The 18th annual Rome International Film Festival gets underway this evening and continues through Sunday.
It was announced Wednesday that director, actor, producer, and writer Mario Van Peebles, son of the late Marvin Van Peebles, is among the special guests lined up for this year’s festival. Among the most notable films directed by the younger Van Peebles is 1991’s “New Jack City”. That particular film will not be screened at RIFF, but his 2003 film “Baadasssss!” will, according to Mark Van Leuven, President of the film festival’s Board of Directors. The Saturday screening will be accompanied by the presentation to (Mario) Van Peebles of the inaugural Melvin Van Peebles Award.
Special guests at RIFF will also include actor, filmmaker, and musician Billy Bob Thornton and hip-hop group Nappy Roots.
Van Leuven says that the film festival provides great opportunities for locals to ‘hob-nob’ with current and future film stars and for budding filmmakers to network.
Film enthusiasts are encouraged to visit the Rome International Film Festival website at www.riffga.com for complete event details and to purchase passes.