Naples International Film Festival set for November at Mercato cinema

The Naples International Film Festival has announced its inaugural event will take place Nov. 5-8 at Silverspot, the luxury cinema slated to open later this year at Mercato. The festival will screen full-length feature films, shorts and documentaries from around the world, with a special focus on Southwest Florida's filmmakers.

Silverspot will offer NIFF moviegoers the finest cinematic accommodations and will also host a number of events associated with the festival. The location was announced recently along with the newly appointed NIFF advisory board, whose members are Phil Wood, Charlene Rooney, Brenda O'Connor, Maggie McCarty, Maury Dailey, Dick Munro, Bob Encarnacion, Jim Griffith, Bill Young, Janice Kemp, Stephen Gray-Blancett, Elizabeth D'Onofrio, Nicole Angelo and Mayela Rosales. The announcements were celebrated at Six Degrees Exhibitions with food, dancing and the screening of two short films and a NIFF commercial.

The festival board of directors includes: Eric Raddatz, founding member and executive director; Rowan Samuel, founding member and marketing director; Dan Linehan, founding member and executive coordinator; Ellen Goldberg, submissions manager; Chuck Ardezzone, sales director; Jill Wheeler, public relations manager; Blake Owen, festival coordinator; Tim

Rowe, operations director; Michael Lehn, development director; Chengi Muyambo, director of online development; Jessica Mathews, director of strategic partnerships; and John Goede, legal counsel.

The Naples International Film Festival board of directors. NANCY NEAL / FLORIDA WEEKLY Starting April 16, the NIFF will hold pre-screenings at 7 p.m. every Thursday at Six Degrees Exhibitions. The public is invited to join the judging committee to see and rate films in consideration for the festival. Discussion with the judging panel and local filmmakers, actors and directors follows each film.

For more information, visit www. naplesfilmfest.com, e-mail eric@naplesfilmfest. com or call 331-2678.