Released on = August 20, 2007, 7:32 pm

Press Release Author = Bob Cooper / Press Dept

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = The film \"Italian Americans and Federal Hill\" surprised
festival workers by attracting a crowd hundreds larger than expected despite prior
exposure and the DVD release. The crowd voted the film 1st place for best
documentary out of 320 films screened.

Press Release Body = (Providence, Rhode Island, USA) The 11th Annual Rhode Island
International Film Festival (RIIFF) has named \"Italian Americans and Federal Hill\"
the 1st Place, Audience Choice Award winner for Best Documentary out of 2,491
entries submitted and 320 films screened during this year\'s festival.

Produced and directed by Jonathan Raben, the film premiered late last year, and
received a four star rating from Providence Journal film critic, Michael Janusonis,
a five star rating from Frances Syner (Federal Hill Gazette), \"thumbs up\" from the
National Italian American Foundation (NIAF News) and was heralded as far away as
Italy by the Newsitalia Press. Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) Italy\'s National
Broadcaster was at the theater to cover the film premiere event and the Annotico
Report featured the story in his column worldwide.

With so much prior exposure and the DVD already available, festival officials and
workers did not expect a large turnout. Even RIIFF\'s own award ceremony
presentations conflicted with the screening. However lines formed early for the
film and Columbus Theater owner Jon Berberian, festival workers and officials
expressed great surprise when \"Italian Americans and Federal Hill\" had hundreds more
in attendance than expected with the biggest crowd of all films shown during the
festival.

The film relates the history, traditions, challenges and successes of Italian
immigrants throughout the United States. The hardships and prejudices they endured
are similar to that of all immigrants today who come with different cultures,
traditions and languages.

The Audience Choice Award to be presented is named for the late Viola M. Marshall,
an arts supporter and a founding member of the Flickers Arts Collaborative which
created and produces the RIIFF.

\"Italian Americans and Federal Hill\" is the first film made entirely in Rhode Island
by and with Rhode Islanders that has experienced commercial success. It is
available on DVD in a number of stores including Borders and Barnes & Noble. Other
outlets are developing across the United States, Italy and on websites such as
www.italianamericansandfederalhill.net. The Rhode Island International Film
Festival site is at www.riiff.org.
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The News Reporter\'s Site for the recent festival is at www.digitalgurune.com/riiff
and the News site for select international films is at
www.digitalgurune.com/riiff/filmlang

Contact: Bob Cooper, prguynow@yahoo.com, Tel: 00-1-401-447-6474 Days/Evenings

Web Site = http://www.italianamericansandfederalhill.net

Contact Details = Bob Cooper, 129 Dorrance Street, First Floor, prguynow@yahoo.com