Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Dust off your tuxedos, polish your cowboy boots and grab a bucket of popcorn.

Although Sundance and Cannes receive a lot of attention, Arizona cinephiles do not need to travel to Utah or France in order to experience the magic of the movies. Each year, a dazzling array of film festivals ignite silver screens around our state, offering an opportunity to discover emerging talents and explore different cultures through the lens of cinematic storytelling.

So, let the curtain rise, the lights dim and prepare to be swept away by the stories, the stars and the sheer cinematic joy that awaits audiences across Arizona.

Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival
Resulting from a 2009 merger of the Phoenix Jewish Film Festival and the East Valley Jewish Film Festival, the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival aims to provide entertaining and compelling international films with Jewish themes to audiences across the metropolitan Phoenix area.

“The Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival stands out as a unique and integral cultural event in Arizona,” says Sue Adatto, co-executive director of the event. “Unlike any other film festival in the region, its primary mission is to amplify awareness and appreciation for the diverse and vibrant tapestry of Jewish culture.

“Through a carefully curated selection of films, the festival endeavors to provide a comprehensive portrayal of Jewish life across different periods — spanning the past, the present and even glimpsing into the future. The festival not only fosters a deeper understanding of the richness of Jewish heritage but also encourages dialogue and connection among diverse communities within the valley.”

Taking place Feb. 18–March 3 at Harkins Theaters in Scottsdale, Chandler and Peoria, this year’s 28th annual festival will feature 21 captivating films — including the Southwest U.S. premiere of “One Life,” starring Anthony Hopkins.

Indie Film Fest
Having screened their films at festivals all around the world, a small group of Arizona’s independent filmmakers in 2018 felt underwhelmed by the lack of public relations and promotion, as well as dismayed by race and gender bias in the independent film industry. They created Indie Film Fest as a way to pay proper respect to the many individuals who make pieces of art known as film.

“Through the years, we have screened films from all over the world in front of sold-out audiences at The Film Bar, The Churchill, Phoenix’s Irish Cultural Center and even outside Roosevelt Row Welcome Center,” says festival founder Matty Steinkamp. “We have also raised thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations, including Made in Her Image and Roosevelt Row Community Development Corp., which helps fund arts programs for aspiring artists in our city.”

As a filmmaker-centric festival with the mission of helping to grow the local artist economy, every film project in this year’s Indie Film Fest will have the opportunity to split ticket sales from their screenings, giving them direct funding from their showcases — a model that Steinkamp says is the only one of its kind in Arizona. Set for Feb. 21–24, film screenings will take place at Phoenix Center for the Arts, while panels, mixers and other events will be hosted throughout the artist community on Roosevelt Row.

Sedona International Film Festival
Founded in 1995, the Sedona International Film Festival has over the last three decades expanded from a three-day exhibition to a nine-day extravaganza that is the jewel in the crown of Sedona’s cultural life and the largest single annual event in the community.

“From features to shorts, documentaries to animation and foreign films to student films, you will be treated to a cinephile’s dream,” says executive director Patrick Schweiss. “Experience the world without ever leaving your theater seat.”

He adds that this year’s 30th anniversary event will be the festival’s biggest celebration to date, featuring more than 140 films Feb. 24–March 3. Screenings take place at Mary D. Fisher Theatre and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, with filmmaker discussions and several free workshops and seminars rounding out the activities.

Worldwide Women’s Film Festival
Scheduled to coincide with International Women’s Day, this year’s Worldwide Women’s Film Festival will be held March 8–10 at Harkins Shea 14 in Scottsdale.

“Our film festival supports women in film by educating and empowering them in the collaborative endeavor of filmmaking, while we also shine a light on women’s stories and other diverse experiences across all genders,” says festival president Kim A. Huenecke, noting that men are also invited to submit films for consideration.

Shorts, features, documentaries, web series and music videos are exhibited during the event, which also includes free workshops. This year, Panavision is sponsoring the festival’s cinematography award, with the winner receiving free use of a $60,000 rental camera package for a year.

Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival
For more than two decades, the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival has highlighted inspiring and thought-provoking cultural, environmental, outdoor and adventure-related documentary films from around the world.

