FIFTEENTWO THOUSAND AND

ANNUAL REPORT

RIVERRUN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The RiverRun International Film Festival is a

non-profit cultural organization dedicated to

the role of cinema as a conduit of powerful

ideas and diverse viewpoints. Our mission is

to foster a greater appreciation of cinema

and a deeper understanding of the many

people, cultures and perspectives of our

world through regular interaction with great

films and filmmakers.

MISSION

THEVALUESBEHIND OUR SUCCESS

BY THENUMBERS

WE SET A STANDARD

OF EXCELLENCE

We are dedicated to the presentation of great cinema, and strive to showcase films that meet the higheststandards of creative expression and represent thediversity of the human experience. Our year-roundefforts culminate in a festival that is known throughout the country for steadfast commitment to professionalism, accountability, financial responsibility and superiorattention to detail and the needs of guests and patrons. Our southern hospitality shows in everything we do, from free transportation for filmmakers, to hand-deliveredVIP gift bags, to our Down Home Supper for supporters.

Whether they’re rubbing elbows at parties andreceptions during the Festival, building lasting collaborations and partnerships in the community or nourishing an undiscovered love of independent film through free screenings throughout the year – RiverRun brings together artists and audiences, volunteers and staff, emerging filmmakers and industry mentors, philanthropists and regular folks, all against the backdrop of films that often can’t be seen anywhere else in the region.

WE MAKE FILM A PART

OF THE COMMUNITY

WE CONNECT IN

THE CLASSROOM

In an educational outreach program unique to RiverRun, Films With Class presents a curated slate of independent films to area students as a vehicle through which to learn about the world. Free to students and educators, RiverRun provides access to films, learning tools and guest speakers to encourage students to make 21st century connections about social issues, technology, history, diversity and global citizenship.

NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS

MORE THAN

RiverRun is committed to the survival of exceptional film, and we strive to achieve it through collaborations with young filmmakers, learning institutions, industry professionals and lawmakers. Our Pitch Fest connects aspiring documentary filmmakers from universities throughout the region to a panel of industry experts for feedback on their projects. Through panel discussions and curated screenings, we have also brought the issues of film restoration and preservation, as well as the impact filmmaking has on the state economy, into the spotlight.

WE INVEST IN THE

FUTURE OF FILM

16,205NUMBER OF FILM SUBMISSIONS

APPROXIMATELY

1,420NUMBER OF FILMSDOC / NARRATIVE / FEATURE / SHORTS

FILMS TOTAL

ARABIC

BULGARIAN

CHECHEN

CHINESE

ENGLISH

FARSI

FRENCH

GAELIC

GERMAN

HEBREW

INDONESIAN

JAPANESE

ICELANDIC

KURDISH

MAORI

POLISH

PORTUGESE

RUSSIAN

SIGN

SPANISH

YIDDISH

FEATURES SHORTS

165: 74

HOURS OF FREE FILMSSCREENINGS

11

/

/

91

FEATURES SHORTS (35mm)

10 /5SPONSORS DONORS

158/281

HOURS OF PROGRAMING

267COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

35LANGUAGESIN FILMS

21

NUMBER OF INDUSTRY GUEST

136NUMBER OF EVENTS

31NUMBER OF SCREENINGS

173

NUMBER OF SUPPORTERS ARCHIVAL FILMS FREE SCREENINGS & EVENTS

8:

34FEATURES YEAR-ROUND SEASONAL

2956DISCUSSION PANELS VOLUNTEERS STAFF

8

LETTERFROMTHE DIRECTOR

TOP 10FILMS OF 2015

2014-2015LEADERSHIP

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORANDREW ROGERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS RIVERRUN STAFF

At the end of each Festival season, we like to get feedback from our audiences and supporters on what we did right in the past year, what we can improve, and new ideas we might want to explore. We then compile that feedback with our own internal review and audits to come up with a plan for the coming year. As part of that year-end process, we like to create an annual report that provides the highlights (and hopefully not too many low-lights) of the prior year.

This year, as we reflect upon the past year of RiverRun,it’s interesting to note that the number “eleven” seemed to be a recurring theme. We increased the length of the Festival from 10 to 11 days, for example, which enabled us to show more films and bring in more industry guests. At the same time, we also saw our separate attendance AND ticket sales numbers increase by 11 percent each this year. As far as coincidences go, we’ll take one like this any time!

By all measurements we use, this year turned out to be phenomenally successful. You’ll read more in the coming pages. Suffice to say, we are incredibly proud and appre-ciative of the support we receive from so many different people and institutions in our community. As we shift our gaze to look ahead, we’re also increasingly excited about the opportunities to further enrich our community with the shared experiences of enlightening and entertaining stories told through great independent cinema.

When I look at the year as a whole, one of the thingsI’m proudest of are the great strides we made in our

OFFICERS:Tonya Deem, ChairDavid Park,* Vice ChairBarry Maine, SecretaryMatthew Dyson, Treasurer

DIRECTORS:George BurnetteJavier ChaconRobert ClarkJohn D. GatesDiana GreeneEd Hanes, Jr.Rogan KershMark LandDeniese LaraCheryl LindsayElla LongKevin OliverDale Pollock*Andrew RodgersDevora RogersSusan RuskinMichael SilverRalph Womble

* DENOTES FORMER CHAIR

CREATIVEADVISORY BOARD:Ramin BahraniLinda BeckVerna BloomKarin ChienJay CocksAva DuVernayDavid Gordon GreenMichael KoreskyAngus MacLachlanRichie MehtaBarry JenkinsWill PattonBill PullmanTamara PullmanJeff ReichertPaul SchneiderFarihah Zaman

