For the second year, the Peoria Film Festival is set to return to the Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18 from October 10 through October 13.
An annual festival put on by the Phoenix Film Foundation, the four-day, Peoria-hosted event features more than 20 films from a variety of genres.
Phoenix Film Foundation Executive Director Jason Carney is eager to return to the area.
“It’s an honor to be able to present great films in the Northwest Valley. The city of Peoria is amazing,” says Carney, who encourages those who are interested in film to participate.
Mayor Cathy Carlat emphasizes she is “thrilled” the event will make its return.
“Last year, we welcomed several gifted film and production companies, and our passion for movies and the power of a good story has only grown,” Carlat says.
The Peoria Film Festival will open with dinner at 6 p.m. October 10 at Modern Round, which is directly across from the theater and within the P83 Entertainment District. After opening remarks and refreshments, attendees will walk over to the theater for an exclusive screening of “The Current War,” which stars major names like Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland.
“It’s a pretty big film so we are excited to have that,” Carney says.
From documentaries to dramas, Carney describes the variety as “a really good, healthy mix (of films).”
And as the Peoria Film Festival continues and grows, its team is working to integrate more local programming to the festival by incorporating CineLatino PHX and the Independent Feature Project Phoenix (IFP).
CineLatino PHX will celebrate Hispanic culture in honor of Spanish Heritage Month by screening three films produced in Mexico. Though the program is not new, Carney wanted to tie it and the festival together.
“We really wanted to bring more attention to the program,” Carney says.
IFP, whose mission is to develop the growth of independent filmmaking in Arizona, will help integrate more of a local flavor to the festival, too. IFP filmmakers were challenged with the task of creating a short film consisting of one prop and one line of dialogue, with just three weeks to produce it. Those short films will be shown the evening of October 12.
For first timers, Carney noted a difference between attending a festival compared to watching a regular movie at the theater.
“It’s that community vibe, because a lot of times you will have filmmakers there and they will be talking about their films and their experiences,” Carney emphasizes.
And the city of Peoria hopes to continue to build upon that community
“I can’t wait to see the talent and creativity that we will experience as we head into this outstanding four-day festival,” Carlat says.
Admission costs $75 for a VIP pass, $10 for a single ticket or $40 for an opening-night ticket. Tickets can be purchased in person at Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18 or online at peoriafilmfest.com.
For more information on the featured films, schedules and ticket information, visit peoriafilmfest.com or call 480-513-3195.
