Robinson Film Center to put stars in your eyes

The red carpet is about to roll out in Shreveport/Bossier as the Robinson Film Center (RFC) prepares for the 2024 edition of the Robby Awards.

Wendell Riley, RFC executive director, explained, “The Robbys event is our biggest fundraising event of the year. In the early days, it was tied to the Oscars. [It’s] a celebration of RFC, a celebration of film, but more importantly, a celebration of the people who support us throughout the year. We are a nonprofit, so fundraising is a big part of what we do. Community support is a big part of our fiscal makeup. It’s important for us to try to give back to the community at a big event where we do something fun and recognize and celebrate those folks.”

According to event chair Anna Priestly, this year’s celebration of those folks has a classic movie theme. “If you have any kind of glitz and glamor in your soul, you are going to love our event,” she said. “This year’s theme is Hitchcock. We are giving an ode to the great Alfred Hitchcock. All of our rooms and areas are going to be based off of movie themes, ‘The Birds,’ ‘Rear Window,’ ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘Dial M for Murder.’ We’re going to have live music; we’re having a prize pull this year. It’s an auction where people can buy a ticket and pull a prize bag that will have a great gift card or prize from a local business.”

According to their website, the Master of Suspense will be there, too, if only in spirit. They are urging attendees to don their best cocktail attire for an evening of food, music and glamor.

Identity Crisis band will perform

Attendees can dance to live music from Identity Crisis, watch a movie on the big screen and show off their vocal talent in the karaoke room.

“And we encourage folks, if they want to come as a character from a Hitchcock film or a theme from one of Hitchcock’s movies, then that is absolutely welcome,” Riley said. “Hopefully, no one comes dressed as Janet Leigh in the shower in ‘Psycho,’ though.”

Priestly added, “What I like to tell people about the Robbys is, you can’t be overdressed, but you can be underdressed.”

She said the idea is to look for an outfit for the evening that makes you feel glamorous, “whether it’s a red-carpet full-on tux or if you want to play into the theme.”

“We will be giving awards. There are going to be eight awards in total. Awards for the best attire, leading lady, leading man, best pair. We will have three secret judges that will be kind of walking around and selecting the winners.”

When asked if someone would show said, “We’re actually looking forward to that one person who actually does it.

We know somebody will do it.”

RFC exhibits independent, international and classic movies daily in two theaters, with a fullservice bistro and special events space upstairs.

The Center also offers film history and media up dressed as one of the antagonists from Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” Riley to serve as a resource for local filmmakers and media education. A capital campaign was launched to create a center for the endeavor, and literacy classes for all ages, focusing mainly on K-12 students and senior citizens. RFC also supports efforts to promote and strengthen the state’s film industry.

The Center grew out of an effort by a group of media professionals, educators and art advocates in September 2002 to create an art film society. They formed the Red River Film Society.

The Society set out to screen international, independent and classic films and media and the Robinson Film Center was officially opened in May 2008. The theaters are open Tuesday-Sunday. Weekday screenings begin around 5 p.m., and weekend ones around noon. If you’d like to speak to a staff member about showtimes, film content or any other questions that you may have, call (318) 459-4122.

But back to this year’s Robbys, scheduled for Saturday, June 15.

“I call it a red-carpet fundraising event,” Priestly said, “because that is what is unique about our event compared to the other fundraisers. I remember the first time I rolled up to [it], there was literally a red carpet rolled out, and when my husband and I walked up, there was a photographer there, and they were taking pictures of us.

“Most people in Shreveport/Bossier are going to come to walk a movie red carpet.

That’s what we try to emulate. We try to make it very special.”

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on June 15 for VIP ticket holders. Doors will open for general admission at 7 p.m. The event runs until 11 p.m. that evening, and valet parking will be available. Tickets are available online at www.robinsonfilmcenter.org.

“I think our attendees are really going to be wowed by the transformation of our space, to really bring them into the world of Alfred Hitchcock,” Priestly predicted.