The RSFF will take place over 4 days (October 13th – 16th, 2016) with film screenings, VIP events, and community enrichments.
The entire RSFF event will be at the fabulous Emagine Theater. Most of the full feature Indies are award winners and include international selections. There will also be a selection of shorts blocked into designated time slots. Also, included in the film festival will be romance, thrillers, comedies and sci-fi selections. http://royalstarrfilmfestival.com/
ANDREA DORIA: ARE THE PASSENGERS SAVED? Is a doc that will be shown on Friday, October 14, at 5:00 PM. Pierette Domenica Simpson of Novi, MI was just nine years old when she survived the sinking of the Italian luxury liner. This is her tale of the often misunderstood catastrophe that took place on June 25th, 1956. She wrote the screenplay based on her experiences. http://andreadoriamovie.com/
One of the highlighted comedies is the Hawaiian full feature, GET A JOB. It will be shown Saturday, October 15, at 9:25 PM. The film has plenty of laughs and an award winning soundtrack. The feature was directed by Detroit native Brian Kohne and includes 18 original songs by the Barefoot Natives, Willie K and Eric Gilliom. Kohne masterfully wove this group of world class island entertainers into their expression of music design. GET A JOB is supported by the antics and hijinks of veteran Filipino comic, Augie Tulba. One of the producers of GET A JOB, Raymond Rolak, will host a Q & A after the showcase. http://getajobmovie.com
Also on Saturday at 7:00 PM, Federal Judge Damon J. Keith will be honored at the screening of Walk With Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith. Produced by local filmmaker Jesse Nesser, it is a doc that is finally told. Walk With Me: The Trials of Judge Damon J. Keith, tells the story of ten extraordinary years, four groundbreaking cases, and one unconventional federal judge, whose rulings forever changed the face of civil rights in the United States. “It may be the greatest story you never heard,” said Nesser. Mitch Albom was the executive producer. http://www.thedkdoc.com/about-us
The festivities kick off with a VIP Industry Reception at the Emagine Grill (inside the Royal Oak Emagine Theatre) on Thursday, October 13from 7:00pm to midnight. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet the filmmakers and mingle with visiting film industry professionals. This is a free event and is an added value affair for the community. There will be networking and plenty of opportunities to learn about the intricacies of making motion pictures and soundtracks.
There will be scheduled discussions, and panel-workshops in the fields of screenwriting, acting and special effects make-up. The RSFF has three divisions, features, shorts and high school entries. All the films were juried, and the judges included Martin Kohn, Sam Logan Khaleghi, Ted Houser and Gregg Russell.
High School students are eligible to receive awards for scholarships and/or the purchase of equipment and software. The first place winner in the High School division will be flown to Los Angeles for a red carpet tour of Paramount Studios.