A phantasmagoric symphony of international genre films were given their due with the wrap of the 21st Annual Flickers' Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Film Festival through adjudicated awards. The Festival celebrated and showcased imagination and
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A phantasmagoric symphony of international genre films were given their due with the wrap of the 21st Annual Flickers’ Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Film Festival through adjudicated awards.
The Festival celebrated and showcased imagination and creativity in filmmaking and included eight World and United States Premieres. In all, 70 films were selected from over 3,000 genre submissions, representing 15 countries. This year’s Festival was planned, developed and curated by Shawn Drywa, Vortex Program Director and creator of the annual genre Festival with Shawn Quirk, RIIFF Program Director.
The 2020 Vortex Festival was a hybrid event with programming appearing online and select screenings at the Rustic Drive-in in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Webinars, industry workshops, forums, the popular Lovecraft Walking Tour, coffee talks, filmmaker interviews, and post film screening Q&A’s composed this year’s events. The 2020 Festival continued popular annual programs “Virtually,” including a special episode of the Flickers’ series “doubleFEATURE” that aired on Rhode Island PBS.
With the popularity of HBO’s “Lovecraft Country,” the seasonal return of the H.P. Lovecraft Walking Tour could not have been timelier. The Tour, presented in collaboration with the Rhode Island Historical Society, took place over four days during the Festival and followed Rhode Island Department of Health and CDC guidelines. Attendees maintained social distancing from their guide during the tour, as well as wore masks while on the street and in public. Once announced, it quickly sold out.
The full schedule for this year’s Festival can be found at rifilmfest.org and prog.tsharp.xyz/en/riiff/21/date/all.
“It’s an amazing achievement that we are celebrating our 21st anniversary this year. Our decision in 2015 to expand our programming to sci-fi and fantasy films, along with our horror film entries, has allowed us to create an incredible showcase of truly unique films” said Shawn Drywa, Vortex Program Director.
“Vortex has always prided itself on showcasing the best genre films from the independent film community and this year was no exception. From Spain to Brazil and Switzerland to the UK, these films represent the vanguard of genre filmmaking from across the globe, and showcase a rising generation of filmmakers, who are redefining genre films for the next generation of cinephiles.”
“Our pivot to a hybrid program that allowed for virtual and in-person events making it possible for this year’s Vortex Film Festival to expand its offerings and engage audiences across the globe,” noted Shawn Quirk, RIIFF’s Program Director.
Grand Prize: “The Unfamiliar,” directed by Henk Pretorius, United Kingdom, 2019
First Prize: “Death Drop Gorgeous,” directed by Michael J Ahern, Christopher Dalpe and Brandon Perras-Sanchez, United States, 2020
Grand Prize: “Hungry Joe,” directed by Paul Nicholas Holbrook and Sam Dawe, United Kingdom, 2019
First Prize: “Limbo,” directed by Daniel Viqueira Carballal, Spain, 2019
Tied with: “Ten Shots,” directed by Gordon Shoemaker, United States, 2020
Grand Prize: “Instant Doctor,” directed by Youth and Diogo Gameiro, Brazil, 2020
First Prize: “APPyness,” directed by Ryan Turner, United States, 2019
Tied with: “Zwart,” directed by Tommie Geraedts, Netherlands, 2019
Grand Prize: “The Haunted Swordsman,” directed by Kevin McTurk, United States, 2019
First Prize: “Girl and Robot,” directed by Joe Loftus, Ireland, 2020
Grand Prize: “Abe’s Story,” directed by Adam H. Stewart, Ireland, 2019
First Prize: “One Last Monster,” directed by Gene Kim, United States, 2019
Tied with: “Delivery,” directed by Kenna Hornibrook, United States, 2020
“IMAGO,” directed by Remy Blaser, Switzerland, 2019
“Hungry Joe,” Paul Nicholas Holbrook and Sam Dawe, directors, United Kingdom, 2019
Grand Prize: “Carmentis,” directed by Antony Webb, Australia, 2020
First Prize: “Odd Girl,” directed by Rami Kahlon, Canada, 2019
Directoral Discovery Award
Tiago Teixeira, director, “Dog Skin,” United Kingdom, 2019
This year’s Vortex programming was sponsored by the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festiva, the Rhode Island Film & Television Office, The Providence Tourism Council, ACT/Providence, Cox Media, WLNE ABC6, Eurochannel, RISCA, WSBE RI PBS, Johnson and Wales University, Providence College, Narragansett Brewing Company, the RI Historical Society, Seaside Pharmacy, the RWU School of Humanities, Arts and Education, and RWU Department of Communication, Graphic Design and Web Development.
The next edition of the Flickers’ Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Festival will take place Oct. 16-24, 2021.
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