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

• 
  Northern Boulevard Safety Concerns Spark Calls for Major Redesign
  Northern Boulevard safety concerns have led community members and officials in Queens to demand a comprehensive redesign, citing unsafe conditions and a need for urgent action.
• 
  Three New Schools Open in Western Queens Amid Ongoing Classroom Overcrowding
  Three new schools have opened in Western Queens, giving some relief in classroom overcrowding, but families still face capacity challenges and tough implementation issues this fall.
• 
  Certified 9/11-Related Cancer Cases Double at Northwell Health
  Northwell Health has seen a sharp increase as certified 9/11-related cancer cases double, transforming care for survivors and responders in the New York region.
• 
  Long-Term Health Effects Linked to 9/11: 25 Years Later
  The 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks brings renewed focus to long-term health effects linked to 9/11, with ongoing needs for survivors, first responders, and affected communities.
• 
  NYC Yellow School Bus Shortage Disrupts Back-to-School Plans
  A potential NYC yellow school bus shortage could affect back-to-school transportation and schedules as classes begin. Learn how families, schools, and city officials are responding.

Who Chose Them? The Transparency Gap

Not who received the Public Purpose Fund money. Who decided where it went, how they were selected, and what residents were never told.

Theo Gobblevelt Jun 5, 2026

Last year, we focused on the outcomes.

Continue reading →