Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival?
  
  
• Why Rochester, N.Y.?
  
  
• Where is Rochester, N.Y.?
  
  
• If this festival celebrates women, what does the name mean?
  
  
• Who's running the show?
  
  
• Will awards be given during the festival?
  
  
• Will there be seminars or panels during the festival?
  
  
• Are there parties planned?
  
  
• How can I submit a film?
  
  
• Who do I contact to learn more information?
  
  
• How do I book a hotel room?
  
  
• How far is the airport from downtown Rochester?
  
  
• How can I volunteer?
  
  
• Who is sponsoring this film festival?
  
  
• How can I become a sponsor of the festival?
  
  
• Who should the media contact?
  
  
• What else does Rochester have to offer at the time of the festival?
  

What is the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival?
Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival is an annual international film festival that showcases exceptional work by women in film and video - all positions before and behind the camera, including cinematographer, screenwriter, editor, composer, director, producer, stuntwoman!

Why Rochester, N.Y.?
Rochester, N.Y. is the home of Susan B. Anthony and George Eastman, founder of Kodak and the inventor of motion-picture film. The Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival captures the natural synergy of Rochester as the cradle of the women's suffrage movement and the foundation of film.

Where is Rochester, N.Y.?
Rochester is in upstate New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario and the Erie Canal. It is less than a one-hour flight from New York City. Rochester is the third largest city in New York state, located midway between Buffalo and Syracuse -- across Lake Ontario from Toronto and 90 minutes east of Niagara Falls. Rochester is also part of the vast and picturesque Finger Lakes region of New York State.

If this festival celebrates women, what does the name mean?
Rochester is home to the country's largest urban waterfall, known as High Falls. The festival's name also highlights the spirit of adventure, courage, and daring - all hallmarks of women filmmakers.

Who's running the show?
Artistic Director Catherine Wyler’s career spans the worlds of film, television and live theater.  She has been a studio executive, an independent producer, and she has held leadership positions at major American cultural institutions. Her productions include the celebrated Warner Bros. film MEMPHIS BELLE. Television documentaries include the Emmy-nominated DIRECTED BY WILLIAM WYLER for PBS (1986), and HOT ON THE TRAIL for the Turner Broadcasting System (1993). The feature-length WITNESS TO HOPE, The Life of Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II, debuted on public television at Easter 2002, and became one of the network’s most successful pledge shows ever. Past executive positions include Senior Vice President of Production at Columbia Pictures, Director of Cultural and Children’s Programming at PBS, Assistant Director of the Media Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts, and Manager of Network Relations at Warner Brothers Television. She regularly serves as an international juror for the Venice, Sundance, Berlin, Chicago and Istanbul film festivals, and is a member of the Film Advisory Committee of the National Gallery of Art and the Advisory Committee of Women in Film and Video in Washington, DC.

Executive Director Rosie Taravella spent 25years in Los Angeles working in film, television and theater. After several TV appearances (Who's The Boss, Full House, Married with Children and others), she wrote and starred in her own screenplay– Carlo's Wake – that ran the film festival circuit in 1999 and 2000. Shifting gears to a career in non-profit in 2001, Taravellaturned to the arts, first asmanaging director of Interact Theatre Company (led by Tony winner John Rubinstein), where she grew their operating budget by 300% in two years. A position at Los Angeles Opera followed, where she worked alongside general director Plácido Domingo in securing an NEA grant for the world premiere opera Grendel,co-written and directed by Julie Taymor, as well as growing support for the Opera’s education and outreach programs. Taravella also has a history of raising money for women's causes. As Assistant VP for Advancement at L.A.’s Mount St. Mary's College, she co-managed a capital campaign to improve facilities and augment scholarships, and helped raise $40 million in two years.

Festival Director and Co-Programmer Ruth Cowing has worked in film and video since 1987, first in production and then later as Associate Director of the Rochester-Finger Lakes Film and Video Office and Coordinator of the video collective TV DINNER. Prior to her work in film, Cowing held management positions at the international arts journal Afterimage and at the Rochester alternative newsweekly City Newspaper. Ms. Cowing is a founding staff member of the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival.

Amy Taubin returns this year as Programming Consultant, and also provides the majority of commentary for the festival catalog. One of the film industry’s leading journalists, Ms. Taubin is a contributing editor to Sight and Sound magazine as well as to Film Comment. Her book, Taxi Driver, was published in 2000 in the British Film Institute’s Film Classics series. Her chapter on “America: The Modern Era” is part of The Critics’ Choice (Billboard Press, 2001), and her criticism is included in many anthologies.

The Honorary Chair is director/actor Anjelica Huston.

Will awards be given during the festival?
Festival awards will include the Susan B. Anthony "Failure Is Impossible" Award, the Faith Hubley "Web of Life" Award, the Elizabeth Cady Stanton "Thorn in the Side" Award, the Movies on a Shoestring Shorts Program Shoestring Awards, as well as audience awards for Best Feature and Best Documentary Film.

Will there be seminars or panels during the festival?
Every year the festival offers an exciting line up of seminars, panels and special events.

Are there parties planned?
For the general public, there is a special Opening Night party and a Gala night party . Please see our Ticketing page for prices to these events. There are also filmmaker and special guest parties held throughout the festival, open to festival All Access passholders and sponsors.

How can I submit a film?
Films for the main festival are currently selected by invitation only; there is a open call for work, however, for the Shorts Program, the Children's/Young Adults Program and the Young Filmmakers program. Inquiries re: programming should be sent to Ruth Cowing, Festival Director & Co-Programmer, Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival, 45 East Ave., Suite 400, Rochester, NY 14604, ruthcowing@highfallsfilmfestival.com.

Whom do I contact to learn more information?
Please call Executive Director Rosie Taravella at the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival office, 45 East Ave., Suite 400, Rochester, N.Y., 14604, ph: (585) 279-8307; fx: 585-232-4822, rtavavella@highfallsfilmfestival.com.

How do I book a hotel room?
You can browse area hotels and book a hotel room directly from the Greater Rochester Visitors Association website: visitrochester.com

How far is the airport from downtown Rochester?
The Greater Rochester International Airport is conveniently located within a 10 minute drive of downtown Rochester and festival venues. Plenty of cabs and hotel shuttles are on site at the airport.

How can I volunteer?
Please click on our volunteer link at the top of the page for more information.

Who is sponsoring this film festival?
A number of generous sponsors make the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival possible. For a complete listing of 2006 sponsors, please click here to view our sponsors page.

How can I become a sponsor of the festival?
Please contact our Executive Director:

Rosie Taravella

ph: 585-279-8307

rtavavella@highfallsfilmfestival.com

Who should the media contact?
For media credentials and information, contact Executive Director Rosie Taravella, 585-279-8307, rtavavella@highfallsfilmfestival.com

What else does Rochester have to offer at the time of the festival?
The High Falls experience also will feature breathtaking fall foliage and cultural happenings. You can visit the homes of George Eastman, the father of popular photography and inventor of motion-picture film, and Susan B. Anthony, leader in the women's rights movement. Many museums and galleries are located near the film venues.