COMMUNITY CURATORS

RIFF's own Director of Development & Community Engagement, Joanna James is a filmmaker herself. Her film A FINE LINE about female chefs in a male dominated industry has won numerous awards including Vanity Fair's Best Documentary by a first-time filmmaker and aired nationally on PBS. Joanna has been featured for her work in Oprah Magazine, Forbes & The James Beard Foundation.

Gary Giovannetti has spent his career scheduling both linear channels and non-linear platforms for HBO, Cinemax and WBTV. He has also curated stunts for the Max streaming service. In addition to a career in television, Gary is a published and produced playwright. He and his wife live in Norwalk. 

Barbara Ringer grew up in the Bronx next to a television set watching movies. Wanting to be the next Alfred Hitchcock, she went to NYU film school, then worked on video productions in Europe. Now settled in Connecticut, she’s made sure her kids know all the black and white classics. She’s excited to be part of the local film festival. 

After 20+ years of heading publicity, artist development, and marketing for household names like TLC, P!NK, Usher, OutKast, Ciara, Toni Braxton, Snoop Dogg, CeeLo Green, Miguel, G-Eazy, Chris Brown, Tinashe and countless more, Lisa founded Persist In Joy, LLC to help artists achieve their potential. In addition to curating films, Lisa serves as a board member, moderator and volunteer coordinator for the festival.

A former editor for Scholastic Publishing, Adele is the author of the bestselling novel What She Takes Away (Bordighera Press, 2023) and co-author of Now What? The Creative Writer's Guide to Success After the MFA. Her work has appeared with Chatter House Press, Jane Friedman, Midway Journal, the Washington Independent Review of Books and Southern Literary Review, where she was managing editor. Her sudden fiction has been adapted for the stage. She has taught at Westport Writers’ Workshop and Manhattanville College. Her long-running writers’ blog is Word for Words. Her MFA in creative writing is from Fairfield University.

RIFFs Director of Filmmaker Hospitality, Charles Moschos has a background in Real Estate and Men's Fashion. He moved to Ridgefield three years ago with his family from NYC. where he re-embraced his passion for fashion, opening his very own boutique men's and women’s clothing store and coffee house, RIDGEFIELD VINTAGE AND COFFEE. If he’s not watching films, chasing his daughters around or playing basketball, you’ll find him there.

My interest started with black and white movies. Over the years my interest expanded to include independent and foreign films. When I see an independent film that I really enjoy I feel like I
have made my own personal discovery. There is so much talent out there and so many creative ways that they tell their story. I am honored to be able to give my input.

 Lynn Delman and her husband Rob bought a house in Ridgefield during the Pandemic.  While living in Miami, she  joined the Miami Film Society and began attending screenings there, as well as in New York.  She loves discussing movies and hearing from filmmakers.  The insights that are shared always lead her to a deeper appreciation and better understanding.

I have been a Ridgefield resident for 30+ years, and a retired medical sales professional with a
newfound passion for movies. Dedicated to the community, I volunteer with the Ridgefield
Independent Film Fesitval, where I now find joy in supporting and celebrating the magic of
cinema in our vibrant town.

A local visual artist and abstract painter whose work has won many awards and can be seen in some permanent collections, Pam is the Executive Director at Ridgefield Guild of Artists.  A strong advocate for local non-profit success, she has sat on other numerous boards and committees around town focusing on special events and fundraising. A lover of art, music, theater, and film, Pam spends her time frequenting the other non-profit arts organizations in town. This opportunity as a community curator at RIFF is “like hearing a story visually from the director’s perspective”.  Pam’s work at the Guild, providing opportunities for local visual artists, is akin to helping these independent filmmakers have a voice and ultimately succeed in their profession.

Tammy has loved living in Ridgefield for the past 25 years. She retired from New Pond Farm in Redding after enjoying sharing the wonders of the natural world with others for 20 years. In retirement she has a good time playing pickleball, attending CT and Broadway theater, riding her e-bike and exploring the many open spaces in Ridgefield and the surrounding area with her wife Roselinde and their dog Elsa. She is excited to have an independent film festival right here in town and thrilled to be a part of RIFF.