Media release from the Rome International Film Festival:
The 2024-2025 Rome International Film Festival’s RIFF-Georgia Power Community Conversations film series continues Saturday, February 15, at 3 pm at Screen 417, the popular new film viewing and event space on Broad Street in downtown Rome. The film event includes a free showing of the documentary, Home is a Hotel, and a conversation featuring the filmmakers and local leaders in business and government.
Melissa Free, Georgia Power’s Northwest Georgia Regional Executive, will welcome viewers for the film, presented by Georgia Power and The Rome International Film Festival. Originally from Floyd County and a graduate of Berry College, Free’s background provides her with a local perspective to Georgia Power’s mission in this region. “Working with Georgia Power for more than ten years in a variety of roles has helped me understand the different ways communities grow and how Georgia Power can support them. For example, Floyd County is forecast to grow by more than 10,000 new residents over the next ten years. We support planning that helps ensure well-thought out, energy efficient housing, including for those with limited income. That’s why this film and discussion afterward with the filmmakers and local community representatives should be of interest to everyone living here in Northwest Georgia.”
After Home is a Hotel, a film that follows five households living in residential hotels in San Francisco over six years, filmmakers Kevin Wong and Kar Yin Tham will talk about why they made the film and the reactions received throughout the country. The film has been featured in numerous national festivals, and won the 2023 audience award for Best Feature Documentary when it debuted at the San Francisco Film Festival. “Housing should be thought of in the same category as clean air and water. We believe the film will shine light on the issues that result when people don’t have space, light, access to the outdoors and other elements needed for them to thrive,” said Wong. “We look forward to sharing the stories of how the residents of residential hotels In San Francisco were affected by living in something as small as 80 square feet with shared bathroom and kitchen space.”
Turning to our local community, Cathy Aiken-Freeman, Director of Serve Rome, and a housing access consultant for United Way, brings her experience to the conversation, including a year of observation in eviction court to better understand the challenges facing tenants and landlords and a study of housing methods used elsewhere such as the residential hotels in the documentary. In addition, Brice Wood, planning director for Rome and Floyd County since 2023, will provide his perspective on Floyd County’s housing market, drawing upon more than seven years in different local planning roles.
In September of 2024, RIFF and Georgia Power initiated a series of films about important issues facing the modern South, and thus far have screened a film about the transformative power of dance for children living in homeless shelters, a film about undocumented Hispanic families, and a film about the importance of land stewardship to black families. The purpose of the series is to spark conversation and understanding of the different perspectives and experiences represented by the people of Northwest Georgia.
“When people watch a film together, the shared emotions and reactions can help them understand the varied perspectives each one brings to life here in Floyd County,” said Leanne Cook, executive director of RIFF. “Georgia Power cares deeply for all the different communities in our state, and we appreciate their partnership to bring film and community conversation to Rome and Floyd County. Other films coming in 2025 include topics such as literacy, education in rural and financially challenged counties throughout the United States, and social justice.
Tickets are free but those interested in the film should make a reservation for one of a limited number of seats at riffga.com or through the link in the RIFF film event on their Facebook page, @romefilm. Local venue Screen 417 and South Arts, a beneficiary of the National Endowment for the Arts, have provided generous support for this film. The screening is part of the Southern Circuit of Independent Filmmakers, presented by South Arts.
