It will be Hollywood on the Susquehanna, including a ceremonial red carpet opening when the first-ever River Valley Film Festival is held this weekend, July 18, 19, and 20, at the AMC Theater in downtown Williamsport at the corner of Hepburn and West Fourth Streets.
The inaugural festival’s line-up features 20 films, featuring selections from the US, Slovakia, Mexico, and Ukraine, across 12 screenings. Immediately following Red Carpet Friday will be the opening night film, “Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball,” telling the story of uncrowned baseball legend Rap Dixon, Negro Leagues player for the Harrisburg Giants. Tying the festival’s opening night film to their home city’s baseball ties, as well as to PA’s history in sports.
Some background on the origins of the festival. Originally incorporated in Autumn 2019, the River Valley Film Festival was founded by Williamsport native and film industry publicist Cory Baney. Initially planned to take place in July of 2020, the festival was met by a world-stopping pandemic, COVID-19.
Baney was determined to continue growing the RVFF team and the festival’s potential. Eyeing local arts organization Lycoming Arts as a perfect partner for the inaugural festival. After meeting with the Lycoming Arts Film Office, including Chair Noah Beiter and Lycoming Arts President Debi Burch, the River Valley Film Festival was welcomed with open arms into Lycoming Arts’ repertoire of community events.
Under the Lycoming Arts banner, the River Valley Film Festival has continued to flourish. The inaugural year features an opening night event like no other, Red Carpet Friday. Closing down West Fourth Street from Hepburn to Elmira to mimic Lycoming Arts First Friday events, beginning at 5 p.m., Red Carpet Friday will feature over 40 vendors, music, food, and handmade goods, all with a red carpet theme. And of course, Red Carpet Friday wouldn’t be complete without a real, live Red Carpet.
Saturday, July 19, will open with a unique take on classical music, featuring “Mutación,” a documentary in three movements that includes performances by the subject orchestra. Followed by narrative shorts blocks and narrative feature films highlighted with comedy, drama, action, and adventure.
Documentaries will be on the main stage all day on Sunday, as they close out the night with “Mountain Souls,” about a couple living in the Pine Creek region. After the closing of the final film, audiences and filmmakers alike will be urged across to the Bullfrog Brewery for the Closing Night Party and Awards Ceremony.
The River Valley Film Festival will have its award-winning jury, comprising Tom Woodruff Jr., Ethan Alter, Megan McLachlan, Emily Flake, and John Shableski, deliberate to decide which films will win the awards for Best Narrative Feature, Best Narrative Short, and Best Documentary Feature. Attendees will also be encouraged to participate in the Audience Award votes throughout the weekend.
There will be two Audience Award winners: one for feature-length films and one for short-length films. The best overall audience score winner, across both features and shorts, will win the Millionaire Award, highlighting the film’s future success and the region’s illustrious past.
There will be two Audience Award winners: one for feature-length films and one for short-length films. The best overall audience score winner, across both features and shorts, will win the Millionaire Award, highlighting the film’s future success and the region’s illustrious past.
To obtain tickets for this unique event, interested parties can purchase tickets via FilmFreeway, featuring the full line-up of films and their descriptions. We encourage you to purchase a festival pass, as it allows you to see all the films in the festival for less than 50% of the full ticket price. All ticket proceeds help support Lycoming Arts, the River Valley Film Festival, and their various community initiatives throughout the year as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.
Here is the festival line-up and a synopsis of each film.
“Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball” – Opening Night, July 18, 8 p.m.
Dixon was a legendary African American baseball player who played in what were known as the Negro Leagues. He tragically died before Major League Baseball integrated African American players, and was virtually forgotten. This film chronicles his life and baseball accomplishments while also exploring how racism and segregation affect how people are remembered in history.
Narrative Features:
“American Comic” – Saturday, July 19, 7 p.m.
“American Comic” is a mockumentary that follows two up-and-coming stand-up comedians, who, despite their superficial” cultural” differences, share remarkable similarities when it comes to egotism, self-destruction, and social ineptitude. As the film pulls back the curtain on the unique subculture of stand-up comedy, self-absorbed competitiveness intensifies, leading to some shocking and unexpected revelations.
“Hallucinations of War” – Saturday, July 19, 9 p.m.
Emily returns home after her mother’s death, only to face her estranged twin sister and her sister’s new boyfriend, who manipulates her into questioning her reality.
