In celebration of the fifth anniversary of Paducah’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City, Paducah is collaborating with fellow Creative Cities for a special cinematic showcase during the 2018 River’s Edge International Film Festival.
Opening night of the 14th annual festival will feature a collection of films from seven different countries, curated by Bradford, United Kingdom, UNESCO Creative City of Film. Building upon the festival’s mission to showcase quality independent film from around the world, this free event will begin at 7 PM at Maiden Alley Cinema on Thursday, November 1.
“The Creative Cities Network has opened new doors for Paducah to share our city’s story including Bradford’s Small World Film Festival,” says Laura Oswald, marketing director of the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Now, REIFF brings this opportunity home to honor diverse perspectives, the power of film and Paducah’s place in the global Network.”
Opening night will feature a special block of seven short films that represent the diversity, commonality and cultural characteristics of the Creative Cities Network. The films and their city affiliations are:
- City Windows, Santos, Brazil
- 409, Galway, Ireland
- Through the Windows, Nagoya, Japan
- Unity and Community, Bradford, United Kingdom
- Paducah: Where the Spirit Flows, Paducah, USA
- Due Piedi Sinistri (Two left feet), Rome, Italy
- Huit, Montreal, Canada
“We’re delighted that films from not only Bradford, but other UNESCO Creative Cities are featured in Paducah’s festival,” says David Wilson, director of Bradford UNESCO City of Film. “Working together as the Creative Cities Network, we can ensure that our filmmakers can profile both their talent and the issues that matter to them on a bigger platform.”
The River's Edge International Film Festival takes place in the center of the city’s cultural district at Maiden Alley Cinema and other downtown venues.
“At Maiden Alley Cinema, we strive to be a home for cinephiles and filmmakers alike, we hope to create cross-cultural awareness, visual literacy and always promote filmmaking as an art form,” says festival organizer Landee Bryant. “Through our designation as a UNESCO Creative City, we have seen so many amazing partnerships come to fruition. We have been able to host world renowned musicians, invite a partner city to jury our film festival and been a presence at a celebration of cultures at the San Cristobal de las Casas Festival Sabores y Saberes.”
For more information about the River’s Edge International Film Festival, visit www.riversedgefilmfestival.com.
