RI International Film Fest kicks off

(FOX Providence) - New England's only Academy Award-qualifying film festival kicks Tuesday onight and rolls on through Sunday with big celebrity appearances and unforgettable live musical performances.

The 15th annual Rhode Island International Film Festival is bringing some of Hollywood's brightest stars to shine on the silver screen with screening across Providence.

Festival Founder George T. Marshall joined The Rhode Show to talk about some of the week's highlights.

Festival-goers will be treated to the world premiere of the feature documentary Family Band The Cowsills Story, directed by Louise Palanker and Ian Broyle, which chronicles the storied career of Newport, R.I.'s own world-famous singing family band from the 1960s.

Following the screening of the film, members of the Cowsills will be giving a long-awaited reunion performance on the main stage at The VETS. The show promises to be as memorable for the audience as it will be for the Cowsills, who have not performed together in many years.

Tickets, good for both the screening and the Cowsills' performance, are $15, and can be purchased here.

Along with the many other stars anticipated in attendance, RIIFF will be honoring actor Paul Sorvino with the Lifetime achievement award. Sorvino, who starred in Goodfellas, Romeo and Juliet (1996) and The Cooler, has had a colorful career playing multi-faceted and intriguing characters in hit movie and television shows. Sorvino will be present at a special reception on Aug. 11 at Federal Hill's newest restaurant, D'Vine on the Hill, 145 Spruce St., Providence, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. A portion of the $30 ticket pays for admittance to the 7:15 p.m. screening of Lily of the Feast, the latest film in which Sorvino stars, along with The Soprano's Federico Castelluccio, who also directed the short (and who will also be in attendance), shown at The VETS.

The festival will also offer a free screening for film fans on Saturday. a special outdoor screening of the feature documentary Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone, directed by Chris Metzler and Lev Anderson, and a performance by local folk/rock band The Mighty Good Boys will be held at Grant's block at 7 p.m. all who attend will get a free wristband, good for admission into any of the festival's closing day and night films.

Speaking of other films you can check out the full schedule, browse trailers and purchase tickets by clicking here .