Andrew Rodgers

Mary Dossinger

Christopher Holmes

Jane McKim

Amy Clemmons

Keva Kreeger

Mickey Flynn

Haley Salas

Kristi Marion

Alex Klein

Ruka Osoba

Marisa Avila

Lois Roewade

Marti Mattox

Heathur Charlotte

Susan Campbell

Anna Fadel

Matt Jones

Eric Self

Raymond Godzisz

Executive Director

Program Manager

Program Coordinator

Community Director

Development Manager

Development Assistant

Operations Manager

Operations/Programing

Assistant

Publicity Manager

Publicity Coordinator

Publicity Assistant

Box Office Manager

Travel Coordinator

Events Manager

Events Assistant

Assistant Volunteer

Coordinator

Panel / Pitch Fest

Coordinator

Technical Director

Exhibition Coordinator

Print Traffic Coordinator

community outreach efforts and collaborations with community organizations to bring culturally impactful films to new audiences. Our Films With Class educational outreach program, for example, screened three documentary films to children from our local school systems for free, and allowed children to meet and discuss the films with the directors. We also partnered with community resources for our first sensory-friendly screening for those on the autism spectrum and others with sensory issues, and worked with Industries for the Blind for a special screening for the visually and hearing impaired. And our annual Spotlight section, a curated selection of films and discussion panels around a different theme each year, focused this year on a retrospective Black American Cinema from 1969-1990, which drew racially diverse audiences and drove dynamic discussions.

As always, we once again offered a robust selection of North Carolina feature and short films at the Festival. One nice new addition to our approach this year: we featured our local filmmakers at a private screening and press conference to highlight those films and get them and their filmmakers some additional exposure prior to the Festival.

I encourage you to review this report to learn more about our accomplishments, hear from our supporters and consider taking part in our endeavors through your support as our RiverRun audience, sponsor, donorand guest.

David Spencer

Martha Clayton Logemann

Deb Williams

Debbie Sheppard

Jerry Lawson

Wendy Bridges

Pat Bryan

Amy Zambor

Laurie McClure

Swede Oppermann

Sherry Paylor

Karen McHugh

Stephanie Dean

Leslie Hill

Robert Lyday

Mary Ellen Majors

Ashley Morgan

Eileen Schneider

Lani Seltzer

Libby Snyder

Archival Print Consultant

Accountant

Festival Concierge

Festival Concierge

Transportation Coordinator

Transportation Assistant

Transportation Assistant

Shuttle Hospitality

Shuttle Hospitality

Merchandise Coordinator

Merchandise Assistant

Theatre Operations Manager

Venue Supervisor

Venue Supervisor

Venue Supervisor

Venue Supervisor

Venue Supervisor

Venue Supervisor

Venue Supervisor

Venue Supervisor

Based on attendance and capacity,

the following 10 films were the biggest hits

of the 2015 season with audiences.

How many did you see?

1 2HOMELESSDirected by Clay Hassler

Shot in Winston-Salem by filmmaker Clay Hassler, Homeless employs a direct cinema approach to great effect in telling the story of a troubled teen lost in the routine of life in a shelter. When his circumstanceschange for the better, something inside of him refusesto reconcile as he adapts to a new home, new friendsand a more promising future.

FILMS INCLUDED IN THIS BLOCK:The Final Rummage: Directed by Diana GreeneMusings of an Iraqi Patriot: Directed by Judith Van WykNorth Street: Directed by Brad HinkleOmid: Directed by Jawad WahabzadaTeaching from the Floor: Directed by Tom Green& Monica BerraUnmappable: Directed by Diane Hodsonand Jasmine Luoma

Filmmaker Chris Gallaway documents his own personal attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail and to learn what the path means to individuals he meets along the way. This is a personal story of struggle and perseverance as well as a historical account of the origins and cultural relevance of the Appalachian Trail.

NC SHORTS 1

FILMS INCLUDED IN THIS BLOCK:The Collection: Directed by Ian Michael GullettDavid's Reverie: Directed by Neil Creque WilliamsA Letter to My Son: Directed by Maurice HicksLove and Affection: Directed by Zachary DavenportTenuous: Directed by Adam PerryTwo for Tea: Directed by Ben Joyner

NC SHORTS 2

3 LONG START TO THE JOURNEYDirected by Chris Gallaway

4 5ELEPHANT SONGDirected by Charles Binamé

A psychiatrist is drawn into a complex mind gamewhen he questions a disturbed patient about the disappearance of a colleague. Adapted for the screen from Nicolas Billon's play of the same name, the film stars Bruce Greenwood, Catherine Keener, Carrie-Anne Moss and RiverRun alum Xavier Dolan.

A young man's life is unraveled after witnessing amurder that he filmed in his rural town of Cut Bank. The film features an all-star cast including Liam Hems-worth, Teresa Palmer, Billy Bob Thornton, John Malkovich, Oliver Platt and Bruce Dern, among others.

CUT BANKDirected by Matt Shakman 6

7 8I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMSDirected by Brett Haley

Carol, a widow in her 70's, is forced to confront herfears about love, family, and death. After her routine is rattled she decides to start dating again and falls into relationships with two very different men. Starring Blythe Danner, Rhea Perlman, Sam Elliott and Martin Starr, among many other notables.

MANGLEHORNDirected by David Gordon Green

In this latest work from UNCSA alum and RiverRun Emerging Master honoree David Gordon Green,Al Pacino stars as a strange and lonely locksmith struggling to come to terms with a past crime thatcost him the love of his life.

