Schedule:

8:30am - 8:45am — MORNING COFFEE — Hosted at the Block Island Maritime Institute by Kristin Carey, Kim Estes and Henry LeBlanc who discuss the day’s programming and introduce the first film block.

NARRATIVE STUDENT SHORT FILM BLOCK: [BIMI VENUE](8:45am - 11am)

8:45am - 8:55am — NARRATIVE STUDENT SHORT FILM — (Suffolk University) — “Coming Down Is The Hardsest Thing” — 10 mins. — Drama, Fantasy — Cubby, a 3-year old Bernedoodle, is in a funk. When his parents threaten to leave him behind for the first time, he must learn to do the impossible. Written & Directed by Kely Maloney, Starring Cubby Belfi.

8:55am - 9:15am — NARRATIVE STUDENT SHORT FILM — (Columbia University) — “Experts In A Dying Field” — 18 mins. — Drama — Following a botched first date, a young man seeks refuge amongst his 'family'. Upon learning that the 'expert' ways of these knock around guys are incorrect, he stands his ground and is inevitably launched back out in the real world where he truly belongs. Written & Directed by Mitchell Camarda, Produced by John Puma, Kevin Burns and Joe Rosenbloom, Starring Armand Assante, Dante Palminteri, Jake Cannavale, Peter Gaudio, Craig DiFrancia, Sidney Rosenberg and Maria Marinaro.

9:15am-9:20am — NARRATIVE STUDENT SHORT FILM — (New York University) — “Bird Poop” — 5 mins. — Comedy — A young couple discover each other after being pelted with bird poop. Written, directed and produced by Chase D. Markoff, Starring Violetta Fisco and Chase D. Markoff.

9:20am - 9:35am — NARRATIVE STUDENT SHORT FILM — (Boston University) — “The Fairy House” — 14 mins. — Drama, Fantasy — A magical encounter helps young architect, Charlotte, rediscover her lust for life. Directed by Emma Weller & Zoe Moore, Written by Emma Weller, Produced by Veronica Harris and Lynne Asare-Bediako, Starring Emma Weller, Jojo and Michael Kaye.

9:35am - 9:40am — NARRATIVE STUDENT SHORT FILM — (Sacred Heart University) — “Elevator Pitch” — 5 minutes — Jane is on her way to pitch her new film when she suffers an anxiety attack. Written & Directed by Zachary J. Allen, Produced by Gabriel Calderon, Starring Katarine V. Maric.

9:40am - 9:55am — NARRATIVE STUDENT SHORT FILM — (Fairfield University) — “Hammer” — 13 mins. — Drama, Thriller — A group of witch finders venture into the woods in search of a hoard a women. Written & Directeed by Em Merolla, Produced by Katja Berardino and Jacen Januseski, Starring Nicholas Wilder, Ellen Relac, Marko Ulaj and Nicholas Cummings.

9:55am - 10:10am — NARRATIVE STUDENT SHORT FILM — (University of Rhode Island) — “DUSK” — 15 mins. — A psychological dramatic thriller about a suspecting girlfriend who must uncover the truth about her partner’s secret life. Directed by Naomi Tyler & Courtney Satterley, Written by Naomi Tyler, Produced by Naomi Tyler, Starring Eddy Tavares, Naomi Tyler, Sydney Davey and Olivia Humulock.

10:10am - 11am — Q&A with the Filmmakers.

11am - 12pm — BREAK

SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY FILMS BLOCK: [BIMI VENUE](12pm - 3pm)

12pm - 12:30pm — SPOTLIGHT DOCS FILM BLOCK INTRO PROGRAM — BIFF hosts Kristin Carey and Henry LeBlanc speak with Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of the RHODE ISLAND FILM & TV OFFICE, about what’s brewing at the film office. This is an opportunity for filmmakers to hear about upcoming Rhode Island based film projects and what the state has to offer in the way of tax credits and other resources for filmmakers. Brief Q&A with Steven Feinberg.

12:30pm - 12:45pm — [SPOTLIGHT] DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM — “Farther” — 14 mins. — Lori King, Amanda Fenner, and a dedicated team of friends conquered a challenging nearly 24-mile swim from Block Island to Montauk, New York. Lori's remarkable achievement marks her as the first person to successfully complete this epic aquatic journey. Directed by Drew Maloney, Produced by Amanda Fenner, Featuring Lori King.

12:45pm - 1:15pm — [SPOTLIGHT] DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM — “The Last Houseboat” — 30 mins. — The Last Houseboat is a heartfelt short documentary that delves into the history of a unique wooden vessel, lovingly crafted by a family patriarch in 1970. Anchored on the Rhode Island coast for over 50 years, the houseboat became more than a structure—it was a landmark, a cherished family tradition, and a symbol of connection across three generations. When unforeseen circumstances force the family to dismantle the beloved vessel, they confront a profound sense of loss while celebrating its enduring legacy. Directed by Colin D’Amelio, Produced by Fiona Egan and Matt Sola, with Music by Austin Friend.

1:15pm - 1:35pm — [SPOTLIGHT] DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM — “Shucking Tradition” — 18 mins. — “Shucking Tradition” is a testament to the resilience of forward-thinking New England women. They are not just working hard, but also proving themselves in their region's age-old oyster farming. Their new energy and perspectives are reshaping a tradition-bound, male-dominated maritime industry, inspiring us all. Directed, Filmed & Produced by David Helfer Wells, Consulting Editor Loulwa Khoury.

