Providence Oscar Night® America to benefit the Rhode Island International Film Festival

Feb. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- (PROVIDENCE, RI) – The excitement of Hollywood is coming to Rhode Island on February 26th for Providence’s own Oscar Night® America party at the Vets. Attendees can experience the thrills, surprises, and red-carpet glamour of the 84th Academy Awards® at this exclusive party, which benefits FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) and its educational programming such as the KidsEye™ Summer Filmmaking Camp and the High school Youth Film Jury Program.

This year’s Providence Oscar Night® America party is especially significant, as the Ocean State salutes its own: native Viola Davis, best actress nominee for her role in “The Help.” Attendees will be able sign a congratulatory card for Davis, participate in a video greeting and cheer her on.

“We could not be prouder of Viola,” said George T. Marshall, RIIFF Executive Director. “She has brought such enormous credit to her family, our state and those who mentored her throughout her career. Her success should be applauded and proclaimed. This could not have happened to a nicer human being and is so well deserved. We wish her only good fortune and will be on pins and needles during the evening.”

Additionally, five films that premiered at the Rhode Island International Film Festival last August have been nominated for Oscars in the short film categories: "Incident in New Baghdad" D. James Spione; "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" D. William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg; "Raju" D. Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren; "The Shore" D. Terry George and Oorlagh George; and "Time Freak" D. Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey.

The Rhode Island event is one of only 49 parties officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that will be held across the country on Oscar® Night.

"Oscar night is an event meant to be a shared with others. This network of fundraising parties across the nation is a natural extension of that experience, and also represents the year-round philanthropic work the Academy does,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “This February we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the movies with fans nationwide while supporting charities around the country."

Providence Oscar Night® America’s Honorary Chairman is R.I. Film & Television Office Executive Director Steven Feinberg. The host and MC for this year's event is Rhode Island comic icon, Charlie Hall. Special Honored Guests include The Brattleboro Retreat Executive Director/CEO Dr. Robert E. Simpson Jr, The Brattleboro Retreat Filmmaker and Director of Development Mr. Konstantin von Krusenstiern, PMA Industries’ Barry Martin and Peter Archambault, Providence Business News Creative Economy Writer Denise Perreault, and noted photographer Jonathan Beller.

The Providence audience will watch the Academy Awards telecast live on a spectacular 40-foot screen in HD courtesy of WLNE TV 6, the Rhode Island affiliate of the ABC Television Network, which broadcasts the Academy Awards presentation. This is the 19th year that the Academy and ABC have cooperated with local charities to support official Oscar® Night viewing parties throughout the country. This year marks the third year that Providence’s party has been sanctioned by the Academy.

Sponsors for the 2012 Providence Oscar Night® America hosted by the Rhode Island International Film Festival include: The Vets, PMA Industries, Just Ellen’s Catering & Event Planning, Narragansett Creamery, Soul Brazilian Premium Cachaça, Reali's Fine Italian Cuisine, Valet Connection, The Providence Renaissance Hotel, Providence Coffee Roasters, Sweet Lorraine's Candy Shoppe, Narragansett Brewery, Empire Soda Cabot Cheese Vermont, and Emma's Edibles. Music by Michael Miller Swingtet. Public Relations and marketing for Flickers and the 2012 Providence Oscar Night® America by Miamore Communications.

The cost for Providence Oscar Night® America is $125 for those participating in the Red Carpet Gala, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes a welcome reception, gourmet dinner, drinks, live music, raffle and screening of the Academy Awards. For those who are not attending the gala but wish to watch the Awards ceremony only on our large screen, tickets are $10, with doors opening at 8:00 p.m. All festivities will be held at The Vets (formerly The VMA Arts & Cultural Center), 1 Avenue of the Arts.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.film-festival.org/OscarNightAmericaTKTS.php
Call 401.861.4445 or go to http://www.film-festival.org

ABOUT FLICKERS: RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

The mission of FLICKERS: 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 65 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 7-12, 2012. For more information about the festival, please visit http://www.film-festival.org.