Rainier Independent Film Festival recently announced its official line-up for this year’s festival.  Mixing films, workshops and the laid-back setting of the area, this festival is set apart in the fact that it is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with film industry people outside of the hustle and bustle typically associated with the business.

RIFF organizers look forward to welcoming several filmmakers to the festival, including John Adams & Toby Poser (Rumblestrips), Kevin Heutink (Out On A Limb – a documentary about David ‘Squirrelman’ Csaky, who became the face of homelessness when Seattle officials evicted him from his elaborate treehouse he’d been living in for nearly two years), and Oscar-winning filmmaker, Joan Gratz (Kubla Khan). The latter film will be presented as part of a showcase collection (including Not That Funny, Sahkanaga, local documentary Holy Rollers: The True Story Of CardCounting Christians and Caris’ Peace), curated by Seattle film industry mogul, Warren Etheredge and independent film festival programmer, Emily Alm. This is the second year that RIFF has combined efforts with guest curators to program an entire day of films. Look for all of Alm’s and Etheredge’s films on Saturday, June 9th at the Mt. Rainier Lions Theater. Filmmakers or representatives from almost all films that day are expected to attend.

In addition to bringing high-profile films to RIFF, Warren Etheredge will lead a film workshop about composing music for film works and how it works best through clips and conversation – in “Know the Score” on Sunday, June 10th at 2pm at the Media Center in Ashford. The workshop is one of many special events included in this year’s Rainier Independent Film Festival and audiences can attend all parties, workshops and screenings with the Rainier Blowout Pass for just $35! Tickets for individual screenings as well as festival passes are on sale now: online or in person at the Whittaker’s Motel in Ashford.

This year’s opening night film, Searching For Sonny (directed by Andrew Disney), is a comedic look at reunited friends who find themselves the chief suspects in a murder mystery that seems eerily similar to a play they performed in high school. Andrew Disney will be in attendance for a post-film discussion following the 7pm screening on Friday, June 8th at the Ashford Lions Theater.

Rounding out the exciting festival weekend will be the screening of the Closing Night film, Rumblestrips, a drama that follows a mother who has recently been arrested for growing marijuana, who takes her two young daughters on an RV trip to come to terms with and prepare them for her absence before she goes to jail. The film’s Directors Toby Poser and John Adams will be in attendance following the 5:30pm screening for a Q&A.

The Rainier Film Festival runs from June 8,2012 – June 10, 2012. For more information visit the festival webpage.

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