGBTQ Festival has a number of films scheduled and a unique partnership of French language films is co-presented with the Quebec Film Festival. This year, there’s an expanded Kids-eye festival, featuring great programs for aspiring filmmakers.
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There are a number of films playing with local connections including The Newport Effect, a look at the Newport Folk Festival, with musical artists like Mavis Staples, Lucinda Williams and Tom Morello. There’s also Anna, a touching film by Providence producer Eric Latek, about his godmother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
This Time Next Year is a documentary that should resonate with Rhode Islanders. The film tells the story of the effects of Hurricane Sandy on one community that was badly hit, Long Beach Island, New Jersey. The film’s Director is Brown graduate Jeff Reichert and it lists native Rhode Islander Kate Patterson as Associate Producer.
Patterson, a Coventry native and NYU graduate, noted “It’s great to share the film with another community that has such a strong connection to the ocean and has seen their fair share of hurricanes and rebuilding. RIIFF feels particularly special for me since RI is home.”
Documentary Style
The film uses a mixture of verite, first person accounts, and the residents own footage to tell the story of the post-Sandy recovery. Director Jeff Reichert’s family is from Long Beach Island and he got engaged to his wife, Co-Director Farihah Zaman, there. After the storm hit, he knew there’d be a story.
“When Hurricane Sandy hit, we immediately thought of LBI, how vulnerable that strip of land in the middle of the ocean is, how residents would contend with rebuilding, and what it feels like to be so economically and emotionally dependent on the ocean while also being at the whim of its power,” explained Reichert.
Long Beach Island is a classic slice of Americana, where summer vacationers can be treated to a chorus of servers announcing the flavors at the local ice cream shop. The film highlights the struggles faced by the year-round residents as they attempt to prepare for summer tourist season, “make it break time” for the island. It’s told completely in eyewitness fashion, with no narration.
An Inspiring Story
The film is a testimony to the residents of the community. Reichert noted “we decided early on that we didn’t just want to document recovery and the effects of the storm, but also capture the spirit of the island and its community. Hearing from the locals that they felt we had done that was an amazing honor.”
In the movie, the stars are truly the average townspeople; intentionally or unintentionally the film avoids sound bites from politicians or government officials. And although acknowledged as important for recovery, FEMA becomes the enemy the residents learn to despise.
So while waiting for government grants, the community comes together – led by gangs of construction workers, some professionals, most not, who began showing up at neighbors’ homes to work. This Time Next Year is an honest film, inspiring to see, full of everyday heroes.
Screening
This Time Next Year will be shown Saturday August 9, at 2:45 in URI’s Paff Theatre at 80 Washington St. in Providence. Click here for tickets and more information. And check out the RIIFF festival genius for information on all the films in town for the festival.
Related Slideshow: 25 Movies Filmed in Rhode Island
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