The Rome International Film Festival returns Nov. 5-8 with celebrity guests, independent films, live music and a pitch to residents: You don’t have to be a film buff to enjoy it.
Now in its 23rd year, the festival will offer screenings, panels, workshops, happy hours and parties throughout downtown Rome. The Historic DeSoto Theatre will serve as the anchor venue, with additional events at the Rome City Auditorium, Screen 417 and the upstairs of the Vogue.
Organizers are building a temporary theater upstairs at the Vogue specifically for the festival. The downstairs will serve as a RIFF social space where attendees can gather between events.
First-time attendees from Rome and the surrounding area can receive a 30% discount on a Deluxe Patron Pass through Nov. 4 by using the code Firstriff26 at checkout. Proof of local residency is required.
The festival typically draws about 2,500 people over four days, according to organizers. Its programming emphasizes Georgia productions while incorporating international films and partnerships that bring visiting filmmakers and audiences downtown.
This year’s lineup includes appearances by Ray McKinnon, Jared and Jerusha Hess, and Danny McBride, who will receive the festival’s Flannery O’Connor Award for storytelling.
McKinnon, an Academy Award winner and Georgia native, will attend opening night Thursday, Nov. 5, for a screening of “The Accountant.” The 2001 short film, starring McKinnon and Walton Goggins, won the Oscar for live action short film at the 2002 Academy Awards.
McKinnon, whose credits include creating the television series “Rectify,” will participate in a question-and-answer session after the screening. An after-party for pass holders will follow.
Programming expands across all four venues Friday, Nov. 6, with films, panels and workshops throughout the day.
A Friday afternoon panel at the Vogue, “True Crime All the Time,” will explore true crime storytelling with a focus on Rome. Scheduled guests include journalist Andy Kroll of Rollingstone and Jeff Keating, whose work includes the “Fight Night” podcast and television adaptation.
Friday’s documentary offerings include “How to Feed a Dictator,” which examines the experiences of chefs who cooked for dictators.
Jared and Jerusha Hess will attend a screening of their 2015 comedy “Don Verdean,” starring Sam Rockwell and Jemaine Clement. Jared Hess also directed “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Nacho Libre” and “A Minecraft Movie.”
Saturday, Nov. 7, will feature screenings throughout the day, with selections spanning short films, documentaries, narrative features, horror and faith-based films.
McBride will take part in a morning conversation and make additional appearances during the festival. Saturday evening’s programming will include screenings of his selections, a question-and-answer session and the presentation of the Flannery O’Connor Award.
Previous recipients include Billy Bob Thornton, Ethan and Maya Hawke, Tim Blake Nelson and Jerusha Hess. A party for pass holders will follow Saturday’s events.
The festival’s awards ceremony and brunch will take place Sunday morning, Nov. 8, followed by additional films. “Bruton” is scheduled to screen at 12:30 p.m. at the DeSoto, and the Georgia feature “Frogtown” will serve as the closing-night film.
The weekend’s final concert, “Rome Remembers Dolly,” begins at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Rome City Auditorium. The tribute to Dolly Parton will feature a house band and vocalists from Rome and the surrounding area.
Whiskey Revival will anchor the concert, with musicians Keith Argo, Tammy Cunningham, Alan Sanders, Blake Seymour, Brian Ridley, Kylie Blankenship, Tim Hamilton and Josh Lawrence.
Featured singers include Alice Johnston, Katrina Barclay, Virginia Mangrum, Lowell Mangrum, Montie Nelson, Emma Charles Townsend, Kaylan Baker and Monica Sheppherd. An after-party for pass holders will follow.
Attendees can purchase passes for the full festival or individual tickets to films, blocks of short films, panels and concerts. Most individual events cost $10, with some priced higher. Individual tickets for most events are on sale now.
All-access passes include festival programming and nightly parties. Rome Film & Entertainment Society membership includes festival benefits, exclusive events and year-round programming.
Organizers say the range of ticket options allows residents to try a single event without committing to the entire weekend.
Tickets, passes and schedule information are available at riffga.com and through the Rome International Film Festival app in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
RIFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that fosters economic development and cultural tourism while supporting the visual and performing arts. All donations are tax deductible.