1:35pm - 2:11 pm. — [SPOTLIGHT “Mary Donnelly” FILM] — DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM — “Lillian” — 36 mins. — Award winning filmmaker, Dante Bellini, Jr., tells the courageous, intimate, emotional and inspiring story of Lillian Chason, a gutsy Barrington, Rhode Island woman who battled the H1N1 virus, while her family rallied around her to try and keep her alive. The story highlights how a family chose love and community to deal with their despair.  Written & Directed by Dante Bellini, Cinematography by David Zapatka, Jesse DuFault and Deven Bussey, Edited by Eric Latek and Joe Picozzi, and Music by Mauro Colangelo.

2:11pm - 3pm — Q&A with the Filmmakers.

3pm - 4pm — BREAK

SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY FILM: [BIMI VENUE](4pm - 6pm)

4pm - 5:15pm — — [SPOTLIGHT] DOCUMENTARY FILM — Slatersville: America's First Mill Village - Episode 6: They Will All Be My Friends — 1 hour 15 mins. —  "Slatersville: America's First Mill Village" retraces the 2 1/2 century history of the first industrialized mill village in the United States, located in the Blackstone Valley of northern Rhode Island. It has been filmed in seven states and the U.K. Written, Directed & Produced by Christian de Rezendes, Produced by Pat Horn Ferron and Gail Denomme.

5:15pm - 6pm — Q&A with filmmakers.

6pm - 7:15pm — BREAK

NARRATIVE SHORT FILM BLOCK: [CHAMPLIN’S MARINA VENUE](7:15pm - 10pm)

7:15pm — 7:25pm — NARRATIVE SHORT FILM — “The Swim” — 10 mins. — Comedy — Inspired by their favorite olympic swimmer, two strangers prepare for their first ocean dip...despite not knowing how to swim. Written & Directed by Corrie Legge & Benjamin Algar, Produced by Corrie Legge, Edited by Benjamin Algar, Starring Corrie Legge and Benjamin Algar.

7:25pm - 7:40pm — NARRATIVE SHORT FILM — “Kind Mother” — 15 mins. — Drama — An estranged mother arrives at the silent retreat that her daughter is attending. When the two women engage in an unusual - and fantastical - power struggle, limits are tested, generational trauma is brought to light, and together they must grapple with mortality and forgiveness. Written & Directed by Clare O’Connor, Produced by Clare O’Connor, Emma Sofia Fazzuoli and Geoffrey Prather, Cinematography by Jason Chiu, Starring Kristin Carey and Clare O’Connor.

7:40pm - 7:53pm — NARRATIVE SHORT FILM — “Sweeps Week” — 13 mins. — Comedy — A clueless TV producer makes a life altering executive decision concerning one of his loyal actors in this comedy based on Steve Blackwood's days on a network soap opera. Written & Directed by Steve Blackwood, Produced by Beth Anderson-Song, Michael David Kehoe and Bob Tourangeau, Starring Steve Blackwood, Brian J. McDonald and Halle Curley.

7:53pm - 8:03pm — NARRATIVE SHORT FILM — “The Day Keeper — 10 mins. — Comedy — A mockumentary about a lighthouse keeper who struggles to keep his own inner light shining. Directed by Mark Kiefer, Written by Mark Kiefer & Steve Young, Produced by Mark Kiefer & Steve Young, Starring Steve Young, Liam McNeill, Jason Reulet and Mark Kiefer.

8:03pm - 8:18pm  — NARRATIVE SHORT FILM — “Hold” — 15 mins. — Drama — An early morning phone call propels a mother and daughter on a path toward connection and the mysteries held in the act of letting go. Directed by  Josiah Junqueira Spencer, Written by Kelly Strandemo, Cinematography by Conor Murphy, Produced by Laura Faith, Josiah Junqueira Spencer, Mary Willis White, and Stephen Bailey, Starring Debra Monk, Kelly Strandemo, John Jellison, Celia Au and Martin Fisher.

8:18pm - 8:43pm — NARRATIVE SHORT FILM — “The Paradise Road” — 25 mins. —  Drama/Romance/LGBTQ —Two women tie the knot and embark on a romantic excursion to a west coast sea-side town for a moment of happiness and seclusion before inevitably coming to terms with a life-altering decision. Written & Directed by Lisa Marie Tedesco, Produced by Aracely (Shelly) Rodriguez (Ro) and Lisa Marie Tedesco, Starring Mandahla Rose and Shelly Ro.

8:43pm - 8:55pm — NARRATIVE SHORT FILM — “Night Session” — 12 mins. — Comedy — When a burglar unexpectedly runs into a homeowner during a theft, a simple robbery morphs into a makeshift therapy session with the burglar helping the homeowner process his impending divorce — all while the homeowner continues to help the burglar rob his apartment. Written & Directed by Ballard C. Boyd, Produced by Clara Peterson & Ballard C. Boyd, Starring Richard Kind, Joe Miles, David Ebert and Christiana Lopez.

8:55pm 10pm — Q&A with the Filmmakers.

10pm - 1pm — Day Two BIFF Filmmakers Celebratory Party at Champlin’s Marina & Resort (The Top Dock Bar on the pier)