To promote global film-making and screenwriting talent with a cultural awareness for the arts, EDUCATION and environmental issues for the betterment of Block Island.
The Block Island Film Festival was founded by award-winning screenwriter, journalist and filmmaker Cassius Shuman in 2018. Shuman works as a producer and filmmaker in the motion picture business, having spent years in the studio system in Hollywood. He has also written, directed, and produced theatrical stage plays in New York City, and Los Angeles. He lived on Block Island year-round while founding the film festival.
Shuman knew his love of movies and respect for the professionals who make them, as well as his affinity for Bock Island would make it the perfect locale to host a film festival. He conceived the Block Island Film Festival with the vision that it assembles a consortium of global filmmakers and student filmmakers annually, who gather to share ideas, philosophies and film-making processes.
Jami Newell serves as the Block Island Film Festival’s Director of Operations and Programming. She brings a passion for film, the film-making process, and an energy and enthusiasm, combined with a host of skills, to the film festival team. She resides on Block Island year-round.
The film festival’s panels are hosted by acclaimed actors in Kristin Carey (Hall Pass, Scandal, Criminal Minds), and Henry LeBlanc (American Crime Story, Deadly Shores), as well as Ayman Samman (American Sniper, The Looming Tower, NCIS: New Orleans). Emmy winning actor Kim Estes (ER, House M.D., Dexter, Cold Case) is a board member who hosts and coordinates special programming.
The Block Island Film Festival strives to remain true to its mission, promoting the importance of cultural and environmental issues, as well as education through a student filmmaker competition. The student competition is hosted by several entities, in partnership with the Island Free Library and library Director Kristin Baumann.
The Block Island Film Festival boasts spotlight motion pictures, and documentaries, tribute award ceremonies, short film and student short film screenings, signature programs, and social mixers, with accommodating hospitality on a breathtaking, picturesque resort island.