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2017 Festival FAQs

Welcome to the 8th annual Providence Children’s Film Festival. General information about tickets, venues, special events, and educational activities can be found below.

Click to see: film schedule, film descriptions, Festival map.

TICKETING INFORMATION

Tickets may be obtained at the door or online (beginning end of January). There is a single $3.75 processing fee for online purchases (except for free screenings). Avoid sold-out shows by purchasing tickets online, in advance! Note: Online ticket sales end at 12:01 AM the day of show. Remaining tickets will be available at the venue (cash/credit accepted).

GENERAL

  • $8 Youth (under 18)
  • $8 Seniors (65 and older)
  • $10 Adults

OPENING NIGHT (February 17, 5:30pm-9:00pm) includes party and film screening:

  • $18 Adult / $12 Youth, no discounts apply. Includes delicious light snacks and beverages provided by Delsie Catering & Events and Campus Fine Wines.

TICKET DEALS

Film Fanatic 10-Pack ($75): The Film Fanatic Pass gives you flexibility and excellent value. Purchase online until Feb. 13 or at the Festival box office Feb. 17-26. Redeem for film tickets at the venue box office on the day of show. Admission depends on available seating; pass does not guarantee seating. Not valid on Opening Night.

Movie Monster Discount: 20% off 20+ tickets purchased concurrently or a single screening for school/youth groups. Guaranteed seating with online reservations. Valid for all film screenings except Opening Night.

All-Access Pass ($175): For film lovers who don’t want to miss a thing, the All-Access Pass admits you to all screenings. Purchase online until Feb. 13 or at the Festival box office Feb. 17-26. Redeem for film tickets at the venue box office on the day of show. Admission depends on available seating; pass does not guarantee seating. Not valid on Opening Night.

There is a $3.75 processing fee for online pass purchases.

FREE SCREENINGS

We are pleased to offer ADMISSION-FREE screenings of select films during the Festival, as noted on the schedule. Due to the popularity of these shows, online ticket reservations are recommended. To guarantee your seat, please check in at least 15 minutes before showtime. After that time, unclaimed seats will be released to other patrons.

PATRON PERKS!

We love our audiences! Here’s a sweet deal for festival goers: receive a Patron Perk Card with your box office ticket to receive discounts from the following businesses (including generous discounts from many Thayer Street merchants) on February 18-20 and 25-26 (dates may vary): 

  • Eats
    • BlueFin Grill (1 Orms St.) 15% discount off food purchase February 19-28
    • La Creperie (82 Fones Alley) 20% off purchase
    • Kartabar (286 Thayer St.) 20% off food purchase
    • Andreas Restaurant (268 Thayer St.) 15% food purchase plus parking validation* with food purchase
    • Kabob and Curry (261 Thayer St.) 15% food plus parking validation* with food purchase
    • Flatbread Company (161 Cushing St.) 15% off food purchase
    • Subway (114 Waterman St.) 10% off purchase
    • Ben & Jerry’s (224 Thayer St.) 10% off food purchase
  • Shopping
    • Spectrum-India (252 Thayer St.) 20% off regular price plus parking validation* with purchase
    • Sneaker Junkies (290 Thayer St.) 20% off total purchase (new sneaker releases excluded)
    • PIE IN THE SKY (225 Thayer St.) 20% off entire purchase
  • Services
    • The Barber Shop (102 Waterman St., 2nd Fl.) 20% off purchase
    • Allegra Print & Imaging (102 Waterman St.) 20% off purchase
  • Culture
    • Free admission to RISD Museum (entrances at 20 N. Main St. and 224 Benefit St.)
  • Parking
    • $3/day parking at 450 Brook St. (at Cushing St.) parking lot on February 18-20.

*Some merchants offer free parking with validated purchase; see each merchant for validation details.

MAIN VENUES (Festival map)

SATELLITE VENUES (Festival map)

  • AS220 / Main Stage – 115 Empire St, Providence
  • Everett Company Stage School – 9 Duncan Ave., Providence
  • Providence Athenaeum – 251 Benefit St., Providence
  • Warwick Public Library – 600 Sandy Ln., Warwick
  • Providence Community Library branches:
    • Knight Memorial Library – 275 Elmwood Ave., Providence
    • Washington Park Library – 1316 Broad St., Providence
    • Wanskuck Library – 233 Veazie St., Providence

THE FINE PRINT

  • All seating is general admission.
  • All venues are wheelchair accessible.
  • Come snow, rain, or sun, we look forward to seeing you at the movies, and alas, cannot provide refunds or exchanges if the weather turns inclement. Should we be forced to cancel a paid show, courtesy passes will be granted upon request for a future Festival show.
  • All sales are final.

