MISSION
The Scottsdale International Film Festival’s mission is to be the
undisputed Arizona leader in the use of film to foster a meaningful
understanding of the world’s cultures, lifestyles, religions, and
ethnicities. This mission has grown more vital with each passing year.
The Festival has offered to its audience of 42,000 attendees more than
225 films from an impressive 51 nations around the globe and from
countries as diverse as Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Slovenia, and Tanzania.
Film
selection exemplifies how serious the Festival is about exposing its
audience to other ways of life and rarely seen images. The vast
majority of the international works screened at the Festival champion
stories of people who stand their ground to make a difference and who
seek change for the better. One of the objectives in programming the
Festival is for the audience to leave the theatre feeling enriched and
inspired to become agents of change. In addition to exposing new
audiences to foreign films from around the globe the Festival has
sought out high value, artistically important releases in the art and
Independent (Indie) film world. The Festival believes that its
programming serves as a bridge uniting those who make films with those
who enjoy film by providing access to works they may otherwise miss.
HISTORY
The inaugural Scottsdale International Film Festival was scheduled to
commence on September 28, 2001. No one knew at the time how the events
of 9/11 would impact the fledgling event. Would anyone want to sit in a
theatre just 17 days after 9/11? Much to the surprise of the Festival,
the community turned out in force at double the seating capacity. The
town clamored to embrace diversity rather than run from it. Attendees
perceived the Festival as a necessary looking glass into other cultures
and ways of life. The Festival’s ever-growing base illustrates the wish
to be global citizens. Attendees are inspired to seek out greater
cinematic experiences and windows into the farthest reaches of the
world.
The Scottsdale International Film Festival is the only event in the
community that specifically focuses on foreign film. This Festival
routinely attracts the official Best Foreign Language Film Academy
Awards selections. Another specialty is the ability to secure high
quality artistic studio and independent releases.
Q&A sessions with directors and cast members are a patron favorite
at the Scottsdale Festival. Past high profile participants in audience
discussions were Oscar® nominee Mike Leigh, Golden Globe Winner and Oscar® nominee Lesley Ann Warren,
Seinfeld Aluma Patrick Warburton, and Oscar® nominee Jennifer Tilly.
The talents of cinematic scholars and even film critics from our own
community regularly participate in moderated discussions.
In 2007 the Festival began an audience retention program by offering
free screenings of first run, premiere films on a monthly basis. Movie
enthusiasts have a chance to see sneak previews of high profile films
before their national release dates in theatres. Join the list below to
have a chance to see the free sneak previews .
