ReelHeART International Film Festival

The ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF) known as "The Filmmakers Film Festival" is an annual independent film festival that screens over 100 films from 30 or more countries during 6 days in June every season.

A film supporter and world traveler of Irish descent who speaks 3 languages founded ReelHeART in 2004. The ReelHeART vision was that a new film festival could be formed to fill the void created by the growing trend of 'niche' festivals. ReelHeART is a 'truly open festival', accepting films of all genres, countries and film lengths. ReelHeART is known for programming not on time as many festivals do, but programming on content.

ReelHeART screens film is nine categories of competition: Feature Narrative, Feature Documentary, Short or Long Form Narrative, Short or Long Form Documentary, Dance and/or Music Related Category, Animation and New Media Category, Experimental Category, Music Video Category and "Off The Shelf".

ReelHeART is dedicated to supporting the need for exposure for all levels of independent filmmakers around the world. ReelHeART puts emerging and student artists alongside established and master filmmakers in an effort that all filmmakers can be recognized for their art, rather than their credits. ReelHeART also has a goal to satisfy and challenge the interests of filmgoers and film supporters to encourage, reward and celebrate the ReelHeART of film and new media.

ReelHeART is successful in appealing to a wide and diverse group of international filmmakers expressing their art in all genres. In 2005, films from 23 countries were entered. In 2006 and 2007 filmmakers from over 40 countries submitted their films to ReelHeART.

In 2006 and 2007 Canadian submissions and award winners also increased.

In association with [http://www.acagallery.com/ ACA Gallery] ReelHeART started a monthly film series in 2006, as the two artistic iniatives' founders and directors share the belief that "Art Can Change The World", as is the motto of ACA Gallery. The monthly selections are curated from past winners and audience favorites from the growing ReelHeART catalogue.

2007 brought the decision to honor Best Actress and Best Actor contributions on film.

Also new in 2007, was the [http://www.reelheart.com/2007/opencallintl.php/ ReelHeART Feature Screenplay Competition] which brought with it a little drama of its own. The top three feature scripts get honored with Live Reads in front of a festival audience and a top literary agent. In 2007, two of the top three scripts were by the same writer, Joe Acton who's day job is mired deep in legal research as owner and partner in [http://www.versuslaw.com/company/companyInfo.asp/ Versus Law.]

ReelHeART International Film Festival is best known for its Programmer’s Pledge to “"We watch your film from moment one to moment none..."”

Award Winners

*2006 Best Of The Fest: Ten 'til Noon, USA, Scott Storm, Director; Paul Osborne, Writer "NB" Ten 'til Noon received an "R" rating March 01, 2007
*2006 1st Place Feature Film: Deadpan Valentine,UK, Robin Lindsey, Director
*2006 2nd Place Feature Film: After Roberto, USA, Louis Fusco, Co-Director, Marc Fusco, Co-Director
*2006 3rd Place Feature Film: Streets Of Wonderland, Canada, Carey Lewis, Director
*2006 Short or Long Film: Divide, Japan, Masato Tsujioka, Director
*2006 Best Editing: Deadpan Valentine, UK, Katherine Lee, Editor
*2006 Best Sound: Les Punks, USA, Scott Teems, Co-Director; Charlie Shanian, Co-Director "NB" Divorced from Tori Spelling after 14 months. Often referred to as "Mr. 9021Over"
*2006 1st Place Short Film: Photograbber ("aka" "Photomateurs"), France, Pascal Tosi, Director

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*2005 Best Of The Fest: Bad Day, UK, Dominic Makin, Director, Writer "NB" Bad Day was banned in Britain
*2005 1st Place Feature Film: Encounters, UK, Pat Kelman, Director, Jonty Reason, Producer "NB" Directorial debut of well-know British Character actor Pat Kelman ("Lighthouse", "The Odyssey")
*2005 2nd Place Feature Film: Formosa, USA, Noah Kadner, Director "NB" Stars great character actors such as, Steven Gilborn, Geoffrey Lewis and Saginaw Grant
*2005 2nd Place Feature Film: Sweet Destiny, USA, Francine Pellegrino, Director "NB" Stars Abe Vigoda ("Fish" from Barney Miller) in his first role as a romantic leading man

External links

* [http://www.reelheart.com/2007 ReelHeART International Film Festival 2007]
* [http://www.reelheart.com/2006/festival/index.php ReelHeART International Film Festival 2006]
* [http://www.reelheart.com/2006/festival/mediacoverage.php ReelHeART International Film Festival 2006 Media Coverage 2006]
* [http://www.reelheart.com/2006/festival/awards2006.php ReelHeART International Film Festival 2006 Virtual Awards Ceremony 2006]
* [http://www.reelheart.com/ ReelHeART International Film Festival Home Page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/rhiff ReelHeART International Film Festival at MySpace]
* [http://www.reelheart.com/2005/festival/index.php ReelHeART International Film Festival 2005]
* [http://www.reelheart.com/2005/festival/awards-flash.php ReelHeART International Film Festival 2006 Virtual Awards Ceremony 2005]