Rhode Island Film Fest Announces Slate

A scene from Matthew Mebane's "Locker 13: Down & Out," showing at the 14th Rhode Island International Film Festival.

The Rhode Island International Film Festival, New England's largest and only Oscar-qualifying film fest, will open with a program of shorts and the world premiere of a documentary about the last remnants of Gilded Age Newport aristocracy, David Bettencourt's and G. Wayne Miller's "Behind the Hedgerow: Eileen Slocum and the Meaning of Newport Society." The film is one of thirteen documentary world premieres at the festival, which runs Aug. 10-15. Based in Providence, Barrington and Newport, R.I., the festival will also feature the world premieres of six narrative features, including Joshua Lim's gay seminary drama "The Seminarian" and Tom Provost's throwback horror film "The Presence."

The 14th edition of the festival will showcase more than 200 films from 53 countries, including the world premieres of documentaries "Kinshasa Symphony" by Claus Wischmann and Martin Baer (Germany/Congo), Jennifer Stoddart's "One Thousand Pictures: RFK's Last Journey" (U.S./United Kingdom) and Victoria Mills' globe-hopping "Hidden Battles," about the effects of killing on returning veterans. Other world premieres include Colin McIvor's "Cup Cake," Alexander Holt's "Forget Me Not," Michael Morrissey's "Boy Wonder" and Anthony Ambrosino's "Sleather."

Thomas Cobb, the author of the source novel for "Crazy Heart," and Chris Sparling, screenwriter of the upcoming Ryan Reynolds-starring "Buried," will speak at a screenplay workshop on Aug. 11. Shorts will feature prominently at the festival, with a program of Oscar-qualifying shorts on tap for closing night.

For more information and the complete lineup, see the festival's website.