A host of amateur and professional filmmakers will hit the city next month to showcase their movies - before they're even finished.
The 2nd Annual Ruff Cutz Indie Film Conference will be held Nov. 14-16 at the Center for Digital Imaging Arts of Boston University on Moody Street.
The rough cut is a version of a film that doesn't have all of its polish yet - maybe the final editing hasn't been done or the soundtrack has not been set. Big film festivals typically don't screen films that aren't the final cut.
However, Jamie Benti, creator of Ruff Cutz, said he started the conference tp give filmmakers a chance to present their works in-progress to an audience for some critical feedback from their peers.
"We wanted to provide an opportunity for these guys to showcase their films," Benti said.
In addition to a number of film screenings, the conference features vendor exhibits, presentations by industry professionals, workshops and a number of networking events.
Benti, an actor, writer and director who is the founder of Image Icon Entertainment in North Attleborough, said the conference will also feature a number of panelists from the realms of writing, producing, directing and animation.
"This year we've stepped it up a notch," Benti said. "We have a lot of bigger names coming this year."
Speakers at this year's event will include Eduardo Sanchez, co-creator of the "The Blair Witch Project"; director and producer Michael Corrente, documentary filmmaker Joe Raben; Robert Seigel, an entertainment attorney; Patrick Smith who has written, produced, animated and directed five award winning films from 2000-2006; and Thomas Ohanian, an Academy Award and two-time Emmy recipient.
Awards totaling nearly $10,000 in cash prizes will be presented to filmmakers whose movie makes the highest marks in four categories: Best Short, Best Feature, Audience Award, and the Grand Jury Award. Thousands of dollars worth of products, software, film equipment and other services will also be given away that will help filmmakers with their expenses and production costs.
Benti said some films will be screened at Landmark Embassy Cinema on Pine Street. The deadline to submit films for the conference is Nov. 1. For more information on the conference visit www.rcifc.com.
Richard Conn can be contacted at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.
