This year’s edition of RIDGEFIELD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL shines the spotlight on several filmmakers from the surrounding area, starting with Easton, CT filmmaker, Karen Thorsen, whose taut and compelling, award-winning documentary, JAMES BALDWIN: THE PRICE OF THE TICKET opens the festival on May 16th at The Prospector Theater. Using rarely-seen archival footage, the film melds intimate interviews with the author and civil rights luminary, along with interviews with Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and Frances Foster, public speeches and vérité glimpses of Baldwin. There will be a reception at 7pm, catered by GALLO Ristorante in the Star Bar of the Prospector Theater, followed by the 8pm screening and a Q&A with the filmmaker, moderated by RIFF Board Member, Lisa Cambridge-Mitchell.
Darien, CT filmmaker Eden Wright is 5th generation in the film business and currently co-stars in "City on a Hill" (Showtime) produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. She made her acting debut as a toddler on "Sex and the City" (HBO), co-starred on the series "Are We There Yet?" (TBS), and was featured in a Bill Gates sketch on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (NBC). She brings her short film CUTTER to RIFF’s PSYCH NIGHT! On Friday, May 17th at 9pm. When her newest client sends them both out to sea, a desperate maritime hairdresser learns an important lesson about internet strangers; the hard way.
Norwalk resident Ethan Isaac’s film THE SUGAR MAKER profiles Ridgefield resident, farmer and maple syrup producer, Pete Campbell. Filmed on location at Campbell's Horseshoe Farm in Ridgefield, Campbell gives the viewer a unique insight into the art of maple sugar making, and his deep connection with his land. Isaac is principal owner of Factory Underground Studio in Norwalk, CT and is a multi-talented creative, music producer, songwriter, and vocalist. THE SUGAR MAKER screens as part of HEROIC DOCS 2 Saturday, May 18th at 5pm in Theater 2.
Fairfield CT resident and prolific short form filmmaker, Brian Russell, returns to RIFF with his short film, NOT THE SAME CLARENCE, starring James Naughton. The film portrays a man who must come to terms with his fathers Alzheimer's disease. Brian and his son, Samuel B. Smith worked together on the film to bring it to life.
Saturday, May 18th 12pm, Theater 2.
HOW TO PAINT A PEACE SIGN by filmmaker Rick Gomez takes an intimate look at grief and healing as Redding, CT artist Dave Daignault teaches viewers a technique to paint prominent peace symbols and, in the process, gives his audience the tools necessary to cope. Rick Gomez has been acting in film and television for the last 30 years. Some of his television credits include HBO's Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning mini-series "Band of Brothers,” and the Peabody Award-winning drama "Justified." Rick currently plays Patrick Kennedy on Apple TV's, "Silo," starring Rebecca Ferguson. He wrote and directed "An Uncandid Portrait," which world premiered at the Tribeca film festival in 2021. Rick says of the film, “I have been friends with Dave Daignault for over 30 years. When his wife's life ended by suicide in 2020, and he decided to move from the barn where they raised their children and painted enormous peace signs for the entire neighborhood to experience, I knew I had to document that departure. What we created was an ode to the power of art and hope and a simple philosophical strategy to cope with grief.”
Norwalk filmmaker, Alix Speyer Bacher gives us a look inside the world of roller derby with her very entertaining film, DON’T BE DAINTY… IT’S DERBY! Played by women young and old, the emerging sport of roller derby has confident, powerful, female identifying athletes with bodies of every size and shape, at its core. The skaters explain how liberating it is to experience the aggressive power that has long been traditionally reserved for male athletes. Alix is an award winning independent filmmaker. Her lengthy career in production includes credits in a range of media: broadcast, news, advertising and marketing. In her first documentary, she and Sundance Award-winning cinematographer, Laela Kilbourn unpack an under the radar amateur sport that’s poised to emerge as a blueprint for the future of women’s sports.
HEROIC DOCS 2, Saturday, May 18th 5pm Theater 2.
All films will screen at The Prospector Theater - 25 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877 May 16-18.
“I am thrilled to bring so many local filmmakers to screen their films at the beautiful Prospector Theater,” states festival founder/director, Joanne Hudson. “Our goal is to create an ecosystem for independent filmmakers in Connecticut.”
Many of these filmmakers will also take part in the MAKE YOUR MOVIE panel on May 17th 2pm at the Lounsbury House. This panel moderated by filmmaker, Daniel Schechter (LIFE OF CRIME, AFTER CLASS, SUPPORTING CHARACTERS) will help to assuage your fears about taking the leap into filmmaking.
Please visit RIFF’s website https://www.riffct.org for more information and tickets.