RIFF’s Friday screenings begin November 6, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Historic DeSoto Theatre in downtown Rome, GA, with the narrative shorts program Everything That Rises Must Wrestle. Animation follows at 11:30 a.m. at SPAM Studios, with later events also using Screen 417 and Rome City Auditorium.

The day moves from shorts to true crime, creative workshops and evening features. Overlapping programs give documentary fans, filmmakers and comedy audiences different ways to make a festival outing their own.

Evening choices include How to Feed a Dictator at 7 p.m. at the DeSoto and Don Verdean with special guests Jared and Jerusha Hess at 7:05 p.m. at the auditorium.

This guide helps you compare those choices and leave room for dinner. Times are local to Rome; confirm reservations and any changes through the official RIFF schedule.

At 11 a.m., Everything That Rises Must Wrestle brings narrative shorts to the Historic DeSoto Theatre.

Animation fans have an alternative at 11:30 a.m., when The Unleashed Peacock begins at SPAM Studios.

Pick the storytelling format that interests you most; these are overlapping morning choices rather than consecutive stops.

The next round starts with international shorts in The Church of the Flying Elbow at 1:20 p.m. at the DeSoto.

At 1:30 p.m., Prophets of the Top Rope offers another shorts collection at SPAM Studios.

Also at 1:30 p.m., True Crime All The Time takes place at Screen 417 with investigative journalist Andy Kroll and podcast creator Jeff Keating.

Their discussion explores the appeal of true crime and the responsibility involved in turning real lives into stories.

For audiences who usually listen to those stories through headphones, that conversation provides a different way into the festival.

The 4 p.m. slot offers Peacocks & Piledrivers, a Georgia-made documentary shorts collection at SPAM Studios, or Seed & Spark Creative Sustainability at Screen 417.

At 4:15 p.m., the DeSoto screens Every Interview Is A Punk Test, centered on a discovery of tapes connected to an unfinished punk-scene documentary.

That afternoon cluster is a useful dividing line: regional documentary fans, filmmakers and music-minded moviegoers each have a natural option.

Plan dinner around the evening screening you want, with time to reach its particular venue.

Friday's red carpet begins at 6:15 p.m. outside the DeSoto, but attending it should not come at the expense of getting seated for a different event.

At 7 p.m., How to Feed a Dictator screens at the DeSoto, approaching authoritarian power through the experiences of the people who cooked for it.

At 7:05 p.m., Don Verdean screens at the Rome City Auditorium with special guests Jared and Jerusha Hess.

These are competing evening plans, so choose before making your reservations.

The night continues with Good Country Cage Match, an after-dark shorts program, at 9:15 p.m. at SPAM Studios.

Once Upon a Time in Macon follows at 9:25 p.m. at the DeSoto.

For a balanced day, select a morning shorts block, one afternoon program and an evening feature, then leave the late screening optional.

Passholders must reserve their screenings, and everyone should plan to be seated 15 minutes before the listed start.

Recheck the current program before heading out, particularly if you are arranging a meal or a venue change between events.

See the official RIFF schedule for updates.

For Tickets click HERE.