Roxbury Film Festival
The Roxbury International Film Festival (also known as RIFF) is an annual event held in the historic Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. RIFF was co-produced by the non-profits ACT Roxbury and The Color of Film Collaborative and now is produced solely by the Color of Film.
Candelaria Silva, former Director of ACT Roxbury, along with Lisa Simmons, president of The Color of Film Collaborative, shared a passion for supporting artists, especially artists of color. Their passion led to the first Roxbury Film Festival, then called the Dudley Film Festival, in 1998.
History
The first RFF started with a small grant and focused on the work of Boston area African-American filmmakers. RFF has since expanded its focus to include all filmmakers of color in order to reflect the changing face of Roxbury and greater Boston. Currently, the RFF planning committee receives submissions from filmmakers all over the world. The 8th annual festival held in 2006 was especially notable for the range of award-winning international films screened throughout the five-day festival.
Films from Brazil, Cuba, Haiti and France were featured and several international films won recognition and cash prizes in RFF’s competitive awards. Past special guests at the festival include; Billy Dee Williams, Victoria Rowell, Russ Parr, Michael Beach and CCH Pounder. RFF is now know at RIFF - the Roxbury International Film Festival screening films celebrating people of color from across the world.
Current Festival
The Roxbury International Film Festival is the largest film festival in New England showcasing films that celebrate people of color. The Festival features a variety of work, from documentary to animation to feature films. The 17th annual Roxbury International Film Festival was held June 17–27 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The festival takes place over 12 days, with workshops and film screenings happening at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and The Haley House.
Producers
The Roxbury Film Festival was co-produced by Madison Park Development and The Color of Film Collaborative and is now curated and produced by The Color of Film Collaborative, Inc. In 2016 the festival will celebrate its 18th year.
The Color of Film Collaborative (TCOF) provides support to theater, multi-media professionals, filmmakers of color, and Greater Boston-area individuals that are striving to create diverse images of people of color within their disciplines. Through support, exhibition, and funding, TCOF aims to provide an environment for filmmakers, actors, performing artists, and others with an interest in media to share and develop their ideas, visions, and works with their peers. Click to visit coloroffilm.com.