TRAVEL AND LODGING

GETTING HERE

The Festival’s main venues are within a stone’s throw of historic downtown Providence. Find directions to venues, and transit options on our Festival Map. 

By Car

Metcalf Auditorium (RISD Museum) and RISD Auditorium visitor parking is available at metered spots on the street and in private lots. Visitors may park for free in RISD faculty/staff lots (map) on February 25-26. Accessible parking is available in the RISD faculty/staff lot on the corner of North Main and Waterman streets. Find additional parking resources here.

Gilder Center and Avon Cinema visitor parking is available at metered and unmetered spots on the street. Discounted parking ($3/day) is also available February 18-20 in the 450 Brook Street lot when you present your Patron Perk Card (available at the box office) upon exiting.

By Bus

Kennedy Plaza, the hub of Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus system, is just a five-minute walk to our RISD venues and a 20-minute uphill walk to Avon Cinema/Gilder Center venues. Use the handy RIPTA Trip Planner: www.ripta.com. Fares are $2/ride, $6/day-pass.

By Rail

Providence Train Station is served by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (www.mbta.com) and Amtrak Acela and Regional service (www.amtrak.com). Transfer to a bus line in nearby Kennedy Plaza or enjoy a stroll through beautiful downtown Providence. It’s an easy 10-minute walk to our RISD venues or a 20-minute uphill walk to the Avon Cinema/Gilder Center venues.

By Bike

Occasionally we have a warm winter day perfect for biking! Pedal your way downtown using one of the metro area’s urban bike trails. 

–Additional transit details can be found here.

HOTELS

pvdri_primary_rgbMarriott Providence Downtown, One Orms Street, Providence
$109/night for Festival audiences February 24-26, when booked before February 14.  Make your reservation online or call (888) 236-2427 and refer to the Providence Children’s Film Festival. Plus, enjoy a 15% discount on your food order at the BlueFin Grill between February 19-28 when you present your Patron Perk Card!

Omni Providence Hotel, 1 West Exchange Street, Providenceomni-logo
$149/night for Festival audiences February 17-27, when booked before February 3. To make your reservation, please call 1-800-The-Omni and refer to the Providence Children’s Film Festival.

FOOD

Food may be enjoyed in venue lobbies before and after screenings. Food and drink are prohibited in all theaters except the Avon Cinema.

Metcalf Auditorium/RISD Museum and RISD Auditorium: Food trucks will be located outside the RISD Museum’s North Main Street lobby on February 25-26 (see below). Café Pearl, located at the Museum’s Benefit Street entrance, will also satisfy hungry moviegoers with Bolt Coffee beverages and light breakfast and lunch fare between 7:30am – 4:00pm.

  • Mijos Tacos, an LA-style taco truck serving tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, tostadas and imported cane sugar Mexican sodas, opens at 12:45 PM on Saturday, Feb. 25 in the RISD Courtyard.
  • Rocket Fine Street Food will be serving freshly prepared food using natural, hormone-free, organic ingredients, all fresh and locally sourced whenever possible. The result? A deeply satisfying meal that summons coy, if not broad smiles. Grab a bite on Sunday, Feb. 26 between 11-2:30 at the RISD Museum entrance.

Avon Cinema and Gilder Center: Fresh popcorn, cold drinks and your favorite movie treats are always available at the Avon Cinema. Many restaurants and shops are located near Thayer Street—an easy walk from the Avon Cinema and the Gilder Center. For details about Festival shopping/dining discounts, refer to the “Patron Perks” section of this FAQ guide.

PCFF IS MORE THAN MOVIES!

FILM TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS: Engage in film topics beyond the screening! Filmmakers, performances, and discussion accompany selected films. We invite audiences of all ages to engage in topics beyond the screening to better understand challenging and diverse subject matter. Reel Connections spark richer family conversations and build community connections that can enhance and extend the film’s impact. Visit www.pcffri.org for details.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN PROVIDENCE:

Our Creative Capital is bursting with family-friendly experiences! Find attractions, hours and details at GoProvidence.com and peruse the city’s arts and culture calendar at ArtsNowRI.  There’s always something special happening in Providence!