Annual Report Snapshots By Year:

2001 - The Festival launched with 11 films on September 28th. Attendance was projected to be modest for the inaugural event which took place just 17 days after 9/11 at the Harkins Camelview 5 Theatre in Scottsdale. The turn out was much more than the initial estimate of 1,200 and nine of the screenings sold out.

2002 - Valley film-goers flocked to the 2nd Festival and the film count jumped from 11 in the first year to 21 films and 40 screenings. PROMISES, an Israeli documentary that followed the daily lives of seven Israeli and Palestinian children over the course of four years, ranked highest with Valley viewers. More than 4,000 turned out, almost doubling the first year's attendance.

2003 - In its 3rd season the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) became the Festival's Artistic Sponsor and mentor via the tutelage of Cam Haynes. He brought his expertise in Canadian film along with the films MARION BRIDGE and BARONESS & THE PIG featuring Director Michael Mackenzie for a post-film Q&A with the audience after the screening.

2004 - The Festival expanded on its international flavor of programming with a Student Competition and a Digital Filmmaking presentation by pop artist, Laurence Gartel. With the help of TIFF the Festival added American Independent, Cinema Vault, Documentary, and North of the Border titles. Renowned director Ted Kotcheff attended to present his films, FIRST BLOOD and WAKE IN FRIGHT, and participated in a post-film Q&A with the audience.

2005 - The 5th season saw the Scottsdale International Film Festival go Hollywood. Patrick Warburton, formerly of Seinfeld, accompanied his film, THE CIVILIZATION OF MAXWELL BRIGHT, and Lesley Ann Warren accompanied her closing night film, WHEN DO WE EAT? The Festival also introduced local film featuring ARTIST OF RESISTANCE by award winning documentarian, Dr. Penelope Price, a Scottsdale Community College faculty member. Dr. Price also participated in a post-film Q&A with the audience.

2006 - Two esteemed members of the cinema costume design attended making the Scottsdale International Film Festival one of the first in the world to feature costume design as part of its program.  Costume designer Michael Wilkinson introduced his film BABEL, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and then held a post-film Q&A with the audience on the costuming field of cinema. Dr. Deborah Landis, a former President and  member of the Costume Designers Guild also attended. She designed costumes for films such as INDIANA JONES: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and ANIMAL HOUSE and has written multiple books on the costuming industry. Landis participated in a Q&A session with the audience after the premiere of the film INFAMOUS, starring Sandra Bullock.

2007 - The Valley premieres of such highly praised titles as THE KITE RUNNER, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, and THE DIVING BELL & THE BUTTERFLY firmly established the Festival with its audience and with industry entities alike.  The premiere of THE KITE RUNNER was one of only four U.S. screenings to take place before being pulled from theatrical release while the filmmakers attempted to get the two boys who starred in the film out of Afghanistan. Another special appearance included Jennifer Tilly who presented her film, INTERVENTION.

2008 - By the time the 8th Festival wrapped up, over 5,500 people had attended to watch 26 films with 46 screenings. Special guests included director Mike Leigh who presented his closing night film, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY. Other films that enjoyed their Arizona premieres were WHAT JUST HAPPENED, starring Robert DeNiro, HOW ABOUT YOU, starring Imelda Staunton and Vanessa Redgrave, and PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND, staring Bill Pullman, Felicity Huffman, and Patricia Clarkson.  The Audience Award for Best Film went to AMAL, an Indian film about an auto-rickshaw driver.

2009 - The Festival hosted a successful live audience Q&A via SKYPE with famed director Henry Jaglom after the screening of his film IRENE IN TIME.  Other films that enjoyed their Arizona premieres were WONDERFUL WORLD, starring Matthew Broderick and the Closing Night Film THE BOYS ARE BACK, starring Clive Owen.  The Audience Award for Best Film went to SÉRAPHINE, a French film based on the true life story of French painter Séraphine de Senlis.  

