Countdown has begun to the Tri-Cities International Film Festival (TRIFI), back for its 18th year of showcasing independently-made films from across the globe! This year, audiences will enjoy indie short films in every genre, as well as feature-length documentaries.
The documentary categories had some fierce competition this year. We selected three feature-length documentaries. Saving Etting Street follows carpenter Shelley Halstead and the three young Black women she is training in construction as they rehabilitate abandoned houses in West Baltimore. Invasive: Modern Dentistry Reimagined is a gripping journey with the pioneers challenging dentistry’s ‘drill-and-fill’ model with simple, evidence-based treatments that preserve teeth and bring care to the communities that need it most. The Seeds of Peace joins a survivor of the Hiroshima atom bomb as she confronts her trauma by gathering the seeds of trees that survived the blast, planting them as symbols of hope, healing, and remembrance in towns across Oregon eighty years later.
The comedy categories also brought us many brilliant film submissions to choose from! Hailing from the Netherlands, the genre award winner Cuckoo! is an absurd film about a lonely man who lives inside a cuckoo clock. Also screening is Well(Ness), a female-led dramedy about women, wellness, and the price of inner peace. It asks “Who profits when community and connection are commodified?” and reveals the hidden costs of ‘healing as performance’ while questioning what it means to be well.
As always, the winning films from all categories will be screened, including the notable winner of both the Student and Pacific Northwest Filmmaker special awards, If Tears Were Gold — a drama short film about a young punk musician returning home to rural Washington State to care for their aging Nana Sally, who is troubled by music no one else can hear.
For an extra treat, audiences can enjoy several short films by local filmmakers. Spilling the Beans — Rockabilly Roasting Co. follows café owner Kagen Cox through his day-to-day operations as he shares his journey to success. Walla Walla Wiffle Redux is a love letter to small town America, and a heart-wrenchingly honest time capsule spanning 16 years. In Don’t Go Home, a fortune cookie delivers a mysterious message, leading to surprising events.
Book your tickets early for the main event on Saturday night, The TRIFI 72-Hour Film Challenge! This one fills up fast! The 72-Hour Film Challenge is a grueling contest, designed to stretch filmmakers’ capabilities to the limit, and showcase local talent. In this contest, teams have only 72 hours to write, shoot, and edit a 5‑minute film, each incorporating unique required elements.
Tickets at the door or online: filmfreeway.com/TriCitiesInternationalFilmFestival/tickets
Richland Players Theater: November 6 and 7
Richland Community Center: November 8
TRIFI is a Washington State Nonprofit Corporation. A Registered 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization.
Learn more at trifi.org/wp19