In 2007, a severed human foot was discovered in a grill bought at a North Carolina auction. In this astonishing and bizarre documentary tale, it only gets stranger from there.

9 FINDERS KEEPERSDirected by Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel

10 SLOW WESTDirected by John Maclean

In John Maclean's award-winning feature from this year's Sundance Film Festival, 16-year-old Jay embarks on an ill-advised journey across 19th Century frontier America in search of the woman he loves, while accompanied by a mysterious outlaw named Silas (Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender).

HONOREES

Each year, RiverRun dedicates a large part

of the festival to recognize the performers

and directors who are up and coming

talents in the industry, including those

who have demonstrated early mastery

of their craft as well as those who have

demonstrated a lifetime of greatness.

2015 brought us an incredible selection of

worthy recipients, and we were honored to

have them all as guests.

MASTER OF CINEMA

This year’s recipient has led a career rich with excellence in documentary filmmaking. In 2015 we presented the Master of Cinema Award to director Stanley Nelson; known for documentary features such as Freedom Riders and Freedom Summer (RiverRun 2014). Nelson’s latest film, Black Panthers: Vanguard of a Revolution, screened at RiverRun 2015.

EMERGING MASTERS

RiverRun hosted a tribute ceremony, including an on-stage moderated interview with 2015 recipients, documentary filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. The event included a film clip overview of their accomplished careers, and a Q&A session on April 25, 2015. Ewing and Grady are known for such notable works as Jesus Camp, Boys of Baraka, and Detropia (RiverRun 2013).

AWARDS

Each year, the films in our Narrative and

Documentary competitions represent the

best new films of the year from around the

world. The 10 films in Narrative Feature

competition are eligible for the Kilpatrick,

Townsend & Stockton, LLP Audience Award,

resulting from audience votes collected

at screenings.

In addition, competition films are

independently evaluated by a selection

of jurors who are highly respected as

filmmakers, critics and journalists. These

jurors are special guests of the Festival and

determine which films in the competition

should be singled out for recognition of

merit. The publicity and accolades earned

from a win at a festival like RiverRun can

contribute to the future success of a film.

Juries presented awards in the Narrative

Feature, Documentary Feature and

Shorts categories.

AUDIENCE AWARDS JURY AWARDSNARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR “BEST OF FEST”The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (USA)Directed by Stanley Nelson

KILPATRICK, TOWNSEND & STOCKTON, LLPAUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST NARRATIVE FEATUREAnywhere Else (Israel/Germany)Directed by Ester Amrami

AUDIENCE AWARD FORBEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE3 ½ Minutes (USA) Directed by Marc Silver

ALTERED STATES AUDIENCE AWARD FORBEST AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FILMProud Citizen (USA)Directed by Thomas Southerland

BEST NARRATIVE FEATUREMemories on Stone (Iraq)Directed by Shawkat Amin Korki

PETER BRUNETTE AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTORNaomi KawaseStill the Water (Japan / Spain / France)

BEST ACTORHussein HassanMemories on Stone (Iraq / Germany)

BEST ACTRESSJulieta DiazRefugiado (Argentina / France / Colombia / Poland)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHYYutaka YamazukiStill the Water (Japan / Spain / France)

BEST SCREENPLAYAnna MuylaertThe Second Mother (Brazil)

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR EDITINGMemories on StoneDirected by Ebrahim Saeedi

HONORABLE MENTION FOR ACTRESSHadas YaronFelix and Meira (Canada)

HONORABLE MENTION FOR ACTORJames ‘Primo’ Grant Five Star (USA)

JURY AWARDSDOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATUREThe Chinese Mayor (China)Directed by Hao Zhou

BEST DIRECTORJoshua OppenheimerThe Look of Silence (Denmark / Finland / Indonesia / Norway / UK)

SPECIAL JURY PRIZEWelcome to Leith (USA)Co-directed by Michael Beach Nicholsand Christopher Walker

JURY AWARDSSHORTS COMPETITION

BEST NARRATIVE SHORTThe Kármán Line (UK)Directed by Oscar Sharp

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE, NARRATIVE SHORTÁrtún (Iceland, Denmark)Directed by Gundmundur Gudmundsson

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORTCailleach (UK)Directed by Rosie Reed Hillman

HONORABLE MENTION, DOCUMENTARY SHORTNotes from Liberia (USA / Liberia)Co-directed by Ryo Murakami and Judd Ehrlich

BEST ANIMATED SHORTBear Story (Chile)Directed by Gabriel Osorio Vargas

BEST STUDENT ANIMATED SHORTThe Present (Germany)Directed by Jacob Frey

BEST STUDENT SHORTRota (USA) Directed by Jean-Jacques Martinodof of UNCSA School of Filmmaking

BEST STUDENT ANIMATED SHORTThe Magnificent Lion Boy (UK)Directed by Ana Caro of National Film and Television School FilmakademieBaden-Württemberg

We were pleased to host a stellar group of

jurors this year, who represent the best in

the film industry across disciplines.

RIVERRUN’S 2015 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES COMPETITION JURORS INCLUDED: JULIE ANDERSON, an Executive Producer for Documentaries at WNET; ANDREA PASSAFIUME, Head Programmer of the AFI Docs Festival; non-fiction filmmaker and writer A.J. SCHNACK (Caucus, We Always Lie to Strangers, Convention), filmmaker and Arts Professor at NYU, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill, MARCO WILLIAMS,and Wake Forest University graduate documentary film student JOSH HARRIS.

