A 10-minute film by Patrick Bosworth, left, and Jamie Dufault will be shown at the Rhode Island International Film Festival tonight.

NARRAGANSETT — Patrick Bosworth, 21, and Jamie Dufault, 22, both of Narragansett, will premiere their movie Winner tonight at the 12th Annual Rhode Island International Film Festival, but only one of them will be able to attend the showing.

Though they are both the producers, Dufault is also appearing in a play at the 2nd Story Theater in Warren at just about the same time that their 10-minute film will premiere at the Columbus Theatre, 268 Broadway, Providence, at 7 p.m. Carl V. Rossi, of North Kingstown, is the screenwriter; Bosworth is the director, and Dufault has the starring role.

Both members of the Class of 2004 at Narragansett High School, Bosworth and Dufault are the organizers behind the film, to be screened prior to the showing of The Village Barbershop, starring John Ratzenberger. Ratzenberger, who played the role of postal worker Cliff Claven in the television show Cheers, is also master of ceremonies at tonight’s gala opening of the festival.

Several South County locations are used in Winner, including Healey News in Wakefield, Bayview Pharmacy in Saunderstown, Narragansett Town Beach, and St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Narragansett. Also used in the film is Neptco, an office and warehouse in Pawtucket.

There will also be familiar faces among the cast.

University of Rhode Island theater graduates appearing in the film include Amanda Ruggiero, of Smithfield; Patrick Poole, of Wakefield (originally from New Jersey); and Dufault, who is appearing this week in 2nd Story Theatre’s The Belle’s Stratagem.

“I had a bad feeling it might work out that way,” Dufault said, “I was hoping and praying it wouldn’t be a conflict.”

But he expects to join the festival gathering after the stage show, he said, because his family and friends will be there “and that’s the best part, people will see the work that we do and we’re really proud of it. I think it’s the best thing that we’ve done together. We take it really seriously.”

Bosworth said the cast worked on the short film during last winter’s semester break — with one really cold morning on the beach — and he devoted several weeks afterward to editing.

“It’s kind of a romantic comedy,” he said, not sure if the story totally fits that description, “but it is definitely a positive story.”

It involves a young man named Andy, played by Dufault, who buys a lottery ticket in an attempt to change the direction of his life. It does, but not in the way viewers might expect.

The film will include music by Barenaked Ladies, Bosworth said.

Bosworth said the film won a first place at the 2008 University of Rhode Island Visualizations Film Festival, and that’s where it came to the attention of Rhode Island Film Festival organizer George T. Marshall. Bosworth has been a winner in the past in that festival.

Bosworth and Dufault call themselves Tiny Penguin Films, though Bosworth, who graduated from URI this year, said “I wish I had an anecdote regarding where [the name] Tiny Penguin Films came from, but to be honest, I really don’t know.”

Bosworth and Andrew Willis, also of Narragansett, who also worked on the film, came up with the name Nightowl Productions when they were younger and working on earlier filmmaking attempts. Willis kept that name for his work, and Bosworth developed the other.

Bosworth said local merchants were especially helpful in allowing them to film on the premises.

“Everyone was really accommodating,” he said.

While at URI, Dufault appeared in several productions, including the part of Mayor Rufus Poindexter in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Ruggiero appeared as Jo March in Little Women, and Bosworth was Melvin P. Thorpe in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Poole was Dr. Henry in Angels in America.

Dufault said he and Bosworth have other films in the works.

“We have plenty of ideas. We hope to just keep making films,” he said.

Some 3,000 films were submitted to the festival, with 291 planned for screening.

For further information regarding the 12th Annual Rhode Island Film Festival, check www.film-festival.org

afleming@projo.com