New York Film Academy’s first original movie musical, IT IS WHAT IT IS, will premiere at the 2011 Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF). The short film was developed and produced by New York Film Academy’s Two-Year Musical Theatre and Film Conservatory Program. To view the trailer,

We are very excited to screen at RIIFF,” says Musical Theatre Chair VP Boyle. “The outstanding acting caliber of our graduating students and the passionate team of filmmakers available at the New York Film Academy are the reason we have been so successful on our first adventure in movie musicals.

IT IS WHAT IT IS was written and directed by Boyle and includes an original score by Andrew Gerle and choreography by Jennifer DiDonato. The film was produced by New York Film Academy and features Eden Classens, Arial Virginia Stafford, Brittani Janish, Jaspal Binning, Abi Robinson, Linnea Larsdotter and Kaitlan Emery.

Now in its 15th year, FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival™ (RIIFF) is New Englands largest and most prestigious festival, ranked in the top ten film festivals by The Ultimate Guide to Film Festivals. The Rhode Island International Film Festival is a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the Annual Academy Awards. This year, FLICKERS will screen amazing new work selected from almost 4,500 film submissions from around the world from August 9-14, 2011. For complete screening schedule, visit