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS JURORS INCLUDED:OLI HARBOTTLE, Head of Distribution at Dogwoof, a British documentary distributor, Aeon Media film programmer and producer KELLEN QUINN, Associate Producer of POV Nicole Tsien, and Wake Forest University graduate documentary film student BRIAN GERSTEN.

THE FOLLOWING JURORS EVALUATED THE ANIMATED SHORTS COMPETITION: Animator CELIA BULLWINKEL, animator and development coordinator at Nickelodeon Animation Studio, JOANNA LEITCH; and animator and Cartoon Network series creator TOM WARBURTON.

THE NARRATIVE FEATURE JURY WAS COMPOSED OF:Filmmaker and editor NICOLAS CHAUDEURGE(Fish Tank, Red Road, Wuthering Heights); film critic GODFREY CHESHIRE, film producer and distributor KAREN CHIEN (Jack and Diane, The Exploiting Girl), Austin Film Society programmer LARS NILSEN, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts film student CHRISTENE SEDA.

NARRATIVE SHORTS WERE EVALUATED BY:PENELOPE BARTLETT, programmer of the Chicago International Film Festival and associate programmer of the Palm Springs International Film Festival; filmmaker DANIEL CARBONE (“Hide Your Smiling Faces”- RiverRun ’14, “Americana”); ROSIE WONG, the Associate Director of Industry & Alumni Relations at Sundance Film Festival; and University of North Carolina School of the Arts student EVAN SCOTT RUSSELL.

ABOUTTHEJURORS

PROGRAMINGHIGHLIGHTSIN EDUCATION,OUTREACH,ANDMENTORING

RiverRun is committed to education,

community involvement and outreach that

goes well beyond the 11 days of Festival

programing each spring. By investing

our energies in supporting the success of

student filmmakers as well as bringing great

cinema into local classrooms and providing

free films and panel discussions throughout

the year, we strive to engage the city and

regional community in supporting great

cinema for everyone. These are the high-

lights of the programing we provided to

meet this goal in 2015.

PITCHFEST

Pitch Fest, made possible by a grant

from the National Endowment for the Arts,

has been an annual part of RiverRun

programing since 2012 in an effort

to promote the development of new

filmmaking talent. We join forces with

universities throughout the state to

pre-select filmmaking students who then

pitch their ideas for new documentaries

to a panel of expert judges in the hopes of

being awarded a cash prize and recognition

within the industry. We’ve been proud

to consistently increase the number of

universities involved in this competition.

FILMS WITHCLASS

VOLUNTEERS

MEMBERS

FROMOURMEMBERS

RiverRun’s Educational initiative, Films With

Class (FWC), targets Winston-Salem Forsyth

County students (grades K-12) and provides

them with curriculum-supporting film

throughout the school year. As film is a

growing medium through which 21st century

students learn, we have the opportunity to

offer students extraordinary resources in a

meaningful way.

Volunteers represent the heart and soul of

RiverRun. We are incredibly grateful for our

passionate volunteers and the enthusiasm

they bring to the Festival each year.

This year, we honored Anna and Tarra Jolly

as our 2015 Volunteers of the Year.

This year, the Films With Class offerings screened during the festival were:

Filmmakers show short trailers of their films and explain the progress they have made, as well as their plans going forward. The judges –including industry heavyweights such as documentarian Stanley Nelson, executive producer and distributor Oli Harbottle, and documentary producer Nicole Tsien – ask questions and offer suggestions for making each film, and the pitch itself, more appealing to audiences and potential collaborators. The judges serve dual purposes as both evaluators and mentors, and they provide a unique opportunity for students to practice their presentation skills, get constructive feedback and words of encouragement and then go on to make the best film they can.

This year Kathryn Jeffords and Kayla Hammer,from Elon University, took home a $500 prize to help complete their short film Bout Queens, which detailsthe two women’s participation in a Greensboro, NC roller derby team. Bryan Campbell and Caroline Cuny from Wake Forest University won second place for their short film Looking for Trouble and earned a $250 prize to help complete it.

Annually since 2006, RiverRun has invited area classes to festival venues, free of charge, to attend special student screenings, which are also attended by filmmakers and/or individuals in the films. With our reputation as an established and growing regional film festival, our educational outreach program has access to films and filmmakers from across the world.

During the rest of the school year, FWC films are offered in area classrooms. Today’s teachers are required to teach students about global citizenship. The films provided by FWC cover a broad range of topics, including social issues, world political systems, history, diminishing populations, science, the environment and many others. Teachers are able to request films to augment their curriculum according to the North Carolina Essential Standards. Each film is accompanied by a RiverRun-created curriculum plan, which includes instructional strategies for educators, questions for students and background information about the topic. As of the end of the 2014-15 school year, Films With Class has screened 42 films for more than 23,000 students at 34 area schools.

The flexibility of the model has attracted educational programs and film initiatives to become involved with Films With Class. For instance, in 2013, we began an annual partnership with ITVS Community Cinema, which is a national civic engagement initiative featuring free screenings and curricula for films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series, Independent Lens. RiverRun screens the slate of films to numerous students as well as to the Winston-Salem community, all at no charge. RiverRun will again be partnering with Community Cinema for the upcoming year. Films With Class, which is specifically made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and Wells Fargo, provides students the opportunity to explore the relationship between the art of film and information in a unique interactive setting.

THE AVIATRIX

Eighty-five years after the groundbreaking Lady Heath became the first person to fly solo from Africa to England, one woman sets off to re-fly the adventure in her vintage open cockpit biplane in order to honor the memory and legacy of her accomplishment. During the Festival, director Annette Porter was on site to share experiences with students and public audiences.

