2022 ROCKPORT FILM FESTIVAL TO PREMIERE AT THE ROCKPORT CONFERENCE CENTER
First event for the new facility; Festival features 40 U.S. and foreign films, including 19 Texas entries to date
ROCKPORT, Texas (October 7, 2022) — Always international in scope, but local in flavor, the 16th Annual Rockport Film Festival, presented by Salemi’s Ace Hardware, celebrates the power of storytelling in cinema with some of the best independent filmmaking from Texas and around the world.
A joint venture of Rockport Center for the Arts and the Rotary Club of Rockport, the Nov. 10–13 Rockport Film Festival features special events and 40 independent films entered thus far — 34 U.S., 19 of which are from Texas, and 6 international — with all screenings taking place this year at The Rockport Conference Center (The ROCC). This will be the inaugural event for the new 8,000-square-foot conference facility located at 106 S. Austin Street on the new Rockport Center for the Arts campus in downtown Rockport.
The annual cinematic event draws more than 1,500 attendees each year to the Rockport community, known for its mix of art and environment, allowing patrons to enjoy films rarely seen elsewhere without having to wait in long lines or traveling to multiple theater venues. Endorsed by the Texas Film Commission, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the City of Rockport, the Festival appeals to a local, regional and statewide audience of filmmakers and enthusiasts during a time that is generally off-season for tourism.
"We are so excited to be hosting the Rockport Film Festival in its new home: The ROCC,” said Elena Rodriguez, managing director for the Rockport Film Festival. “This space is in the heart of downtown Rockport and features state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities. In such a venue, the Rockport Film Festival can grow and be the best it can be.”
The Rockport Film Festival kicks off Thursday, Nov. 10, with the Red Carpet Event held at The ROCC. Considered the premiere social event of the fall season and limited to 240 guests, the event features cocktails and food, catered by local restaurants, beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a screening of a full-length feature film. The opening night film, Deep in the Heart (2022), is a stunning celebration of Texas wildlife and landscape, narrated by Matthew McConaughey and directed by Ben Masters.
The Festival continues Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with film screenings at The ROCC. Seven of the films will be full-length features; there will also be five short film blocks, each around 90 minutes in length, consisting of six to eight short films. All films are independently produced outside of the Hollywood studio system, meaning they are privately financed projects that tend to be smaller in scale and budget. This year’s categories are documentary feature, fiction feature, documentary short, fiction short, animated short, and student film.
The weekend also features a number of free events including Happy Hour Social Events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at various downtown locations to be announced. An awards ceremony and brunch, hosted by the Rotary Club of Rockport, will be held Sunday at The ROCC preceding the final films, with all Sunday events free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis.
The Festival also gives back to the community by funding many free and low-cost programs of the Rotary Club and Rockport Center for the Arts, including humanitarian aid, youth education and scholarships, and free and low-cost Arts and cultural programming.
Tickets are now available online, including $10 single-day tickets for screenings, as well as a limited number of VIP Passes for $125 providing priority entry to all events and reserved seating for screenings. Festival goers can take advantage of a specially priced block rate at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rockport, the official hotel of the Rockport Film Festival. Rooms are limited and must be booked by Nov. 2.
For tickets and more information, including a complete schedule, go to RockportFilmFestival.com.
2022 ROCKPORT FILM FESTIVAL SPONSORS
HEADLINING SPONSOR: Salemi’s Ace Hardware
PRODUCER LEVEL: GSM Insurors; The Rockport Group at Morgan Stanley; Key Allegro Real Estate Company; The Strand Hair Design; Italian Cowboy Food & Provisions; Paradise Key; Victoria Radio Works (104.7 KVIC, 97.5 KITE, 100.9 KBAR, 1340 KVNN, 93.3 KNAL); Karen Mella, Realtor; Coastal Bend Music; KMFA
DIRECTOR LEVEL: Friends of the Fulton Mansion; SLH Business Solutions; Symphonic Financial Advisors; Baker Law; Modern in San Antonio, First Community Bank, Moroles Art Co.
SUPPORTING ACTORS: Charter Bank; the Gallery at Anita Diebel Studio; WindWay Gallery; Prosperity Bank
OFFICIAL HOTEL: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rockport
MEDIA PARTNER: 3NEWS KIII-TV
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT: Aransas County; City of Rockport; Texas Commission on the Arts
About the Rockport Film Festival
The Rockport Film Festival is a collaboration between the Rockport Rotary Club and Rockport Center for the Arts. All proceeds from the event benefit Rockport Center for the Arts programming and local, regional, and international humanitarian and service projects supported by the Rotary Club of Rockport. The Rockport Film Festival receives government support from the City of Rockport, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and Aransas County. For more information, to purchase tickets and a complete screening schedule, please visit www.RockportFilmFestival.com.