ARIZONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The 16th annual Arizona International Film Festival returns to Tucson April 20-29. Programming includes more than 100 films, plus Cine Chicano, Pan Asian and IndieYouth programs. Several films shot locally and/or by local filmmakers will be shown, including Incident at Alma, Mercy and Black, White and Yellow. AIFF screens films at various locations around Tucson, including the Screening Room at 127 E. Congress St. Check azmac.org for a full schedule of films, other AIFF events and ticket information.
TUCSONFILM.COM SHORTFEST
The second annual TucsonFilm.com ShortFest comes to UA's Gallagher Theater on Saturday, April 14. Seminars and more start at 4 p.m. with a presentation by the PRO 8MM company from Burbank, Calif. Star Trek writer/producer Andre Bormanis is the keynote speaker at 6 p.m.; screenings of selected short films begin at 7 p.m., and include 2007 Academy Award-winning short film West Bank Story. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door. Check tucsonfilm.com for a full schedule.
GADABOUT FILM FESTIVAL
Tucson's Dry River Radical Resource Center presents the Gadabout Traveling Film Festival on Friday, April 27. Here's how the festival Web site describes the movies: "Independent in every sense, these films share the same willingness to challenge the conventions set for filmmaking. The Gadabout is a distribution avenue for truly indie filmmakers (who) distrust Hollywood and the commercial film-festival circuit." More than 20 short films from around the world will be shown, starting at 6 p.m.; there will also be acoustic music by Eric Ayotte and an art show. Dry River is at 740 N. Main St.; there is a suggested donation of $5. Check the festival site and dryriver.org for more information.
SKRAPPY'S FILMMAKING
Skrappy's Youth Center at 201 E. Broadway Blvd. has an ongoing film- and video-making program for youth age 13 to 24. Solo and group projects are encouraged. For information, call Skrappy's at 358-4287 or e-mail Abril at abril@email.arizona.edu.
CALL FOR MUSIC FILMS/VIDEOS
The third annual Tucson Film and Music Festival is now accepting submissions of short films and music videos. The festival's focus is on music-related content (documentaries, features and music videos) with a connection to Arizona and the Southwest. The festival will be held Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at various locations in Tucson. Check the festival site for submission details.
BOLLYWOOD AT THE FOX
On Saturday, April 28, the Fox Tucson Theatre hosts a bit of Bollywood with a screening of the 2005 Indian film Parineeta. There will be a street party with Indian food and music at 5 p.m., followed by the film at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 for orchestra-level seating and $100 for VIP balcony seats, which include a gift bag. All tickets include dessert and coffee after the film. Tickets are available at the Fox box office at 17 W. Congress St., by calling 547-3040 or through the Internet at the Fox Web site.
'PANCHO' DEBUT
Ruben Reyes' comedy Pancho Goes to College was shot entirely in Tucson, using an all-local cast and crew. It is being shown--at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 29, and Friday, March 30; and 6 and 8 p.m., Saturday, March 31--at the Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St.; admission is $6.
UA AWARDS
UA's Department of Media Arts staff, students and alumni did well at the Peoria Film Festival. Patrick Roddy won Best Feature for Mercy, and Mercy lead Gary Shannon won Best Actor. Kelli Dickinson and Claire Corcoran won Best Animated Film for Date With Death, and Michael Toubassi won Best Documentary for High and Dry.
IFASA MEETING
The April meeting of the Independent Filmmakers Association of Southern Arizona will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, April 9, at the Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St. (This is a different location than usual.) This month's meeting features a roundtable discussion on the state of the Tucson film industry. Everyone is welcome, and there is no charge. For further information, contact Brian Mulligan at 349-8249 or by email, or check the IFASA Web site.
EVENTS AT THE LOFT
· Cine Mexico Film Festival: A selection of recent films from Mexico plays March 29-April 1. Special guests include director Beto Gomez, director Andres Leon Becker, producer Yissel Ibarra, and Carlos Gutierrez, of the Cinema Tropical in New York. Check the Loft Web site for a full schedule. Tickets are $5 for individual shows or $20 for a festival pass.· The Holy Mountain: Alejandro Jodorowsky's notorious and controversial 1973 film The Holy Mountain will play for a week, opening on Friday, March 30.
· Gordy Hoffman at First Friday Shorts: screenwriter/director Gordy Hoffman (Love Liza, A Coat of Snow) will be at the Loft at 9 p.m., Friday, April 6, for the monthly short film contest. He will screen three of his short films and critique each of the short films shown that night; $5
· Bobcat Goldthwait: comedian and actor Bobcat Goldthwait will appear at 9 p.m., Saturday, April 7, with a new film he wrote and directed, Sleeping Dogs Lie; $10 general, $8 Loft members.
· All Nite Scream-O-Rama: On Friday, April 13, the Loft will screen horror films from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Films include Night of the Living Dead, Halloween, Zombie and several others, including short films, trailers, etc. Judith O'Dea from Night of the Living Dead will make an appearance. $12 in advance, $15 day of, $10 for Loft members.
The Loft Cinema is at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Call 795-7777 or check the Loft Web site for a full schedule and further information.
