Starting Tomorrow! The Third Annual Rahway International Film Festival – Aug 28-30

The Third Annual Rahway International Film Festival returns on August 28-30, 2015 at Union County Performing Arts Center’s Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts. This year’s lineup is full of brilliant independent films by filmmakers around the world; as well as, local filmmakers right here in NJ, plus amazing seminars and networking events.

To kick off the festival, there will be an Opening Night Gala, on Friday, August 28, 2015, beginning with a catered networking hour; followed by a feature length film, and then an interactive Q&A session with the cast and crew. Afterwards, festival goers can enjoy an engaging networking and cocktail party at Patria’s Latin Bistro in Rahway; a proud key sponsor of this year’s festival. Saturday and Sunday is packed with a variety of films, both feature length and short, from around the world. All films will be shown at Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts.

For those who want to learn more about the business behind filmmaking, the Rahway International Film Festival is offering a unique blend of seminars and workshops, conducted by industry leaders. All seminars are included with the purchase of an All-Access Day Pass, but can be purchased individually for $10. All RIFF seminars will be held throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30, 2015.

Raymond Rolak, post-producer for RIFF’s Opening Night’s short music presentation, and hailing all the way from Hawaii, leads an enlightening seminar on the process of incorporating music in film. The “Harmony of Music and Cinema” seminar will give an in-depth template for emerging filmmakers, musicians, educators and film buffs regarding the journey of incorporating new music with their cinema projects.

Another informative seminar at this year’s festival is the “NJ/NY Production Seminar”, taught by Doug LeClaire, thirty-year veteran of the New York City TV commercial & national cable network production industry. LeClaire will teach the tools for production of a national TV spot. This is a great seminar for industry buffs and/or folks interested in learning how a national TV commercial production comes together.

For those ready to take their filmmaking dreams to the next level, “How to Pitch Your Film”, is the perfect seminar. Presented by Rick Sordelet, a professor at Yale University School of Drama lecturing in Acting and Stage Management. Participants will learn how to wow studio execs with a proper pitch.

For aspiring filmmakers who are wondering how to snag an awesome location for their film, they can ask professional Location Manager, Paul Kramer, and Artistic Director Rick Butler. Seminar attendees will learn what it’s like to secure the locations for major feature films, and successful TV shows, as well as, the artistic aspects, during the RIFF seminar “On Location with Paul Kramer and Rick Butler”.

Due to the success of the last year’s festival, the 2015 Rahway International Film Festival will be a multi-day event, to accommodate its growing popularity. A primary objective of the festival is to enhance the creative community in the Rahway area and provide a platform for international storytellers; to not only share their work, but a place to forge new relationships for collaboration. Emerging and seasoned filmmakers; as well as actors, have the unique opportunity to network and learn from one another during the festival’s Opening and Closing Nights Parties, Networking Events, and a variety of Festival Seminars and Panels.

“Our seminar leaders are such brilliant and fantastic artists that it’s hard not enjoy. It’s certainly not your typical classroom setting. I encourage all attendees to participate in at least one seminar. You’ll have a blast”, said Gina Marie Rodriguez, festival executive director.

For the full line up of this year’s film screenings and event schedule, check out the festival’s website at: www.rahwayfilmfest.com. Ticket prices range from $10 to $35 and can be purchased at the Union County Performing Arts Theatre’s website at www.ucpac.org. For daily festival updates follow the Rahway International Film Festival on Facebook and Twitter.