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.

More from the Roosevelt Island Daily

• 
  MTA Launches Six-Year Signal and Track Overhaul on A and C Subway Lines
  The MTA launches a six-year signal and track overhaul on A and C subway lines, bringing CBTC and major infrastructure upgrades to the Fulton and Liberty Avenue corridors through 2032.
• 
  Long Island City Rent Overcharge Lawsuit Seeks $50 Million Against Developer
  A Long Island City rent overcharge lawsuit seeks about $50 million from Rockrose Development, raising questions about billing practices, tenant protections, and legal oversight in NYC’s fast-changing rental market.
• 
  Astoria E-Scooter Rider Dies After Northern Boulevard Crash in Long Island City
  A 22-year-old Astoria e-scooter rider died after a Northern Boulevard crash in Long Island City. Details remain under investigation, highlighting micromobility risks on busy city streets.
• 
  Hate Crime Charges Filed After Vandalism at Fresh Meadows Kosher Bagel Shop
  Hate crime charges have been filed after vandalism at a kosher bagel shop in Fresh Meadows, with prosecutors alleging bias-motivated acts. Hearings are set in New York’s legal process.
• 
  Midtown Subway Shooting Leaves 26-Year-Old Dead; Queens Incidents Separate
  A shooting inside a Manhattan subway station left a 26-year-old dead. Police investigate the Midtown incident and separate shootings in Queens as commuters seek safety.

Three Newspapers and a Broken Water Fountain

One paper stopped arriving. Another outgrew the list that started it, then learned how to say goodbye.

Eleanor Rivers Sep 4, 2026

In 2018, Roosevelt Island had three local newspapers and no working drinking fountains. Seven years later, one paper had disappeared, one founder was leaving the country and the word “your” was about to receive a much clearer ending.

Continue reading →