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RIFF 2017 OPENING NIGHT
OPENING NIGHT GALA & FEATURE FILM:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017
6:30PM - 10:00PM
OPENING NIGHT FEATURE FILM: "LIFE HACK"
directed by Sloan Copeland (NY, USA)
Preceded by Short Film:
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"Helping Hands" directed by Mike Jacobson (NJ, USA)
Friday, September 22, 2017
6:30pm-8:00pm: Opening Night Gala Cocktail Hour
8:00pm-10:00pm: Film Screenings + Filmmakers Q&A
10:30pm-12:30am: Opening Night After Party
Ticket price includes a preceding Opening Night Gala Cocktail Hour with catered hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and 1 complimentary beverage (beer / wine / soda / water) at 6:30pm. Guests are free to tour our beautiful venue, The James Ward Mansion of Westfield. Come dressed to impress for photos and interviews on the red carpet! Cocktail attire is requested.
Following the films, there will be a Filmmakers Q&A with attending Directors, Cast, & Crew from the films.
Ticket price also includes exclusive access to the Opening Night After Party at 10:30pm at 16 Prospect Wine Bar & Bistro, a popular local restaurant located one block from the venue.
Tickets are available to purchase online and WILL now also be sold at the door. Cash & credit card will be accepted.
*All Gala tickets, Day, & Weekend passes include admission to the Opening Night After-Party. All festival tickets include free admission to the Sunday Awards Ceremony. Come join the fun!
**For helpful information such as tickets, directions, parking, handicap access, and where to eat/stay, please visit our Attend page.
"Life Hack"
Feature Narrative | Runtime: 1:25:00
Country of Origin: New York, USA
Language: English
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: Cover your webcam. "Life Hack" is an incredibly relevant comedic cautionary tale about our digital privacy… or lack thereof.
White hat hacker Charlie (Derek Wilson, "Preacher") finds out that his best friend Bobby (Dylan Pinter) was caught doing a private act on video and is now being blackmailed by the infamously unidentifiable Moraler - a glorified cyber bully who many believe is the mastermind behind recent anti-establishment hacks. After struggling actress Carolyn (Jessica Copeland) gets hacked, Charlie and Jack (Mike Giese) decide to embark on a tense and amusing search for the twistedly righteous Moraler before he releases Bobby’s graphic video to social media. The suspense and wit keep you captivated and laughing with cameos from Sean Kleier ("Odd Mom Out") and Devin Ratray ("Nebraska," "Blue Ruin").
(Contains some sexually crude humor. Viewer discretion advised.)
Director / Writer: Sloan Copeland (in attendance)
Sloan Copeland is an award winning film director, writer and producer born and raised in New York City. He founded Self Conscious Entertainment in 2001 and has grown the production group into a highly creative and respected company within the industry. His previous film, "Wet Behind the Ears," won over 20 awards and is distributed globally. Other credits include "unREAL," "Synapse," "From Date To Mate" and "In The Now." Sloan's much anticipated feature "Life Hack" has quickly become a festival darling, highlighted by winning Best Film at DEF CON, the world's largest hacker convention.
Co-Producers: Sloan Copeland, Jessica Copeland, Doug Roland, & Benjamin Zimbric (in attendance)
Websites:
"Helping Hands"
Short Narrative | Runtime: 15:39
Country of Origin: New Jersey, USA
Language: English
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: Chris Chumsky is an aspiring filmmaker trying to make it in the film industry. Hired as a production assistant, he slowly but surely realizes that making movies isn't always as magical as they seem on screen.
Director | Writer: Mike Jacobson (in attendance)
Mike Jacobson's lost and wandering life finally got a sense of direction and purpose when he found filmmaking at the age of 16. He hasn't stopped ever since, polishing his voice as a writer and filmmaker with over 20 short films to his name. He's a natural entertainer and enjoys nothing more than making people happy through his horrendously bad jokes and most importantly, his films.
Producer: Justin Guerrieri (in attendance)
Justin Guerrieri is an ambitious risk taking filmmaker with one sole purpose, to create entertaining content. He prides himself in his ability to produce a film and feels a natural high during the entire filmmaking process. Nothing brings him more joy than being the key figure that holds a film together.
Producer: Merritt Reid (in attendance)
Merritt Reid made his television debut on All My Children and can be seen in, Fourth Man Out and Wet Behind the Ears, which have won awards in the Seattle International Film Festival, Soho International Film Festival, and the Las Vegas International Festival, among others. He began his career as an actor studying with Ann Willis Ratray and landing regional theatre roles. Merritt’s career is gaining momentum and he’s excited about what’s to come.
Website:
