ROCKAWAY FILM FESTIVAL

THE 7TH ANNUAL ROCKAWAY FILM FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF 9 DAYS IN AUGUST 2024 AND PRESENTED MORE THAN 60 FILMS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED SEVERAL NEW YORK, EAST COAST, AND WORLD PREMIERES OF NEW FILMS AND RESTORATIONS ALONGSIDE SPECIAL TRIBUTES, PANELIST CONVERSATIONS, AND RARE SCREENINGS. EVERY DAY OF THE FESTIVAL INCLUDED TALKS WITH FEATURED DIRECTORS, ACTORS, AND OTHER CREW MEMBERS, MODERATED BY ESTEEMED FILMMAKERS. IN ADDITION TO FILM SCREENINGS, WE PRESENTED 8 LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES INCLUDING SETS BY ACCLAIMED MUSICIANS, INCLUDING VISITING MUSICIANS AS WELL AS LOCAL ROCKAWAY TALENTS.IN ADDITION TO PRESENTING A SPECIAL EVENT EACH EVENING IN OUR FLAGSHIP OUTDOOR VENUE, THE ARVERNE CINEMA, WE TRANSFORMED A NEIGHBORING WAREHOUSE INTO A SECONDARY, INDOOR SCREENING ROOM THE ANNEX CINEMA. THIS SET-UP GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMMING SCOPE, AND TO BUILD AND PRESENT OUR FIRST MULTI-CHANNEL INSTALLATION. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDED OUR FIRST EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, WHICH WE OFFERED FOR FREE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCKAWAY ARTISTS.IN ADDITION TO THE 7TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL, WE PRESENTED FILM AND MUSIC AT THE ARVERNE CINEMA FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER OF 2024. MANY OF OUR EVENTS WERE OFFERED FOR FREE, INCLUDING OUR ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION WITH ALFREDA'S CINEMA, AND OUR ANNUAL EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP AND SCREENING WITH LARU BEYA COLLECTIVE. ALL OF OUR EVENTS WERE OFFERED FOR FREE TO CHILDREN, TEENAGERS, AND OUR NEIGHBORS LIVING IN ARVERNE.IN 2024, RFF'S STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVESTED IN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING TO ENABLE THE GROWTH OF OUR SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES. IN 2024, RFF TRANSITIONED TO A FULL-TIME ORGANIZATION AND PRIORITIZED BUILDING NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH A LARGER PORTION OF ITS TARGET POPULATION OF THE ENTIRE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA, ESPECIALLY AIMING TO CONNECT WITH HARDER TO REACH GROUPS. WE ACCOMPLISHED OUR GOAL OF ENGAGING WITH A LARGER AND BROADER POPULATION OF THE ROCKAWAY COMMUNITY WITH OUR HIGHEST ATTENDED FESTIVAL TO DATE.