Hoping to start a tradition, the first Roosevelt Island Film Festival opens on Friday June 25th, with its first shows. Featured films run in the Howe Theatre in the Cultural Center. (Schedule & Tickets Here)

By David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

As we reported earlier, the first Roosevelt Island Film Festival (RIFF) ends on Sunday, June 27th, at 7:30 p.m. with an award ceremony in the Good Shepherd Community Center.

And yesterday, RIFF released the names of the judges, along with their resumes.

Judges include…

• Actor and former Island Resident Vincent Spano
• Long Time Executive producer of Law and order Matthew Penn
• Oscar winning Screenwriter for “Crash” Bobby Moresco. 
• Toni D’antonio actress and producer..

RIFF is the brainchild of filmmaker Toni Vitale who joined forces with Roosevelt Islander and fellow filmmaker Daniel Jordano.

See more about films showing at the festival on its Facebook Page.

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  Wednesday’s PSD blotter: two medical calls, a water leak, a custody report
  RIOC’s Nov. 11 PSD blotter lists 10 incidents, all on Main Street, including two medical calls at 555 Main Street, a water leak at 560 Main and a custody or visitation report.

Still Searching: Transparency Delayed at RIOC

New York’s Freedom of Information Law rests on a basic principle: government records belong to the public unless an agency can identify a lawful reason to withhold them.

Theo Gobblevelt Aug 14, 2026

New York’s Freedom of Information Law rests on a basic principle: government records belong to the public unless an agency can identify a lawful reason to withhold them. For Roosevelt Island residents, that right matters because RIOC controls public land, infrastructure, transportation, contracts and development without functioning as a locally elected government.

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