By Cole Nelson, Staff Writer
This school year, I have had the wonderful pleasure of attending two film festivals (AFI and Idyllwild). With the mindset of “the third time is a charm,” I recently attended Riverside’s International Film Festival (RIFF), the most impressive and exemplary festival I have visited thus far — and not just because it was held in Riverside and screened my short film (more on that later).
The festival kicked off on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 17 with the compelling world premiere of the independent short El Doctor, which expresses the struggles of a Mexican immigrant day laborer after the enforcement of the SB 1070 law in a fictional narrative. As always, the short was followed by a Q&A session with the writer (who also doubled as the lead actress) and two actors. El Doctor set a high bar for the other short films in the drama genre; it ended up taking home the Audience Award for Best Drama Short, and rightfully so.
On the following Friday, a few friends and I were lucky enough to attend the prestigious Film Festival Gala at the Culver Center (for free) where actor Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) received his first Lifetime Achievement Award. Naturally, as this was the first truly extravagant event I had been to, I was slightly underdressed, but this didn’t divert my attention from the excellent finger foods and the live pianist who filled the room with his melodious sounds. The ceremony closed with an enticing and respectable speech given by Kevin Sorbo, who showed immense appreciation to Professor Martinez and the board of RIFF who awarded him with such an opportunity.
Later that night I viewed a second film — my personal favorite — a Spanish feature by the name of Todo El Mundo Tiene a Alguien Menos Yo (Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me, winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature Film). This black and white film not only showcased the international aspect of RIFF, but also the deep artistic vision that many independent filmmakers have. The film follows a middle-aged lesbian woman who unsuccessfully searches for love or any sort of intimate connection that she can possibly find. This leads her into a faltering relationship with a typical “get-drunk-on-the-weekends” high school girl. After the lights came back on, director Raúl Fuentes — who flew from his home in Mexico to attend this single event — was greeted with warm applause by the audience. Raúl stood in front of the large crowd to answer any and all questions that came his way, several having to do with the casual expression of lesbian relations in Mexico City (which, in his words, is almost hip).
The Q&A lasted for nearly a half an hour, but, because my friends and I loved the film so much, we pursued even further. A select few of us stayed behind for an additional hour or so to question Raúl on his stylistic and directorial choices within the film and casually talked cinema with the international director. Raúl is easily the most influential, admirable and down-to-earth filmmaker I have met so far at any film organization I have attended. I wish to see much more of his work and possibly work with him in the future (Raúl, if you’re reading this, I will work for free).
Sunday, April 21 consisted of several events geared toward benefitting students like myself. The day began with three seminars on specific aspects of film that were directed towards an audience that doesn’t have access to expensive production equipment. The third seminar, lighting within film, was presented by enthusiastic RCC lighting professor Jack E. McLean (who worked on the set of Forrest Gump, Titanic, Grease and many more impressive films). Packed with innovative advice and techniques, I left the seminars knowing how to approach certain tedious Hollywood effects with simplicity and cost efficiency.
Directly after the seminar came the true moment I had been waiting for: the student short films. After working for two months on a short film that I had written, directed and edited alongside several Poly students and personal friends of mine, it was the most rewarding feeling to see our project in a proper theatrical format on a genuine big screen. A total of six high school short films were shown, including a documentary about autism and a narrative co-directed by Poly student Hannah Hyatt (11), to a near-full house audience. Like every previous film screened at the festival, the student shorts were followed by a joint Q&A session with all of the directors. While it was an overwhelming and breathtaking experience, I do not believe I have ever sweat so much from a non-physical activity in my life.
It is easy to reflect on the Riverside International Film Festival as a truly life-changing experience. From free food to free movies to free advice, I have experienced more from this festival than any in the past. I would like to give my appreciation to the festival as a whole, but specifically Jack E. McLean for his powerful enthusiasm for cinematic lighting that easily rubs off on anyone you talk to; Raúl Fuentes for traveling all this way to share his delightful masterpiece with us here in Riverside and giving me such efficacious advice in regards to filmmaking; and Professor Martinez for creating such wonderful and perceptive events that truly benefit students such as myself by providing especially authentic experiences. RIFF, I will see you next year.