Audience Award Film Screenings Announced

Join us Monday night, May 5, for encore screenings of the two audience favorites!

Audience Award Winner - Narrative
Phoebe in Wonderland
7:00 PM, Little 1

Audience Award Winner - Documentary
Autism: The Musical
9:15 PM, Little 1

Click here for more information.

Rita Moreno and Bill Pullman Among Many to Attend the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival

The Rochester High Falls International Film Festival has announced that actors Rita Moreno and Bill Pullman, among many others in the film industry, will be featured at this year's Film Festival, slated from April 30 - May 5, 2008 at various venues around Rochester. Individual tickets are available online and can be purchased by visiting www.rochestersmoviefest.com.

"We are thrilled that our move to the spring has yielded such a fabulous crop of films this year," said RHFIFF's artistic director, Catherine Wyler. "And we're delighted to have such talented, remarkable actors like Bill and Rita as our featured guests."

The Festival's mission is to feature exceptional movies for all audiences, and exceptional work of women in all areas of film, video and new media, highlighting Rochester's standing as the home of motion picture film (George Eastman) and the women's rights movement (Susan B. Anthony). This year the RHFIFF will present some 90 features, documentaries, shorts, children's and young adult programs, student filmmaking competitions, panel discussions, master classes, and informal "Coffee With" events featuring visiting filmmakers and stars short films, independent films and children's programs.

On Friday, May 2 at The Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman House, actor Bill Pullman will introduce Phoebe in Wonderland, in which he stars. On Saturday, May 3, actress Rita Moreno will be presented with RHFIFF's Susan B. Anthony "Failure is Impossible" Award by Pullman, followed by the gala screening of Fermat's Room at the Little Theatre. Moreno will also appear on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Little, where she will be in conversation with film critic Jack Garner.

Rita Moreno has entertained audiences for over 60 years, and is the first performer to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy. Bill Pullman made his film debut in 1986 with Ruthless People. Notable appearances followed in such films as The Accidental Tourist, A League of Their Own and Malice.

Screenings for this year's Film Festival have also been expanded to various venues around Rochester. In addition to the Little Theatre and The Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman House, films will also be shown at The Memorial Art Gallery, the Cinema Theatre and Highland Bowl.

"The community continues to want to be a part of this wonderful event and we couldn't be more pleased," added executive director, Rosie Taravella. "Adding three additional venues this year not only signifies the growth of the festival, but also helps to show off other great Rochester neighborhoods at a time of year when people are able to walk around and enjoy them."

The Festival is also proud of its community collaborations this year, including the co-presentation of shorts programming with Movies on a Shoestring, and the co-presentation of the Young Filmmaker's Competition with the Rochester Urban Youth Film Festival and the co-presentation of the month-long Children's Film Festival with the Children's Institute and several other educational and cultural institutions.

"We are quite thrilled that so many community partners are interested in working with our Festival, " said Festival Director and Co-Programmer Ruth Cowing. "When we all pool our different resources at the same table it is enriching not only for our individual organizations but for Rochester and our region as well."