2010 - Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Festival opened with the U.S. premiere, and third installment of Stieg Larsson’s extremely popular “Millennium-trilogy,” THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS NEST.  The opening night film and post-film gala party were so popular that the event was moved to a larger venue at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.  The Festival continued the rest of the week by screening 29 films from 25 different countries and ended with the Arizona premiere of CONVICTION, starring Hillary Swank and Sam Rockwell. The Audience Award for Best Film went to BRIDE FLIGHT, the story of the Last Great Air Race in 1953, from London to Christchurch, which carried young Dutch brides-to-be on their way to join their fiancés already settled in New Zealand. 

2011 - An all time high of 8,500 people attended the 11th annual Scottsdale International Film Festival. And, the Harkins Shea 14 Theatre officially became the Festival's new venue in order to accommodate the crowds and future growth. The Festival kicked off with the opening night film LIKE CRAZY starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones. The two stars attended to present the film and participated in a post-film discussion with the audience. Also in attendance during the event was John Sayles to present his film AMIGO.  He participated in the post-film discussion and was the Festival’s first recipient of the Artistic Diversity Award. The Festival featured the Arizona premiere of 10 films, hosted 12 question-and-answer sessions, and held 69 total screenings. The Audience Award for Best Film went to THE WOMEN ON THE 6TH FLOOR from France.

Board Members:

	Claudia Work - President   Ms. Work is a 1992 graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law and has practiced in Arizona and New Mexico.  Her practice focuses primarily on civil litigation and all aspects of family law, including protecting and enforcing the rights of unmarried opposite and same sex couples and their children at all stages of their relationships.  Ms. Work serves on the National Family Law Advisory Council for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.  She is also a member and past Chair of the Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the State Bar of Arizona.  Ms. Work is a member of the American and Arizona Bar Associations and is admitted to practice in the State of Arizona and the Ninth Federal District Court.
	Ellen Nusbaum - Secretary/Treasurer  Ms. Nusbaum is a 20-year veteran publishing executive, instructional designer, and programs manager. She founded Springboard Content & Publishing, LLC in 2005. Ms. Nusbaum has worked as a contract educational consultant and project/programs manager since 1999. Springboard has developed more than a thousand academic, technical, business, marketing, financial, and soft skills products and curricula from one-off titles to 50+ course projects. The learning products Springboard has created are currently delivered across all learning dimensions including online and on-ground courses and to every type of learning institution (K-University) and corporate training initiative.
	Kolby Granville - Director   Mr. Granville graduated from ASU in 1997 with a B.A. in Secondary Education with an emphasis in History. In the wake of 9/11 Mr. Granville joined the Peace Corps and moved to Mozambique. Upon his return, Mr. Granville attended the ASU Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law, graduating in 2007 with the highest pro-bono distinction.  He currently serves as a member of the Tempe Development Review Commission and the Tempe Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Mr. Granville is also on the board of directors for the Phoenix Boys Choir, and is active in his neighborhood association. In 2008, Mr. Granville received an award from the Volunteer Lawyers Program for his pro-bono work.
	Melissa Myers - Director   Ms. Myers completed the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional education program in 2001. She attained the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation in 2006 and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation in 2010. Ms. Myers regularly participates in continuing education programs and conferences. She is an Investment Adviser Representative with Commonwealth Financial Network®, member FINRA/SIPC. She has been a frequent guest on the “Business for Breakfast” radio show on KFNN and has spoken at educational forums throughout the valley. Ms. Myers holds a degree in economics from the University of Colorado.
	Denise Troy - Director Ms.Troy represents clients in all aspects of the construction industry in both private and public projects. She also represents companies and business owners in employment matters since receiving her law degree from the ASU College of Law in 1989. Ms.Troy obtained her undergraduate degree from Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland. She is a member of the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, the Labor and Employment Section of both the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Arizona, and the Construction Section of State Bar of Arizona, where she previously served as secretary. Ms.Troy has presented many speeches on construction and employment law, including lien laws, design-build, and developments in the Americans with Disabilities Act.