The 13th annual RiverRun International Film Festival appears to have been another success that brought fun and business to the downtown area.
From April 8 to Sunday, city venues were packed for panel discussions, lectures, parties and 121 films from around the world (60 feature-length films and 61 shorts). Winston-Salem's film aficionados hit the streets, circulating among the various theaters, including downtown's Aperture Cinema, Hanesbrands Theatre, Winston-Salem State University's Dillard Auditorium, several screens at the UNC School of the Arts and the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts.
There were more than 13,000 admissions at the 2010 festival. This year's increased by 5.3 percent, for a total of 14,184, though the amount of money brought in by ticket sales was down 14.4 percent. Organizers said the disparity came in part from more people attending lower-priced matinee screenings and numerous free events, as well as the lack of a large, marquee venue. Still, the festival exceeded its goals for fundraising from grants, donations and scholarships, the Journal's Tim Clodfelter reported.
There were plenty of packed houses and sold-out screenings. The festival was good for young filmmakers, who got to attend panels and hear professionals talk about topics such as careers in film, writing screenplays and working on a shoe-string budget. Some events were just fun, such as the showing of "Best in Show" on the One Park Vista Lawn on Fourth Street, where dogs and their owners could mingle.
The festival was also good for business and the city, as our sidewalks were often crowded with visitors stopping for lunch and dinner at our outdoor cafes. The School of the Arts and other venues gained exposure.
The festival couldn't have come together without the volunteer efforts of the 337 area film-lovers who kept things running smoothly. RiverRun is well-run and carried out with enthusiasm. It casts a strong spotlight on Winston-Salem. We're already looking forward to next year.
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