Film festival opening set for the Phil

The Naples International Film Festival opening night gala will take place Nov. 5 at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. The inaugural Naples International Film Festival will open with a Hollywood-style, red carpet gala Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. The announcement was made last week by festival founders Eric Raddatz, Dan Linehan and Rowan Samuel.

The black-tie evening will include an independent film premiere along with additional entertainment and the chance to mix and mingle with directors, producers and stars from the indie films that will be featured at the three-day festival.

"We're so excited to be partnering with Myra (Daniels, president and CEO of the Phil) and the Phil," Mr. Raddatz, executive director, says. "We have an ongoing somewhat insatiable desire to vitalize the local arts community, not much unlike Myra when she started the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in the '80s… The gala will be a merging of kindred souls, passions and interests."

After the opening gala, the center of activity for the NIFF will be at the soon-to-open Silverspot luxury cinema at Mercato in North Naples. Screenings, discussion and other activities will take place through Sunday, Nov. 8.

Naples International Film Festival founders Daniel Linehan, Eric Raddatz and Rowan Samuel. The festival will screen full-length feature films, shorts and documentaries from around the world, with a special focus on Southwest Florida's filmmakers.

NIFF is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to nurture and support a diverse artistic experience with a creative, cutting-edge festival that showcases the work of independent filmmakers. NIFF intends to benefit the community at large by contributing to film education in Collier and Lee county schools and by collaborating with local artists and arts organizations to enrich the collaborative artistic culture.

All local filmmakers are encouraged to submit their films for consideration to be screened during the November festival. Deadline for entries is Tuesday, Sept. 8. For more information, visit www.naplesfilmfest.com.

For several weeks last spring and over the summer, Mr. Raddatz and festival board members hosted Thursday-night screenings at Six Degrees Exhibitions at Tin City. Each week, the public was invited to view three or four films under consideration for the festival. Lively discussions followed each showing, and informal votes were taken as to whether the films should be included in the festival.

"Our Thursday-night screenings were my favorite thing I've organized in town," Mr. Raddatz says. "People came from out of the woodwork to share ideas and insights that were beyond anything I could have imagined. It proved we have strong cultural and intellectual support for art in film here.

"If you love raw independent film, you will love this festival," he adds. "Sure, you can see the blockbusters anywhere, but enjoying a collection of movies that go directly from the writer/producer to a finished film without having to filter through big corporations and stuffy executives can be truly satisfying."

Tickets to the opening-night gala at the Phil are $150 for VIP admission and $29 for general admission. For more information, call 775-FILM (3456).