Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Phoenix Film Festival Short Screenplay Search

Thank you to all who submitted their screenplays to the 2018 Phoenix Film Festival Short Screenplay Competition. We are very excited to announce this year's winners!

First Place

The Siberian Trap by Jeffrey Howe

An FBI agent investigating the death of a gay Chechen refugee masters chess to extract what she needs from an informant -- and learns the true meaning of "pawn sacrifice."

Second Place

Stranger by Shervin Kermani

An old, deep, nonchalant voice resounds throughout a papier maché mock up of the universe, filled with planets and stars. Far from serious, this is a quirky, rough voiced but sentimental “God” here to tell his most upsetting tale: a great love story that never happens.

Third Place

Saline County, Illinois by Jeffrey Howe  

A meticulous 1890s stationmaster finds a widow and her young children abandoned on his station platform.

Finalists

Ozzy by Chris Hoshnic

A disobedient dachshund attempts to train himself for his new owner when a dog-shaped gift is placed under the Christmas tree.

Costume Drama by Ben Gruner and Tyler Garn 

A young girl gets more than she bargains for on Halloween when things get a little too real.

The High Dive by Brian Patterson

Four generations of Soliz men take in the sun at the water park. Two of them, Eddie and his great-grandfather, Naldo, each face an important rite of passage.

The Rental by L. P. Lee

A London tenant must find a new place to live or be forced to make a life-changing sacrifice.

The Confectionery Prince by Jeffrey Howe

When the Queen's Steward tries to kill the newborn heir to the throne, the Royal Confectioner finds herself entangled in a plan to stop him -- but destiny comes in more than one flavor.

Going Back by Rebecca Semik

Bobbi faces the choice between her past first love and her present fiance. Her future depends on whether she can find closure with her past.

Here to stay by John Kestner and Bill Pierce

The sad final ending to one of America's first rockers: Danny Rapp abruptly ends a tour and takes his own life in a Quartzsite, Arizona motel room. Based on a true story.

Contact information for winning screenplays is available for producers by emailing submissions@phxfilm.com.

Harkins Unveils Newly Remodeled Scottsdale 101 Theatre

Upgrades Include In-Lobby Bar, Harkins Ultimate Loungers™, Reserved Seating & More!

Harkins Theatres announced today the first phase completion of the highly-anticipated remodel at Harkins Scottsdale 101.  The newly remodeled theatre offers brand new upgrades including Ultimate Lounger™reclining seats, in-lobby bar, reserved seating, mobile ticketing and entirely new and upgraded interior décor!  

“As we approach our fifteen year anniversary at our Scottsdale 101 location, we reflect on the wonderful support from our loyal moviegoers over the years,” says Dan Harkins, Owner of Harkins Theatres.  “These new state-of-the-art amenities show our commitment to our loyal guests and our promise to always provide the Ultimate Moviegoing experience.”

The in-lobby bar at Harkins Scottsdale 101 serves cocktails, wine and beer, including craft selections from local favorites Papago and Four Peaks Brewing.  Guests are invited to relax and explore Harkins’ custom-built drink menu at the bar.  All drinks purchased at the in-lobby bar are welcome inside the auditorium.  Moviegoers can reserve their Ultimate Lounger and bypass the box office using Harkins’ mobile ticketing. 

To celebrate 84 years of Ultimate Moviegoing, Harkins is treating guests to $5 movies Friday September 1 through Monday September 4.  Moviegoers are invited to experience the newly remodeled Scottsdale 101 theatre and reserve their seats to any show this weekend for only $5!

The second phase of the ongoing remodel is now underway at Scottsdale 101 and will include continued upgrades to the theatre, including an upgraded and enhanced Cine Capri auditorium and museum. 

The Phoenix Film Festival is excited to make its home at the Scottsdale 101 and look forward to watching some of the best in independent cinema in some of the newest and most comfortable theatres around!

Big News

Join us in 2018 as we expand the festival from eight days to eleven days!

This is the biggest expansion of the Phoenix Film Festival since it expanded from four days to eight in 2006.

The expansion of the eleven day festival will now feature over 250 screenings, giving an opportunity for an even wider variety of film programming.

So mark your calendars, because 2018 will be the biggest year yet!

2018 Phoenix Film Festival
April 5 - 15, 2018
Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theaters
7000 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054. 

Philanthopist Bob Parsons awarded with the 2017 Phoenix Film Foundation Visionary Award

L-R: Matthew Earl Jones, Bob Parsons, Stephanie Dowling, Jason Carney

Because of his commitment to the film industry in Arizona, his love for the state and his support of the the newly re-established Arizona Office of Film and Digital Media, the Phoenix Film Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipient of its 2017 Visionary Award is Bob Parsons.