“How I Spent My Summer Vacation” – Saturday, July 19, 3 p.m.
Thirteen-year-old Grace confronts her own mortality as her family spends summer at her grandfather’s house during his illness.
“What Really Happened” – Saturday, July 19, 5 p.m.
A group of filmmakers set out to interview real people about their true life stories, when they realize that two of them are talking about each other. They then shift the focus of the documentary to see if they can discover What Really Happened?
Shorts Blocks Two
“A Baleful Reunion” – Saturday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.
Struggling to make ends meet, Reuben’s desperation for money lands him in a cyber theft scheme that seems seemingly straightforward. Things take a turn when the victim turns out to be an old friend.
“Before The Dawn” – Saturday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.
Set in a picturesque Ukrainian village in the midst of the 19th century, the film revolves around themes of love, loss, despair, and hope. In the heart of a young girl, true love blossomed, which, however, led to the darkest night in her life… The story that repeats from generation to generation. Will the young, vulnerable soul manage to break this vicious cycle?
“Better Like This” – Saturday, July 19, 12 p.m.
A young man brings home an antique oculist sign and unknowingly lets a shadowy force into his life.
“Cowboy Boots” – Saturday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.
Jack, a gay cowboy from Nebraska, finds anything but the promised land he envisioned when he visits a San Francisco gay club for the first time.
“Forgiving Retribution” – Saturday, July 19, 12 p.m.
Opening scene (Act 1): It is dark and there is heavy breathing. POV injured passenger hears muffled voice: “I got you.” The injured man’s vision clears, focusing on a 40-year-old man…”I got you. I’m Dr. Brona. I’ve got you. You’re gonna be okay.” Arthur (45-year-old black male) wakes from his nightmare, startling his wife. “Same dream,” she asks. “It’s not a dream, it happened,” he says. (Act 2) Dr. Brona is now 65-years old and is in a dermatology clinic. He is informed that he has an aggressive melanoma. He is haunted by the ghost of a teenager that died of pericarditis and myocarditis. He blames himself for missing the diagnosis. The teenager appears frequently, staring at him with a blank, accusing gaze. He denies further evaluation and treatment, believing that his misfortunes are retribution.
“Rose, Mary and Time” – Saturday, July 19, 12 p.m.
A Time Travel love story involving Kismet Is life already written.
“Time To Kill” – Saturday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.
An incompetent hitman wrestles with his own demons while waiting for his target.
Documentaries
“Keep Quiet and Forgive” – Sunday, July 20, 1 p.m.
Based on groundbreaking reporting, “Keep Quiet and Forgive” follows the courageous journey of Lizzie, a former Amish woman who breaks her silence about sexual abuse in her community and ignites a nationwide movement of Amish survivors It was filmed over five years in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Missouri, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
“Mountain Souls” – Sunday, July 20, 3 p.m.
Robert and Dotty Webber lived in a one-room log cabin without electricity or running water for over 50 years. Their lifestyle was simple and sacred, inspiring generations of families, friends, and colleagues. The purpose of Mountain Souls is to preserve and promote the legacy of the Webbers. The film shows viewers the benefits of a simple life, one that can be fully enjoyed, despite few material possessions.
“Mutación” – Saturday, July 19, 10:30 a.m.
“Mutación” is a documentary that focuses on the creative process, set up and world premiere of the musical work Mutación, by Carlo Ayhllón, as well as on showing the great work of the musicians in the OJUEM orchestra, the soloists, the conductor, and the musical production collaborators, which was vital for the challenging development of this contemporary work for electric guitar, piano, controller and orchestra.
“Soca River” – Sunday, July 20, 3 p.m.
In the beautiful surroundings of Triglav National Park, where majestic peaks and deep valleys meet, the story of the Soca River, the pulsating artery of this corner of Slovenia, unfolds. “Soca River” offers viewers a glimpse of the natural beauty and dynamism of outdoor sports.
“The Pantone Guy” – Sunday, July 20, 11 a.m.
At 96 years old, Larry Herbert, known as “The Pantone Guy,” is a visionary whose revolutionary idea to standardize color remains largely unrecognized. Growing up in Depression-era Brooklyn, Larry entered the print and manufacturing trade during a time when color was a chaotic and subjective experience. He channeled his unique vision into creating the Pantone Matching System—a groundbreaking invention that established a universal language for color, profoundly enhancing artistic expression and commercial production across all industries.
