For the fourth year, the Peoria Film Festival is returning in October to celebrate the art of film.
A sibling to the larger-scale Phoenix Film Festival, the Peoria festival spotlights the work of new and established filmmakers while giving local movie lovers the chance to see films in a high-quality, personal environment. It will run from October 13 to October 16, with all screenings held at the Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18 theater in the P83 entertainment district.
“I hope they (attendees) take away that they had a unique experience and they got to see films they may not otherwise have seen or may not be able to find again,” Peoria Film Festival director Jason Kearney says.
“Sometimes, we’ll have some filmmakers who come to the screenings and they’ll talk about the films after, and so it’s just a unique experience. It’s what separates going to the movies and going to a film festival — there should always be a difference in the type of film you see and the type of experience you have.”
This year’s lineup includes 40 independent feature films, documentaries, shorts and artistic works encompassing a wide variety of genres. Like many independent films, most are rated PG-13 and up.
Opening night will commence with Juno Films’ “The Same Storm,” which was filmed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic with iPhones and laptops. Twenty-four characters provide an in-depth look into life during lockdowns, the Black Lives Matter movement and the impending 2020 elections, highlighting the necessity of friends and family amidst trying times.
The closing film is “The Return of Tanya Tucker” by Sony Classics, a depiction of the country music legend’s epic return to the spotlight after Americana star Brandi Carlile creates an album based on Tucker’s life.
Kearney noted several other highlight titles screening across the four days, one of which was created by a 16-year-old from Tempe. Titled “Under Pressure: The Animated Musical,” the film portrays old best friends whose Paris reunion takes a dangerous turn.
The festival director also touched upon “Life in Synchro,” a documentary following women competing in synchronized ice skating.
“We’re partnering with a women’s leadership conference going on in Peoria that same day to present that film,” Kearney says. “It’s about women empowerment, and the women in this documentary just really make a lot of sacrifices for their sport and are doing really great things, making strides. With the sport dominated by women, it’s just a natural tie-in.”
Last year, Kearney and his team quickly organized the Peoria festival to piggyback the Phoenix festival as a way to re-engage with the community after the pandemic.
“Having to cancel 2020 completely was really heartbreaking after having such great momentum in 2019,” he says. “So now we’re kind of getting back to the start a little bit, but it’s totally worth it and we’re excited to do it.”
Over the course of two decades, the Phoenix Film Festival nonprofit organization and its foundation have been bringing the community films from across the globe annually.
The Peoria festival was born to expand the organization’s footprint in the Valley, supported by the city of Peoria, Harkins Theaters and Huntington University.
“It makes sense for us to reach out to an area where there aren’t a lot of film art events going on, and to give Peoria a good festival was important to us,” Kearney says.
Thanks to its connections through the Phoenix festival, the Peoria Film Festival is able to display higher-profile, novel films while retaining an intimate feel. This sets it apart from the Phoenix festival and other small film events, many of which are unable to sustain the same level program.
With the West Valley flourishing economically, Kearney says he is proud of the film organization’s ability to enrich the Peoria community’s culture and looks forward to seeing the event develop.
“I think we’ll continue to grow both the caliber of film and the number of films we show over time,” he says. “It won’t be the Phoenix Film Festival. It’s simply not built that way, but I think it’s important to develop its own personality and try to do things more community focused.”
He acknowledged that arts and entertainment accentuate the quality of life, expressing the need for those opportunities to remain accessible for all members of the community.
“It’s not just about providing police, fire, roads and schools. It’s about getting people in environments that they want to live in, they want to grow in and enjoy being a part of,” he says. “It’s nice when you live in a place where things are convenient, you don’t have to drive downtown to go see a play or go see a good movie.”
The Peoria Film Festival’s opening night begins at 6 p.m. at Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant before the screenings start at 7 p.m. at the Harkins theater. Peoria residents receive a discount on tickets.
Proceeds will benefit the Phoenix Film Foundation’s educational programs, which are devoted to cultivating future Arizona filmmakers by concentrating on the education and exhibition of independent film in the state.
Peoria Film Festival
WHEN: Times vary Thursday October 13, to Sunday, October 16
WHERE: Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18, 16046 N. Arrowhead Fountains Center Drive, Peoria
COST: Ticket prices vary
INFO: 480.513.3195, peoriafilmfest.com
