from riiff

Noted Documentary Filmmaker, Frederick Wiseman will be the keynote speaker for the sixth annual Roving Eye International Film Festival. The event, which takes place on Friday, April 15th at Roger Williams University (RWU), examines the mission of the U.S. Juvenile Court as seen through the lens of Wiseman’s landmark documentary, Juvenile Court. The programming will include a FREE public screening of his acclaimed film and culminate in a panel discussion and audience Q&A at 6:00 p.m. at the RWU Field House.

Frederick Wiseman is one of the world’s most celebrated documentarians. He has won numerous awards and his films are universally acclaimed by film critics and scholars alike. Wiseman’s films are best known for offering unvarnished portraits of social institutions. Wiseman is also credited for pioneering an observational-style of filmmaking in which standard documentary-techniques such as voice-over commentary and interviews are eschewed in favor of “fly-on-the-wall” recordings of real-life interactions. Wiseman’s particular genius lies in the way he deploys careful editing strategies to create compelling narratives highlighting the underlying tensions and contradictions that define institutional life.

Filmed at the Memphis Juvenile Court in 1972, Juvenile Court offers a stark, behind-the-scenes look of a busy Juvenile Court. What makes this film particularly important is that it was filmed in the direct aftermath of a set of landmark Supreme Court decisions that ushered in new, rights-based protections for juvenile offenders. As such, Wiseman was uniquely positioned to capture the court during a critical moment of transformation; a time in which an “old style” form of justice was being forced to comply with a new policy of juvenile rights. This transitional state, expertly captured by Wiseman, makes the film a revealing laboratory within which to examine the role of the current juvenile court system. It also makes the film a powerful testament to the role that artists can play in public discussion and debate.

This special event will take place April 15th on the RWU campus. It will begin with two screenings of Juvenile Court from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. followed by the symposium with audience Q&A at 6:00 p.m. The panel will be made up of Mr. Wiseman; Thomas Grisso, an internationally-recognized expert in the field of juvenile justice; Jay Blitzman, First Justice of the Middlesex County Juvenile Court, Barry Grant, a leading expert on Wiseman and documentary film, and Emily Sack, Professor of Law at RWU. The program has been developed by Frank DiCataldo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology at Roger Williams University along with J. Scott Oberacker, Ph.D., Educational Outreach Director and George T. Marshall, Executive Director, both of FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival. Topics will include the historical mission of the juvenile court, the film’s contribution to public discussion surrounding the court, and the documentarian’s role in cultivating public debate.

Wiseman’s visit will be the keynote event for the sixth annual Roving Eye Film International Festival, proudly presented by FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) and Roger Williams University. This popular and acclaimed event, celebrating the art and craft of global cinema, will take place April 14-17th on the campus of Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. During the festival more than 40 international films will be showcased. Additionally, a special community screening will take place at the Barrington Public Library on Saturday, April 16th. All screenings will be FREE and open to the general public.

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