A love letter to the game of baseball from the place you’d least expect, Opposite Field is the true story of the first African team to play in the Little League World Series. Filmmaker Jay Shapiro follows a group of Ugandan boys as they learn to embrace America’s pastime, giving the people of their poverty-stricken land something to cheer for in the process. Director Jay Shapiro attended the Festival and captivated audiences in discussion sessions with students and public audiences following the screenings.

The mother-daughter-duo are longtime Festival volunteers. Tarra Jolly, a volunteer since 2006, decided in 2009 to bring her daughter, Anna – then an 8th grader - along with her to volunteer in order to “teach her the importance of giving back to the community.” They’ve volunteered at RiverRun together ever since, and Anna, who is now a rising sophomore at North Carolina Central, plans to return to volunteer with her mother again at next year’s Festival.

Anna and Tarra are just two of the 295 locals who gave their time and servicesto RiverRun 2015, totaling more than 3,110 hours of volunteer work. About half of them are returning volunteers and continue the support the Festival year after year. Volunteers do everything under

the hospitality umbrella— from taking tickets at venues, to driving filmmakers and guests, or helping out at RiverRun parties and special events. We even have year-round volunteers who watch hundreds of hours of films submissions from September-January, playing a vital role in helping our programing team pare down the thousands of submissions to bring our audiences the best possible films

In return, volunteers receive the opportu-nity to learn new skills, mingle with Festi-val VIPs and earn goodies like RiverRun t-shirts, admission to a private screening prior to the Festival, a film voucher for every shift completed and an invitation to our Volunteer Appreciation Party.

Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, blind since birth, has become a symbol of hope for all those with disabilities because of the hurdles he overcame to master his craft. Touching the Sound follows Nobuyuki–better known as Nobu by his fans–on his world travels as an ambassador both for his country and for the power of music. Director Peter Rosen attended Festival Films With Class screenings and also visited with children at the Little Red Schoolhouse, an educational program for visually impaired youth and part of Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind.

OPPOSITE FIELD TOUCHING THE SOUND: THE IMPROBABLE JOURNEY OF NOBUYUKI TSUJII

Jane McKim,Community Director

VOLUNTEERS REALLY ENJOY THE

CAMARADERIE OF THE FESTIVAL.

IT’S NOT LIKE VOLUNTEERING

ANYWHERE ELSE. THEY GET TO

REPRESENT THEIR TOWN, MEET

INDUSTRY GUESTS AND REALLY

BE A PART OF SOMETHING

VIBRANT AND EVOLVING.

At a time when philanthropy in the cultural

sector has never been more important, we

are grateful for the support of individuals

who share our passion for great film and the

positive impact it brings to our community.

The generosity of RiverRun’s valued

members, whose contributions enable

the organization’s scope and rich diversity

in programing, makes transformative experi-

ences possible through film.

Only about 13 percent of RiverRun’s operating revenue is achieved through ticket sales— a figure that’s consistent with other regional American festivals. To maintain the quality of the Festival, plus year-round programing and educational offerings, we rely on the contributions of private donors, corporations, government organizations and foundations. Member contributions make up 23 percent of our operating budget at RiverRun, and this support from individuals allows us to sustain the strength of our programs and helps us reach new audiences. In return for their generosity, members receive special benefits, such as film or merchandise vouchers, advance access to ticket sales, event invitations and more.

In 2015, our member support grew by 34 percent, due to an increase in number of members and returning members who generously increased their giving. We are most grateful for these individuals’ investment in our mission.

2014 SUPPORT2015 INCREASE

34%

TOTAL OPERATING BUDGETTICKET SALES

13%

Diane Barrett,Member since 2011

LOVE INDEPENDENT FILM,

SO HAPPY AND PROUD THAT

WINSTON-SALEM IS THE HOST

AND WANT TO SUPPORT ANY

FUNCTION THAT FURTHERS THE

QUALITY OF LIFESTYLE HERE.

Peter Juran,RiverRun supporter since 2010

RIVERRUN IS A WEEK WE CIRCLE ON

THE CALENDAR EVERY SPRING, FOR A

CHANGE OF THE PATTERN AND A CHANCE

TO SAMPLE THE WORLD'S CINEMA FARE.

IT IS A JEWEL OF THE COMMUNITY.

Ella Long,RiverRun Board Member & Supporter

I BELIEVE RIVERRUN SETS WINSTON-SALEM

APART AS TRULY BEING A CITY FOR

THE ARTS AND INNOVATION.

Sandra Phocas,RiverRun Supporter

I LOVE RIVER RUN AND LIKE SUPPORTING

THE ARTS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT

MONEY TOWARDS WHAT I WANT MORE OF

IN MY COMMUNITY.

RIVERRUN OFFERS A UNIQUE

OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE

FILM TO FILMLOVERS LIKE MYSELF.

IT'S CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AND

AFFORDABLE. NOT TO MENTION,

THERE'S SOMETHING FOR

EVERYONE. I PARTICULARLY

LOVED THE DOCUMENTARIES.

MaShari Walker,Member

OUR MEMBERS SHARE A PASSION FOR GREAT FILMS THAT INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE US TO SEE THE WORLD

FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE. RIVERRUN IS PROUD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MEMBERS OF THE 2015 FESTIVAL.

J. Kevin Benson & Steve Eaton

Courtney & Fred Best

Anne Boyle & Mark Espeland

Sheila Brame

David Cantrell

Chris & Mary Beth Chapman

Robert C. Clark

Ray & Lynn Clarke

Louis Davis

Phyllis Dunning

Dennis & Barbara Egnatz

Alexander Ewing

Edward F. Hanes, Jr.

