Northwest Georgia-based film festival to host red carpet, film screening and Q&A panel on Nov. 10 and a civic dialogue - forum led by Berry College on Nov. 12.

Director, actor, producer, and writer, Mario Van Peebles, will be in attendance at the Rome International Film Festival, set for November 11-14. Masquerade party to follow screening.

Nappy Roots’ Skinny DeVille and Scales will be in attendance coinciding with the pilot debut of “40 Akerz and a Brew,” a partnership with PAM Studios of Rome.

Rome community invited to attend an exclusive screening of the reality television series pilot on Thursday, Nov. 11

The rebellion, the passion, and the prose…a journey into the life of Irish singer/songwriter and The Pogues frontman, Shane MacGowan.

Among notable guests during the festival, November 11-14, are Billy Bob Thornton, director, actor, writer and producer Mario Van Peebles, and Skinny DeVille and Scales of the multi platinum, Grammy nominated southern rap group, Nappy Roots. Attendees can expect other surprise guests as well.

The Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) is vamping up its creative caliber to embark on brand new horizons, and who better to add into the mix than South by Southwest (SXSW) co-creator, Louis Black.

Not only is Black responsible for the film culture that thrives in Austin, TX, but he also co-created the Austin Chronicle, the Texas Hall of Fame, and the Austin Film Society.

Coming off of a virtual festival experience in 2020, RIFF is moving forward in 2021 with a transformative momentum that will not be stopped.

The Rome International Film Festival will kick off Fiddlin’ Fest this year, in downtown Rome, with a screening of “Sweet Dreams Do Come True,” complete with an intimate concert by Nashville veteran Verlon Thompson. We’re sure he’ll even sit a spell with us in downtown Rome!

“Sweet Dreams Do Come True” is a musical memoir, directed by Brent Simonds, featuring tales of Thompson’s life as a troubadour.

The event will be held at the Rome City Auditorium, Friday, October 8, at 7:00 p.m.

The Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) will screen the film “Just Mercy,” a biographical legal drama featuring the all-star cast of Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson.

The screening will take place on Thursday, March 19, in the Rome City Auditorium at 7 p.m., and will be followed by a question and answer session led by local leaders. The event is free and open to the public.

The event is co-sponsored by One Community United, 100 Black Men of Rome-Northwest Georgia, the Rome Chapter of the NAACP, Georgia Highlands College, The Envision Center and Georgia Highlands African American and Minority Male Excellence.

After five days of screening top-notch independent films, 11 filmmakers are now proud owners of the Rome International Film Festival Sylvia Award. 

This year, RIFF partners with a variety of local organizations for films that share their mission and focus. As the festival shines the red carpet spotlight on timely issues, it is able to elevate the values of regional non profits and charities that work toward bettering the Northwest Georgia community all year long.

The public - along with their furry, four-legged family members - is invited to a free, Rome International Film Festival event to see “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero,” an award-winning animated feature based on the incredible true story of history's most decorated military dog.

“Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero” will be projected on a large screen for the slew of viewers on Thursday Nov 7th, 7:30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott Rome Riverwalk in Downtown Rome.

The lively rhythm of conga drums and the sounds of trumpets will have audiences itching to get up and dance during the award-winning documentary film “Rubén Blades is Not My Name,” by Abner Benaim at the Rome International Film Festival. The film follows the legacy of Latin American icon Rubén Blades who grammy-award winning music brought Salsa music to an international audience. The film will screen at the Rome City Auditorium on Friday, November 8th at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a Salsa dancing party at the Brewhouse Music & Grill on Broad Street at 9 p.m. 

For its 16th festival, The Rome International Film Festival will roll out the red carpet for the biggest stars of America – Her veterans. RIFF announces one of its marquee presentations, “Sgt. Will Gardner” by Max Martini. The film explores the struggles of a troubled Iraq veteran who finds it difficult to reintegrate into society and sets out on a cross-country journey with the hope of reuniting with his son. The film was written and directed by Martini, who is also the film’s star.

As its 16th year promises a fresh and diverse lineup of top-notch films, the Rome International Film Festival announces major growth within its board of directors, welcoming 11 new members to a board of 18 dedicated professionals. In all, a team of 37 business and film industry leaders work to make RIFF possible. 

RIFF will host a Student Film Contest as part of the RIFF Academy in its ongoing efforts to engage with young filmmakers in the Northwest Georgia region and beyond. The film contest is currently accepting submissions online until midnight on Friday, Oct. 4.

RIFF sponsorships put Northwest Georgia on the map and help inform visiting filmmakers, patrons and tourists about the businesses, restaurants, hotels and other unique features the area has to offer. Read on for more info!

Rome International Film Festival awarded a grant that will foster artistic growth in a younger generation of artists and filmmakers throughout the region and beyond. Read on for more info!

Today the Rome International Film Festival announced that actor Judge Reinhold will headline the fifteenth annual festival with two special screenings throughout the weekend: OVER HER DEAD BODY and FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH. Read on for more info!