RocDocFest

A celebration of world cinema with a focus on short documentary and experimental films, our third edition will be held in April 2022. We are hoping to return to a physical venue but will assess the pandemic situation. Home of Eastman Kodak and nicknamed "The World's Image Center", Rochester has a long history of supporting the performing arts and is the birthplace of numerous renowned artists including Oscar-winning actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Oscar-nominated actor John Lithgow, Oscar-nominated actor Robert Forster, actress Kristen Wiig and soprano Renée Fleming. Silent film star Louise Brooks spent the last years of her life in Rochester writing her memoir, “Lulu in Hollywood”. Known for her independent spirit and displeasure for pretentiousness, she is one of the influences behind the event. The other influence is Susan B. Anthony, a women's rights activist who played a key role in the women's suffrage movement. She moved to Rochester with her family in 1845 and was partly responsible for women being granted the right to vote in the United States. The Rochester Independent Global Film Series truly embraces independent filmmaking. We want to see stories told from the heart- a story that you were so passionate about, you picked up a camera and just started shooting because you had to tell it. We don’t care if you have a production company, a distribution company or if you are representing yourself. We just want to be moved by your story. With all that's going on in the world, we decided to shift our focus to documentary and experimental films because there's a lot to say about so many issues, and we'd like to provide a platform for your voice and perspective.