International Horror & Sci-Fi joins Phoenix Film Festival
It’s back for 2012! The Phoenix Film Festival is back and it’s promising to be better than years past! Not only do you get the Phoenix Film Festival, but you also get the International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival. Housed at the always spiffy Harkins Scottsdale 101, you can see a full week of films starting with the opening gala on Thursday, March 29th and finishing up on Thursday, April 5th. Depending on how many films you plan on seeing there’s a price for everyone. Individual Screenings are just $12.00 and a Platinum pass for the ultimate movie buff is $300.00. The Platinum pass gets you entry to all events, films, meet and greets and priority seating in all theaters. Head to phoenixfilmfestival.com to see all ticket options.
The opening night gala and cocktail party kicks the event off right–mostly because of the part involving cocktails. The opening gala features a silent auction consisting of movie memorabilia and other amazing keepsakes. There will be a premiere screening as well as the awarding of the Phoenix Film Foundation’s Visionary Award celebrating a community leader. Throughout the fest you can head to the party pavilion before and after your movie selections. The party pavilion is your spot to find parties, performances, seminars, eating and drinking. This is a great place to catch live entertainment and a chance to meet some of your favorite filmmakers.
With everything else going on we can’t forget about the main event; and that is of course the films. Last year I saw some of my favorite films of the entire year at the fest. This included movies like Kill the Irishman, The Dead Inside and Small Town Murder Songs. Another film from last year worth your time is Tucker and Dale vs. Evil; one of the funniest comedy horror movies I’ve seen. This year I’m looking forward to seeing Darling Companion; which features the likes of Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline and Richard Jenkins. Darling Companion is about a woman who loves her dog more than her husband, and then her husband loses the dog. Another exciting movie this year is The Woman in the Fifth. This film stars the always great Ethan Hawke alongside Kristin Scott Thomas. Here we see a film about a man getting away from one scandal and landing himself in another.
One of my favorite parts of the Phoenix Film Fest is its merger with The International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival. These films play late and they get weird. This year you can look forward to Monster Brawl, The Theatre Bizarre and The Victim. Of these films I’m most excited to see The Victim. The Victim stars, and is directed by, Michael Biehn (who you might recognize from Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror as well as Terminator). Biehn will also be in attendance with co-star Jennifer Blanc for the screening of their new film. I know I’ll be in attendance for the opportunity to talk see the film and get a chance to talk to Biehn about him film.