Jane & James G. Hanes III

Katy Harriger &Robert Griffiths

Mr. & Mrs. Michael F. Harris

William & Sandra Hildebolt

Lucinda & Chris Jones

Peter & Beth Juran

Kylie Kavanagh & Mickey Flynn

Annie New Kendall

Mr. & Mrs. Alan T. Kirby

Keith & Ruth Kooken

John & Marie Labarowski

Ernest & Martha Logemann

Barry & Sandra Maine

John & Betty Mauceri

John H. McKinny

Laura Hart McKinny

Sheri McVay

Rod & Marianne Meyer

Karen & Christopher Nard

Kevin Nunley

David & Lynne Park

J. Timothy Prout

Billy Rich

JP & Maurice Robinson

Sharon Shealy

Sandy & Bill Steele

Sarah Taylor &Patrick Hageman

Susan B. Wall

Edwin & Emily Wilson

ENTHUSIAST$125

Aaron Afarian

Edward Abraham

John & Hannah Appel

Fernando Ariza

John & Anita Bain

Katherine Baker

Beth Baldwin

Anthony & Andrea Brett

Cyndi Briggs

Sandy & Susan Browder

Alice Bullock & Jay Foster

Dr. J. Michael & Diane Burke

George & Susan Burnette

Elaine Butler

Pat Shore Clark

Nadia Clevenger

John & Lynn Cochran

Chip & Billie Cole

Tom & Joyce Comerford

Margaret Couch & Tod Serfass

Martha Cutler

Marina & Wesley Davis

Nancy Dennis

Steve & Heidi Distante

Ella Fawley

Shirley Fly

David & Libby Freedman

David & Susan Friedman

Betty T. Griffith

Kathy Gross & Daniel Winters

Charlotte Hanes

Debora Horning & Jill Carraway

John & Kathleen Hutton

Renata Jackson

Raymond Jones

Dominic M. Justewicz

Pam Kahl

Tom & Becky Keith

Susan Kendall

Roger & Connie Kirkman

Laura Kline

Dave & Ruth Knesel

Peter & Carol Kopack

Zachary Korpi

Judy Lambeth & Jerry McAfee

Michael & Sandee Lawless

Cheryl Lindsay

Lea & Randy Loftis

David & Libby Lubin

Beth Lyon

Greg McGrath

Beverly McLendon

Sally McLeod

Tamara Michael

Wendy Miller & James Barefoot

Kathryn Motsinger

Eberhard Mueller-Heubach

Charles Mull

Dan & Bonnie Murphy

Charles & Eileen New

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas L. Ogburn, Jr.

Susan Overman

Julie Palm

Milton & Sara Peddycord

John & Melissa Phipps

Stephen Rantz & Gary Burke

Gabriele Reddin

Nancy & Robert Riehle

Andrew Rodgers & Iana Dontcheva

Devora Rogers

Susan Ruskin

Michael Ryden

Carolyn Sakowski &Alton Franklin

Marcus & Claudia Schaefer

Meyressa H. Schoonmaker

Ginny & Bert Simpson

Nancy Southard

Wanda Starke

Steve & Lucy Strawsburg

Anita Thomas

Arlene Edwards Thompson

Mrs. C.H. Timberlake, Jr.

Jodi Tonsic

Tom & Laura Von Ahn

Ken & Linda Wallmeyer

Wesley Waters

Charles & Anne Wilson

David Wilson

Erna & Bill Womble, Jr.

Mark Wright

FAN$55

Alice & Michael Adler

Gayle Anderson & Carey

Hedgpeth

In Memory of Jack Anderson

Laura Ball

Dan Beese

Pam & Dick Bloom

Dede Bohn

Jeanne Bohrer

Barbara Brown

Ray & Martha Chamberlain

Bud & Rosanne Clark

Lucy M. Clifford

Larry B. Coffey

Traci Connor

Mary Louise Corbett

Bill & Betty Gray Davis

Joan Dawson

Jeffrey Deaton

Jack & Jane Dougherty

Susanna Dyer

Kathleen & Ron Evans

Stuart & Ellen Fine

Pauline W. Finn

Chris Flory

Lori Fryer

Amy Garland & Joy Ritenour

Steven Garland & Edna Green

Jonathan D. Halsey

Betsy Hamilton

Martha Harper

Peggy Harrison

Eugene Heise

Alan & Elaine Hodges

Bruce & Ceil Hodgin

Robert H. Hoffman

Peter & Janice Jennings

Douglas Jernigan

Gregory Jolley

Paul Jones & Mary Chervenak

Beth Kizhnerman

Louisa Klein

Jack Lauer & Carol Kirby

Elizabeth Lopina

Dr. Stephan Lowe

Kim Masich

Osborne & Pat Mauck

Pattie McAleer

Karen McHugh

Arthur & Mary McLendon

Anonymous

Lois Miller

Keith & Marge Murphy

John & Carolyn Myracle

Sarah Penry

Snežana & Milan Petrovic

Sandra Phocas

Karen & Tom Pranikoff

Tom & Dolores Rider

Avon Long Ruffin

Sharyn Sapp

Khristin Schachtschneider

Joti Sekhon

Mark & Sallie Serosky

Sandra & Wayne Shugart

Jeff & Lynn Silkstone

Helen Simoneau

Ann Urban & Mark Glen

Marcia Vaughn

MaShari Walker

PATRON CIRCLE

AUTEUR CIRCLE$10,000+

Mr. & Mrs. Leslie M. Baker, Jr.

