NIFF                                                                                        (Photo/NIFF image)

On November 5-8, 2009 expect the extraordinary at the first film festival ever in Naples, Florida.  NIFF (Naples International Film Festival) kicked off it's event Thursday night, November 5th at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts. 

The feature film that helped to kick off the event was The Cove.  Its director, Louie Psihoyos, was there in person to represent the film, giving the audience, a full house, some insight as to how and why this project began plus some private inside scoop of the cast and crew's behind-the-scenes' unique experiences. ~ Save the dolphins

Enjoying The Cove, and other such wonderful film seclections, would not be possible without a film festival in SW Florida.  NIFF has made all this possible. Eric Raddatz, co-founder and Executive Director of NIFF opened the gala.  He was on stage with two other NIFF representatives, but Raddatz stood out by his attire - a black tux with white Nikes - kind of his 'trademark!'

Do not let the Nikes fool you. Raddatz is a talented young man who has a passion for film making. He is behind ERAD Productions and is an artist who has a had a long time goal - to build film festival. (Build it, and they will come.) According to Attributes magazine, September 2008:

Raddatz (Image/courtesy)
Eric Raddatz is determined to bring the film community alive in the area once again and is working with others in the community to build another film festival, in Naples, Florida (the Naples International Film Festival), to premier in 2009. Without a doubt, Eric Raddatz is one to watch and an unstoppable force within his community. An industrious man not only with avision…but a mission, caught on film.” - Attributes

Three, of the 'full house' in attendance that were kind enough to be approachable were Maggie McCarty, Film Commisioner for Southwest Florida's Naples, Marco Island & the Everglades and a member of the NIFF Advisory Board, also Geri Muck a talent agent and owner of Protocol Models on the Gulf and Judy Davis, an actress and model.  Muck had this to say about the film chosen for the evening: 

Muck (Photo/courtesy)

I was impressed by the selection of the film itself.  Not only is it timely and worthy, but it should have a huge positive impact on the world." - Geri Muck

Some of the talent or team members represented in the films and/or in attendance will be Richard O'Barry, Hal Holbrook, Dixie Carter, Damian Lewis, Pablo Schreiber, James Brolin, Peter Mullan... 

NIFF'S mission is to nurture and support a diverse, artistic and cultural experience.  This festival will showcase the work of independent filmmakers such as Psihoyos, Scott Teems, Nian Liu, Gareth Lewis...

The goals of NIFF are to improve the economics of Naples, as well as benefit the community by contributing to film education in both Lee and Collier county schools and to also collaborate with other artists and arts organizations.

This festival will encompass three days of great independent films, events and arts education.  There will also be a children's film event on November 7th that will be in partnership with the New York Children's Film Festival...more to follow! ~ NIFF Schedule ~ Other film festivals: Tribeca, Hamptons, Oceanside, film festivals