Sedona, Arizona, might not be the first place you’d expect one of the top film festivals in the country to be. It is a small town with a permanent population of just over 10,000, located far north of Phoenix. Sedona is a place with some of the most incredible natural scenery in a state filled with natural beauty. With the famed Red Rock State Park, you’ll find gorgeous Arizona backdrops with copper rocks and canyon settings. But while the areas surrounding Sedona are rugged and natural, Sedona itself is a cosmopolitan town with an incredible arts scene, a trendy vibe, and a major yearly film festival.
The Sedona International Film Festival is an annual showcase of various films you may not find at your typical major festival. It is a yearly event that highlights feature films, documentaries, short films, and student and foreign films. It is an opportunity for young or under-the-radar filmmakers to get a chance to show their work to a large audience that will surely include many industry leaders.
The Sedona International Film Festival is set to take place from February 19th to February 27th, and across its nine days, there will be over 170 films screened. This is the 28th iteration of this popular festival, and there will be something for everyone. Whether you are a cinephile that loves the obscure indies or a mainstream action lover, the selection committee offers a broad collection of movies that have something for every taste.
There are multiple different options for purchasing tickets to this festival. Because there is such a broad range of films on display, there are access packs that allow you the ability to go to every movie you please. The Platinum Priority Pass is an exclusive option that gives VIP seats, restaurant reservations, and party access. This is for a serious film festival lover, as the cost is $1,400. The Gold Priority Pass gives you access to one party, all the films and costs $660. The 20 ticket pack costs $280, while the ten-ticket pack costs $150.
The Sedona International Film Festival will occur at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, the year-round arthouse theater venue that welcomes an international crowd come festival week. The festival’s stated goal is to expand culture in Sedona and provide a platform for new independent films from around the world that film lovers might not have gotten the chance to see otherwise.
The first iteration of the Sedona International Film Festival was much different, a smaller 3-day exhibition of independent filmmakers that was started in 1995 by the Sedona Cultural Park. The film festival grew and expanded every year until it reached its modern-day form. Today, it is a world-renowned event and the largest single event in the Sedona community. It has welcomed everyone from independent artists, to famed Hollywood stars like Nicolas Cage and Nick Nolte.
This year, there will be an array of incredible independent films in various categories. There will be a family film series, where child-friendly and animated movies are played, a green/sustainable category, a “documentaries that make a difference” series, and much more. The festival will have fun popcorn fare, but many movies will have an eye on activism and social change. The international collection of filmmakers present will get the opportunity to share their unique voices.
Beyond just the movies, this event will provide the opportunity to hear first-hand from the creators themselves. There are question and answer sessions, educational seminars, and exhibits and displays. It is a major event that draws a unique crowd, and there are sure to be some Hollywood figures present. Attendees have the chance to purchase tickets to exclusive parties, where many of the leading figures from the festival will be present.
Sedona is a small town, but it is a cultural leader. The arts scene in the city has rapidly risen to become one of the most important and unique in the country, and the Sedona International Film Festival embodies this. It is an opportunity to spotlight the up-and-coming independent creators from around the world that could define the future of filmmaking. It is an incredible festival that brings a international audience to the beautiful town of Sedona.