Patty & Malcolm Brown

Tom & Robin Dyer

DeWitt & Geoffrey Kierstead

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE$5,000+

Adrienne Amos Livengood

PRODUCER’S CIRCLE$2,500

Wendy & Mike Brenner

Bryan Brunette &Russell Roland

Jim & Ginny Dossinger

John & Melinda McConnell

Kevin & Wendy Oliver

Dale & Susie Pollock

Peggy & Bill Reingold

Margaret Scales &Graydon Pleasants

SCREENWRITER’S CIRCLE$2,000

Claire Christopher

Lynn & Barry Eisenberg

Sharon Hamilton &Larry Bohannon

Jason & Ella Long

Lani & Barry Seltzer

Ralph Womble &Ashley Edwards

CELEBRITY CIRCLE$1,000

Rollie & Diane Barrett

Frank & Gary

Richard Brodkin &Lois Buerkle

Jack & Susan Campbell

Javier & Ingrid Chacon

Shelby & Lee Chaden

Karen & Matt Coleman

Matthew Cullinan & Anna Reilly

Tonya Deem & Jay Turner

John & Susie Gates

Dianna Greene & Mark Hall

Ann S. & F. Borden Hanes, Jr.

Julie & Warren Hutton

Dr. Maureen & Bob Ihrie

Dr. & Mrs. Francis M. James III

Janet Kavanagh

Rogan Kersh & Sara Pesek

Mark Land

Claudine Legault &Ginny Weiler

Joseph P. Logan

Noah Reynolds

Anne & Tim Shelburne

Robert & Sharla Slapey

Steen & Star Spove

Jake & Michele Sturtz

Ben C. Sutton, Jr.

Claire & Randall Tuttle

Bill & Judy Watson

Kathryn Williams & Alan Davis

Neil & Pamela Wolfman

Martha Womble

Bill & Shannon Wright

MEMBERS

BENEFACTOR$550

Martha Apple & David Rea

Steve & Kim Berlin

Gene & Karen Blackwelder

Barbara & Bob Campbell

Mary & Joe Dudley

Matthew Dyson & Alex Norwood

David & Daughn Eagan

Pat & Jim Eisenach

Caryl Guth

Anne E. Hardcastle

Suzy & Arthur Kurtz

Don & Lynn Miller

Allison Norton-Rimron &Pat Rimron

David & Shannon Rainey

Katherine & Josh Reeves

Liz & Guy Rudisill

Michael & Dara Silver

Tom & Elaine Wright

SUPPORTER$275

Aaron Afarian

Alice Chen Anderson

Victor Angle

SPONSORS RiverRun is proud to acknowledge the Sponsors of the 2015

Festival. Sponsor support reflects a commitment to increasing

the vitality of independent film and filmmakers while enhancing

the Triad’s cultural landscape and the lives of its citizens. By

supporting RiverRun, our sponsors are aligning with a beloved

501(c)(3) non-profit and a high-energy event that is recognized

for artistic merit, generating economic impact and enhancing

quality of life. Our sponsors help maintain the quality and growth

of this important cultural touchstone.

In 2014-2015, we welcomed nine new financial sponsors while an additional 16 companies increased their commitment to support RiverRun and our year-round activities, resulting in a 16 percent increase in cash sponsorship support over 2013-2014. Generous financial support from corporate sponsors provided 32 percent of this year’s operating budget and RiverRun could not sustain our mission without these valuable partnerships. Another 23 percent of the budget is supported by grants provided by foundations and government agencies.to an increase in number of members and returning members who generously increased their giving. We are most grateful for these individuals’ investment in our mission.

PARTNER

Bib's Downtown

Camel City Dispatch

Dancing Lemur Photography

Element Productions, Inc.

Elizabeth Larson Photography

Hanes

Keiger Graphic Communications

McRitchie Winery

Mullen

Quest Analysis

Sally Gupton Photography

SECCA

TOPO Distillery

Traci Arney Photography

89.9 WDAV

88.5 WFDD

BENEFACTOR

Black Mountain Chocolate

Brookstown Inn

Butler & Burke

Camino Bakery

Centennial Trading Company

Dewey ’s Bakery and Salem Baking Co.

Express Graphics

Fairway Outdoor Advertising

Farm to Feet

First Tennessee Bank

Foothills Brewery

The Harpsichord: A Gourmet Eatery

Hawthorne Inn

Inmar

Jeffrey Adams on Fourth

The Less Desirables podcast

Mast General Store

North Carolina Film Office

Piedmont Club

Piedmont Distillers

PMC Property Group

The Porch Kitchenand Cantina

Qué Pasa Media

Salemtowne Retirement

Community

Spring House Restaurant

TV5Monde

Weston & Associates, Inc.

Wexford Science &

Technology, LLC

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP

90.5 WSNC

ASSOCIATE

6th & Vine

Airtype Studio

Alicia Madan Photography

BB&T

Benefit Advocates

Black Horse Studio

C Distinctive Eyewear

Chef Michael Creations

Commercial Framing

Finnigan ’s Wake

Forsyth Family Magazine

Forsyth Woman Magazine

The Glade at West End

Graffiti Ads

Gray, Callison & Co.

Graylyn Estate

Great Outdoor Provision Co.

