The Sedona International Film Festival has returned to form and will only be live and in person as opposed to having a digital component. “We are going back to a totally live-only festival. We’re not doing any virtual this year because we’re bringing people back to the theater the way they should be seeing films on the big screen,” says Patrick Schweiss, executive director of the Sedona International Film Festival. New this year, the festival’s VIP lounge will be at Yavapai College. The college is across the street from the Sedona Performing Arts Center and will feature a workshop space, a media lounge and a VIP lounge where VIP pass holders, celebrities and filmmakers can gather. “What you’re seeing on screen is often in theaters. If you want more of an experience, the VIP lounge or workshops, those are what you want to take part in as much as you can because you’re literally rubbing elbows with the industry, industry professionals, the filmmakers, the stars,” says Patrick. “That’s their hub for festival week.”
Patrick estimates that attendees can look forward to about 150 films. A few films that attendees can look forward to include: the comedy “Marvelous and the Black Hole” starring Rhea Perlman. Rhea plays a magician that helps a teenager deal with a dysfunctional family. The thriller and crime caper film, “Caged Birds” and “Luzzu.” “Luzzu” is a Maltese film drama where a fisherman begins fishing on the black market to provide for his wife and child. “Our audience tends to gravitate to films that make you feel good and inspire you. And ‘Luzzu’ is probably the most inspiring film,” says Patrick. “It’s extraordinary.” Another festival highlight is that award-winning screenwriter and producer David Isaacs will host a workshop. He won the Writer’s Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series for his work on the second season of “Mad Men.” He’s also worked on “M*A*S*H,” “Frasier,” and “The Simpsons.” As always, look forward to seeing a plethora of fascinating films.
“I always say, ‘from the red rocks to the red carpet.’ We bring films they would never get to experience in theaters to them right here in Sedona,” says Patrick. − Teresa K. Traverse
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