In 2016, Parsons founded SNEAKY BIG Studios, a state-of-the-art production studio in Scottsdale with a recording studio, audio mix, editing suites and one of the largest sound stages in Arizona. As a fully integrated, 4k one-stop facility, SNEAKY BIG was built by Parsons to handle the growing creative needs of his own businesses, as well as the resurgence in Arizona’s film industry. His support of the film industry is further evidenced by his contribution to the newly re-established Arizona Office of Film and Digital Media, which aims to show the world that Hollywood-level production is available right here in Arizona.

In 2012, Parsons and his wife Renee founded The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, which has awarded more than $120 million in critical funds to charitable organizations. The Foundation focuses its support on nonprofit organizations that are successfully addressing issues associated with at-risk youth, homelessness, education, veterans’ needs and medical care for underserved populations.

Parsons founded YAM Worldwide Inc. in 2012 and today, Parsons’ core businesses mirror the industries he is most passionate about which include: Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG), Scottsdale National Golf Club, Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale, Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson, GO AZ Motorcycles, GO AZ Motorcycles West, Spooky Fast Customs, BIG YAM: The Parsons Agency, YAM Capital, YAMWOOD Foundry and YAM Properties.

Thank you, Mr. Parsons, for your commitment to film in Arizona.

Congrats to the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival Award Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival Screenplay Search

Thank you to all who submitted their screenplays to the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival Short Screenplay Competition. We are very excited to announce this year's winners!

First Place: Half an Inch by Michael Orton from Prescott, Arizona

Two men with differing views of faith and destiny struggle to land a damaged aircraft.

• $250 from the Phoenix Film Foundation
• One InkTip.com Script Listing and one InkTip Magazine Script Listing from InkTip.com. InkTip Script Listings provide writers with the opportunity to get their scripts read by InkTip’s extensive network of producers, reps, manager, agents, and other qualified industry professionals.
• Script review and consultation from Script Pipeline for potential industry circulation
• 3 free entries to any Script Pipeline writing or idea competition
• A Phoenix Film Festival prize pack
• Listing on Phoenix Film Festival website
• Two VIP Passes to the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival (accommodation and air fare not included).

Second Place: The Fable of Nathan Gooch by Ronald Ecker from Palatka, FLorida

A nerdy college boy who can’t get a date tries using some animal courtship techniques, with surprising results.

• One InkTip.com Script Listing and one InkTip Magazine Script Listing from InkTip.com. InkTip Script Listings provide writers with the opportunity to get their scripts read by InkTip’s extensive network of producers, reps, manager, agents, and other qualified industry professionals.
• One free entry to any Script Pipeline writing or idea competition
• A Phoenix Film Festival prize pack
• Listing on Phoenix Festival website
• Two VIP Passes to the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival (accommodation and air fare not included).

Third Place: Cheeseburgers by Will Berry from Nashville, TenNessee

An unwanted step-son strives to survive one more evening with his disintegrating family.

• One InkTip.com Script Listing and one InkTip Magazine Script Listing from InkTip.com. InkTip Script Listings provide writers with the opportunity to get their scripts read by InkTip’s extensive network of producers, reps, manager, agents, and other qualified industry professionals.
• One free entry to any Script Pipeline writing or idea competition
• Listing on Phoenix Film Festival website
• Two VIP Passes to the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival (accommodation and air fare not included).

Top Ten Finalists:

Nothing Is Free by Rebecca Brillhart from Brooklyn, NY & Terry Milner  from New York, NY

Nothing is free unless everything is.

Flight by Sheri Davenport from Oakland, CA

What starts out as a simple plan to steal a dog and free it from abuse turns into the ultimate escape for a troubled young teen.

Mia by Sheri Davenport from Oakland, CA

Medicine Show Blues by Jeffrey Howe from Ladue, MO

SAIRA by John Kontoyannis from New York, NY

Saira, a Jethwa/attobite hybrid alien, the first of her kind mysteriously appears in the middle of Hugo Crane’s farm. She is, at first, thought to be a sinister being but it quickly becomes evident that she is here to save us. But from what or whom remains a mystery.

The Proposal by Charles Lo Manto from Hamilton, Ontario Canada

"If music be the food of love, play on."

12-8-80 by Alex Simon from Los Angeles, CA

A junior high student in suburban Phoenix learns some hard lessons the day John Lennon is murdered.

Contact information for winning screenplays is available for producers by emailing submissions@phxfilm.com.