Hanes Companies

Hauser Rentals

Hutch & Harris

Mary ’s Gourmet Diner

The Millennium Center

Mobile Photo

Mooney ’s Mediterranean Café

MyWinston-Salem.com

Old Salem Museum & Gardens

The Olio

Pepsi Bottling Ventures

Piedmont Triad Film Commission

Plant 64 Luxury Lofts

Primo Water

River Birch Lodge

Salem Kitchen

Sunshine Beverages, LLC

Sketch First Graphic Design

Sutler’s Spirit Company

Tart Sweets

Unifi

Walmart

Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects, PA

Washington Perk & Provision

Which Wich

Winston-Salem Monthly Magazine

COLLABORATOR

Amy Lynne Originals Flowers

Burke Street Pizza

Cheesecakes by Alex

Fire & Ice

The Genuine

Jimmy John’s

Matt Kendrick Trio

Pondering Wade

The Quiet Pint

West End Café

Winston-Salem Dash

Wurlitzer Prize

AFFILIATE

All About That Cake

Anne Marie Stott

Big Daddy Love

BLL Rotisserie Factory

Bo-Ty Florist

The Bungalow Picnic Co.

Cottage Lane Kitchen

Deutsche Bank

Edible Art by Shannon

Fourth Street Filling Station

The Fresh Market

Heide’s Gourmet Butter Mints

Ketchie Creek Bakery & Café

Krispy Kreme

O. Henry Hotel

Triad City Beat

Twisted Dog Productions, LLC

CONTRIBUTOR

A Daisy A Day

Bagel Station

Biscuitville

The Carving Board

Chipotle

Clara Marie’s Authentic

Southern Bakery

Enns & Archer, LLP

Habitat for Humanity

Hispanic League

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Piedmont Environmental

Alliance

Tropical Smoothie Café

Wilson Insurance Service

TITLE SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSORS

MARQUEE SPONSORS

PREMIER SPONSORS

OFFICIAL PROVIDERS

SPONSORSPOTLIGHTREYNOLDSAMERICAN INC.

Reynolds American Inc.(RAI) has been a

loyal and generous supporter of RiverRun

since the Festival moved to Winston-Salem

in 2003. Twelve years later, that partnership

continues to grow. Reynolds American

expanded its commitment to RiverRun,

becoming a Title Sponsor in 2007.

In 2015, we welcomed PNC Bank as a

new Festival sponsor. PNC Bank joined as

a presenting sponsor of Opening Night and

opening weekend festivities this year. The

bank’s presenting sponsorship included

both Opening Night films Fresh Dressed,

which screened at Hanesbrands Theatre,

and the French comedy Reality, which

screened at SECCA.

Alan Caldwell,Director of Community and Civic Engagement at RAI

RIVERRUN CONTRIBUTES

TO THE VITALITY OF THE

COMMUNITY WHICH IS

A KEY FOCUS FOR

REYNOLDS AMERICAN.

Alan Caldwell, Director of Community and Civic Engagement at RAI, says of their long-term corporate support,"RiverRun contributes to the vitality of the community which is a key focus for Reynolds American. As a company, we recruit top talent to Winston-Salem and RiverRun helps create the type of community that is a great place to live and work. Winston-Salem's distinction as the City of Arts and Innovation, which Reynolds American has supported from the beginning, is well-complemented by RiverRun and all that it bringsto our community."

Reynolds American’s support has not been limited to financial backing alone. Employees get the most out of our annual Festival, not only by attending films and events, but also by supporting its growth from within. Ella Long, Vice President of Talent Management at Reynolds American Services Company is a recent addition to RiverRun’s Board of Directors, and many employees and retirees volunteer at the Festival.

The opening weekend also featured The RiverRun Gala presented by PNC which was held at The Millennium Center and offered live music by The Genuine, a DJ, swing dancers, gaming tables for RiverRun tickets, and a rich dessert table. “What a wonderful way to build excitement and kick off the Film Festival,” said Wrenn Wells, PNC Bank’s commercial relationship manager for the Winston-Salem area. “We are so pleased to have been a part of this.”

PNC Bank highly values its relationships with customers and actively seeks meaningful ways to engage clients. The PNC staff found that RiverRun offered them interest-ing ways to deepen existing client relationship and provided introductions to new ones. “The clients we invited to attend the Festival thought this was a unique and fun way to build a relationship,” said Wells. His colleagues’ impression of RiverRun was “extremely posi-tive, well-organized and lots of fun.” PNC Bank’s wealth management relationship manager, David Leppert, said the RiverRun presenting sponsorship took their client relationships “to the next level.” At Festival events, he found himself interacting with existing PNC clients who are also ardent fans of RiverRun and noted that these clients “liked us already, and our support of RiverRun made them love us even more!”

NEWSPONSORSPOTLIGHTPNC BANK

Through the sponsorship with RiverRun, Matt Ragan of PNC’s Private Client Group was able to give his clients tickets to see Festival films Memories on Stone, This Time Next Year, Homeless and many others. Ragan said his clients are still talking about these “first-class” new inde-pendent films. He shared a story about one of his clients, whose daughter works for a non-profit providing medical care in Africa. She was visiting her parents during River-Run and mother and daughter wanted to spend quality time together. He was able to provide them a memorable experience of enjoying a sold-out screening of Second Mother together at RiverRun, the day before she returned to Africa. Ragan said such quality experiences make a huge impact and the opportunity to provide this special experience meant a lot to him and his clients.

A 30-year veteran of the financial services industry, Barb Bascom serves as the client and community relations director for PNC’s Western Carolina market. Through her oversight of PNC’s philanthropic work in the region, PNC supports numerous nonprofit agencies from Asheville to Greensboro. Support of the arts aligns closely with PNC’s business philosophyand the bank is generous in its support because, as Bascom explains, “Communities flourish when organizations offer meaningful experiences and introduce new ideas, especially to those who may not have easy access to art or cultural events. Art makes stronger connections between us and forges a more inclusive community. And strong communities thrive and are great places to live and play.”