The event, which this year will take place March 28–31, is one of only four mountain film festivals in North America, with The Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff serving as an ideal setting to celebrate its subject matter.

Phoenix Film Festival
One of our state’s most well-known — and well-attended — film festivals held its inaugural event in 2000. The Phoenix Film Festival has since evolved from a three-day exhibition into an 11-day celebration, featuring more than 200 films as well as filmmaking seminars, parties and student workshops.

“As Arizona’s largest film festival, we are excited that the Phoenix Film Festival continues to grow but also remains accessible to all filmgoers,” says Jason Carney, executive director of the event. “As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are extremely proud to support our community and give [audiences] the opportunity to see diverse films they might otherwise not see.”

This year’s 24th annual event, set for April 4–14 at Harkins Scottsdale 101, will once again play host to filmmakers from around the world, who will mix and mingle with an expected 20,000-plus attendees at the festival’s signature party pavilion.

Arizona International Film Festival
Since launching in 1990, the Arizona International Film Festival has exhibited more than 3,300 films representing 100 countries to more than 176,000 patrons in southern Arizona. The oldest celebration of film in our state, this year’s 32nd annual event will take place April 17–28 at multiple venues in Tucson — including The Screening Room, Mercado Annex, Loft Cinema and UA Main Gate.

Flagstaff International Film Festival
Having debuted just last year, the Flagstaff International Film Festival showcases compelling narratives and screenplays from around the world to celebrate cinematic artistry and global storytelling. In addition to film exhibition, the event includes a feature-length screenplay contest. This year’s second annual festival is set for Aug. 3 and 4 at The Orpheum Theater.

Arizona Women’s Film Festival
Exploring stories through an intersectional lens, centering experiences of women and the gender nonconforming, nonbinary, genderqueer and transgender communities, the Arizona Women’s Film Festival aspires to promote a world where people thrive as healthy, equal and integrated members of all communities while fostering respect, inclusiveness and integrity.

Held each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, all proceeds from the event directly benefit local nonprofit organizations that assist victims of intimate partner violence. Dates for this year’s seventh annual festival were not yet available at press time, but expect Theatrikos Theater in Flagstaff to once again play host to the event.

Prescott Film Festival
With screenings held at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, the Prescott Film Festival’s mission statement is to provide the community with cultural events that entertain, inspire and inform while supporting independent and critically acclaimed films and filmmakers from around the world. This year’s 14th annual event will take place Oct. 1–6.

Film Fest Tucson
Presenting work by both emerging and established filmmakers, Film Fest Tucson hosts its screenings at multiple venues in downtown Tucson, inviting attendees to experience the unique environment, heritage and culture of the area as they watch new and important films.

“With unique, iconic screening locations; remarkable, thought-provoking films; special guests; and food, wine and spirit pairings, this October weekend festival is a must-attend for any serious cinephile,” says Herb Stratford, the event’s co-founder, co-director and programmer.

This year’s eighth annual event is scheduled for Oct. 10–12.

The Wild Bunch Film Festival
The biggest film festival devoted to the Western genre, Western sub-genre and Western lifestyle in the U.S., The Wild Bunch Film Festival will host its ninth annual event this year. Recently expanding to five days, it will take place Oct. 23–27 at Galaxy Theatres in Tucson.

“Presented to more than 200 winners each season, the festival’s [prizes] include the coveted Robert Shelton Award,” says festival director Rock Whitehead, noting that the award was named after the founder of Old Tucson Movie Studios. “It also features a kickoff party, an after-party and a tour of a Western movie set location in southern Arizona the day after the festival concludes.”

Scottsdale International Film Festival
Having skipped 2022 and 2023, the Scottsdale International Film Festival is expected to return this year with an abbreviated format Oct. 31–Nov. 3. Founded in 2001, the event has over the past two decades presented more than 700 films — ranging from major Academy Award winners to undiscovered indie gems — to more than 110,000 attendees.

Chandler International Film Festival
The end credits have already rolled on this year’s Chandler International Film Festival — for which Cuba Gooding Jr., Tony Todd, Eric Roberts and Dean Norris were among the many special guests. However, organizers are already hard at work on next year’s eighth annual event, which is expected to once again take place in January at LOOK Dine-in Cinemas, with additional activities held at other venues around Chandler.