Here they are... the posters for the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival

Thanks to the hard work and talents of Phoenix Film Festival Art Director Marty Freetage and Designers Lisa Maria Lara, Alex Patrick Merrill, Amy Borenstein, and Brittney Rislund we are proud to unveil the official posters for the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival!

Pulp Fiction
Designer: Marty Freetage
Photographer: NBMA Photography

 

Toy Story
Designer: Alex Patrick Merrill

 

North By Northwest
Designer: Amy Borenstein
Photographer: NBMA Photography

 

Say Anything
Designer: Brittney Rislund
Photographer: NBMA Photography

---

International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival
TRON
Designer: Lisa Maria Lara

Join us for the 2016 Phoenix Film Festival Summer Showcase

This special summer event returns with a fresh batch of films to help you cool off as we inch closer towards the end of summer. This year's event will be held August 22 to 25, 2016 at the Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theatre. All screenings are at 7pm with all of the films featuring a post-film discussion hosted by members of the Phoenix Critics Circle.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

HANDS OF STONE

Starring: Robert De Niro, Édgar Ramírez, Usher, John Turturro and Ellen Barkin.

Hands of Stone follows the life of Roberto Duran, the legendary Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut when he was just 16 years-old, and his equally legendary trainer Ray Arcel who together changed each other's lives. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words "no mas" (no more.)

A discussion will follow the film hosted by Phoenix Critics Circle member Monte Yazzi of TheCodaFilms.com and the Phoenix Film Festival.

PURCHASE TICKETS FOR HANDS OF STONE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016

SEA OF TREES

Directed by Gus Van Sant

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Naomi Watts and Ken Watanabe

In this powerful story of love and redemption, Matthew McConaughey stars as Arthur Brennan, an American professor who travels to Japan in the midst of a personal crisis.  As he wanders through a mysterious forest with a dark past, he experiences flashbacks of his fraught but loving relationship with his wife, Joan (Naomi Watts), and meets an enigmatic stranger, Takumi (Ken Watanabe), who is lost and injured. Arthur devotes himself to saving Takumi and returning him home to safety, and the two embark on a spiritual, life-changing journey of friendship, discovery, and healing—one which may ultimately re-connect Arthur with his love for his wife.

A discussion will follow the film hosted by Phoenix Critics Circle member Jeff Mitchell of MitchonMovies.com and the Phoenix Film Festival.

PURCHASE TICKETS FOR SEA OF TREES

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY

Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nomination for documentary.

On January 9, 2006 The New York Times sent shockwaves through the literary world when it unmasked “it boy” wunderkind JT LeRoy, whose tough prose about a sordid childhood had captivated icons and luminaries internationally. It turned out LeRoy didn’t actually exist. He was the creative expression of 40-year-old San Francisco former phone-sex operator turned housewife, Laura Albert.  Author: The JT LeRoy Story takes us down the infinitely fascinating rabbit hole of how Laura Albert—like a Cyrano de Bergerac on steroids—breathed not only words, but life, into her avatar for a decade. Albert’s epic and entertaining account plunges us into a glittery world of rock shows, fashion events, and the Cannes red carpet where LeRoy becomes a mysterious sensation. As she recounts this astonishing odyssey, Albert also reveals the intricate web spun by irrepressible creative forces within her. Her extended and layered JT LeRoy performance still infuriates many; but according to Albert, channeling her brilliant fiction through another identity was the only possible path to self-expression.

A discussion will follow the film hosted by Phoenix Critics Circle member Jeff Mitchell of MitchonMovies.com and the Phoenix Film Festival.

PURCHASE TICKETS FOR AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

COMPLETE UNKNOWN

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates and Danny Glover

Alice (Rachel Weisz) is a woman with a past—multiple pasts. She’s been a Portland hippie, an ER nurse, and a magician’s assistant in China, changing names and identities at the drop of hat. But when she walks into a Brooklyn dinner party one night, she’s recognized by Tom (Michael Shannon), who knows her not as Alice, but as Jenny, an ex-lover he hasn’t seen in fifteen years. Drawn once again to the enigmatic, chameleon-like woman, Tom steals away with her into the New York City night where she introduces him to the thrills and dangers of reinventing oneself. Acclaimed filmmaker Joshua Marston (Maria Full of Grace) directs this smart, seductive investigation into the mystery of identity that explores what it means to leave everything behind and start your life over.

A discussion will follow the film hosted by Phoenix Critics Circle member Monte Yazzi of TheCodaFilms.com and the Phoenix Film Festival.

PURCHASE TICKETS FOR COMPLETE UNKNOWN

4 Amazing Films.

4 Amazing Nights.

Tickets are $10 each and a pass for all 4 films is just $32. Don't wait to buy tickets. Seating is limited!

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