This weekend: Scottsdale Film Festival!

If you are in Arizona this weekend and love indie films, check out the Scottsdale Film Festival! It opens Friday with a movie I've been craving to see - Like Crazy.

I caught up with festival organize, Amy Ettinger about the treats we can expect!
 

How would you describe the essence of the festival?
Smallish boutique films from around the world wrapped in a milieu of mainstream hit films from around the world.



What films are you most excited to have on deck?
When asked this question I always refer everyone to my list of 5 recommended films which are listed on the Schedule page. They are: 3, Hermano, Oxygen, Pure, and Transfer. However, I will throw in a 6th and say do not miss Aftershock! Of course now that I have said all that, no one should miss Like Crazy, The Way, We Need to Talk About Kevin, or Janie Jones.  

Can you describe the selection process for a film to get into a festival? It's one of those great mysteries of life, you know?

I have seven fave film fests from around the world and I look at their films starting in January. With the help of interns we obtain the print source and go to work contacting the filmmakers. I usually find 400 films of interest and then various circumstances conspire to whittle it down to far less than that for this Fest. 

How has the festival evolved over the years?
The Toronto Film Festival mentored us for four years and insisted that we bring in mainstream movies from the studios or big indies to lure sub-title phobes. I finally caved in and started booking films like Babel, The Queen, Kite Runner, The Diving bell & the Butterfly etc. Last year our opener was The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and it was a US Premiere! Of course it was our 10th anniversary so we had to go big. 

Aside from movies, what can attendees expect?

While standing in line ask people what they have seen to get the buzz. Then come back to see the movies everyone is talking about. You can get a lead on a film that was not on your radar based purely upon those random conversations and eavesdropping. You can also expect to be inside and out of the heat or rain because this year we moved to the Harkins Shea 14. We have enough room to finally protect everyone from the elements, lots of parking, many eateries within walking distance, etc. 

Do you know of any celebs who be in attendance?
Anton Yelchin & Felicity Jones with the opener - Like Crazy, and John Sayles who will receive the Fest's 1st Artistic Diversity Award and present his 17th film Amigo.

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Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING