Kate Perotti has worked over 15 years directing and producing films, but her latest, which she shot and edited mostly herself, is the one that’s turning heads.

“MOMz Hot ROCKs,” is a 90-minute musical documentary following mom rock bands and members of Mamapalooza – a community and movement founded by Joy Rose that encourages mothers to rediscover their creative selves. The film was given early acceptance to this year’s Rhode Island Film Festival.

Perotti started filming in October 2004 while in New York for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. She stayed in town a few extra days and started filming after a Mamapalooza meeting inspired her. She originally started writing a narrative feature comedy about women of a certain age who knew each other from high school. After reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about five bands of moms throughout the country, her interest turned to middle-aged women who started rock bands. Some of the bands featured include the Mydols, Placenta, Motherlode Trio, and Rose’s band Housewives on Prozac.

She found the mothers “a hoot” and “thought the lyrics were hilarious.” She describes the rock bands as a “good way to express yourself in a clean, fun environment.”

Over the course of two years, Perotti traveled throughout the country to Detroit, Oakland, Nashville, Dallas and Austin to focus on more bands. She enjoyed making the movie and even made some friends along the way who appear in the film.

“It’s a combination of family and friends, film and fun that makes it go around,” she said. “It was really about inspiring and empowering women that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. It’s really for yourself; whether it’s knitting or cooking, that allows you to give more of yourself.”

The film captured some memorable moments, including a grandmother playing drums in a punk band, a woman in MENSA with green-spiked hair and the closing of CBGB – a well-known New York City music club that shut down in October 2006. This was particularly special, as Perotti always loved the club and the experience turned out to be historical.

When she started filming almost five years ago, she said people looked at her like she had three heads for following these women around. People react similarly even now, but they might recognize Perotti from appearances she’s made on CNN and Good Morning America throughout her journey.

“Someone might be watching this and say, ‘Oh yeah, I remember that’,” she said.

A Los Angeles resident, Perotti has roots in Rhode Island since her family moved to Greenville when she was 2 years old.

“It’s been one of the most challenging and fulfilling things I’ve ever done. To be in Rhode Island is just icing on the cake,” she said.

She attended the first day of the film festival on Tuesday. She describes it as, “so well respected,” and praised event organizers for their hard work.

During the festival, she looks forward to seeing her friend Doug Pray’s film “Art & Copy” and the Providence Roller Derby Girls’ film “Not Your Mama’s Roller Derby.”

She’s in town until Monday and has enjoyed her stay at the home of Warwick resident Bill Nixon, whose historical home is nicknamed, “Crime Castle.” She watched the fireworks display on National Night Out at Oakland Beach and said she had the best view. It’s no wonder then that another stay in the Ocean State might be in the cards for Perotti.

“I want to do a film in R.I.,” she said. “I always wanted to do a movie about Crime Castle.”

She’s also waiting to see what bands come out of Warwick Neck. She jokes, maybe the “Rocky Points.”

Her film screening can be seen at the Columbus Theatre Arts Center, located at 270 Broadway in Providence, on Saturday Aug. 8th at 5 p.m. The festival runs from August 4 to 9.