Closing Night Movie - Stuck in Love

  Closing out the 2013 Phoenix Film Festival will be Stuck in Love on Thursday, April 11th.  It's one last chance to experience the festival and you won't want to miss it.

Click here to purchase tickets

Stuck in Love

Directed by Josh Boone

Cast:

Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Kristen Bell, Lily Collins, Logan Lerman

Screening Time:

Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 pm

Synopsis:

Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Kristen Bell and Logan Lerman star in this touching comedy-drama about a successful novelist whose obsession with his ex-wife has sent his perplexed family into a tailspin.

The first round of films announced for the 2013 Phoenix Film Festival

The 2013 Phoenix Film Festival has announced its films scheduled to be included in this Festival’s film lineup. The lineup features some of the brightest new talent the industry has to offer.  See some highlighted titles below but see more by clicking here

LOS WILD ONES, the Wild Records Documentary directed by Elise Salomon making its debut at SXSW, who produced the 2009 hit PAPER HEART.

UPRISING, directed by Fredrik Stanton, which tells the inside story of the Egyptian revolution from the perspective of its principal leaders and organizers, including four Nobel Peace Prize nominees.

WAKING, directed by Ben Shelton, about an engaged man on the verge of success, who meets a beautiful woman who he can connect with in his dreams.

THE STORY OF LUKE, directed by Alonso Mayo, a comedy about Luke, a young man with autism who is on a quest for a job and a girlfriend.

THE RETRIEVAL, the Civil War era film, directed by Chris Eska, about a boy is sent north by a bounty hunter gang to retrieve a wanted man, which will also be debuting at SWSW.

PUTZEL, directed by Jason Chaet, which is about a young man named Walter Himmelstein endearingly known as Putzel, whose life literally doesn’t go beyond his family’s fish store and his community on the upper west side of Manhattan.

LONELY BOY, directed by Dale Fabrigar, about the romantic misadventures of a schizophrenic bachelor.

FAVOR, directed by Paul Osborne, a film about true friends and the things they do for each other, which will be having its World Premiere at the Festival.

DOWN AND DANGEROUS, directed by Zak Forsman, an action crime thriller, also having its World Premiere at the Festival.

MUSIC CITY USA, directed by Chris McDaniel, which is a documentary about Nashville, and is also having its World Premiere at the Festival.

The full synopsis and trailer of each film is now available at the Phoenix Film Festival’s website. “We're very excited about how this year's lineup is shaping up,” says Jason Carney, Executive Director of the Phoenix Film Foundation. “Having three world premieres is a great start and we're excited about other potential films joining our lineup."

The 13^th Annual Phoenix Film Festival occurs this year from Thursday, April 4^th to Thursday, April 11^th. Continually breaking attendance records since its inception, last year’s festival saw over 23,000 attendees and there are hopes to pull in even more film enthusiasts this year.  The week-long Festival will be held once again at Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theaters located at 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054.

PHX Film News - January 25

PHX Film News January 25th, 2013 Spotlight Movie of the Week - Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters The Horror/ Sci-Fi crowd should be excited for this weekend’s release of the modern retelling of the fairy tale “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters”. Horror Fans should be doubly please that it walks away with an R rating, so keep the kids home for this one. Everyone knows the Brothers Grimm fairy tale; Hansel and Gretel find a cannibalistic witch’s house in the woods made out of every sweet & delectable treat imaginable. They are captured by the freaky witch but escape from her clutches. In the fairy tale, the children merely escape by their wits, but in this film, they obliterate the crazy witch, burning her to death. Thus, the Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters are made. Click here to read our review Other new releases There's plenty of other new releases to take a look at this weekend. First up is West of Memphis which played at the Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals in 2012. Now is your chance to catch it at Harkins Camelview. Also opening at Camelview isQuartet which is directed by Dustin Hoffman and has been garnering strong reviews. Over at Harkins Valley Art is the documentary, Chasing Ice. Plus there are a couple of other wide releases, there'sMovie 43 which is chock full of stars or you could also check out Jason Statham's latest, Parker Desperado Film Festival continues The Desperado LGBT Film Festival continues this weekend with a full slate of films on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Desperado LGBT Film Festival at Paradise Valley Community College showcases the best in LGBT film and fosters diversity and multiculturalism throughout the state of Arizona. Giving opportunities to gay and lesbian students to view films that reflect their culture as well as be part of the process of creating an exciting event like this, will empower and strengthen their character. This is a great leadership opportunity for the LGBT students of Paradise Valley Community College's P.R.I.D.E. organization. Click here to see the full slate of films In the news - Anatomy of a Feature event You have a unique opportunity on Jan. 26 to hear firsthand about the making of Juno, the low-budget independent film that went on to win multiple accolades including Best Screenplay for the 2008 Academy Awards. The event, Anatomy of a Feature Film, is produced by ASU School of Theatre and Film in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. This year’s Anatomy will include Director Jason Reitman and Screenwriter Diablo Cody, Cinematographer Eric Steelberg, Producer Mason Novick and key individuals from Juno’s production, finance, marketing and distribution departments. Interviews for the daylong event will be broadcast to ASU via video conference from UCLA. Anatomy of a Feature Film was initiated in 2011 and featured the making of the filmBernie, starring Jack Black. The screening of Bernie drew hundreds to a packed theatre in Tempe, AZ, where producer Judd Payne provided insights into the film, followed by the in-depth class open only to ASU students with key professionals from Bernie. Payne and ASU Visiting Professor Adam Collis will host.

PHX Film News for January 18th

PHX Film News January 18th, 2013 It's a fairly quiet week with three wide releases and just one new exclusive at Harkins. There's also an interesting film playing at FilmBar this weekend. Here's this week's updates..... Pic of the week - The Last Stand The Last Stand This week we checked out the latest Arnold Schwarzenegger film, “The Last Stand” directed by Jee-woon Kim. This is Schwarzenegger’s first leading film since 2003’s “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”, so the question beckons, Does the Governator still have what it takes to be an action hero? Click here to read our review Other new releases Opening this weekend at Harkins Valley Art Theatre is The Blue Jewel, a new documentary from director, Oliver Hauck. You can meet the filmmakers during Q&As after the 7:30pm show on Friday, January 18 and after the 4:20pm show on Saturday, January 19. Read more about it here Another new release that's intriguing is the new supernatural thriller Mama which stars recent Golden Globe winner, Jessica Chastain. The last wide release this week is Broken City which stars Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe. Upcoming film events - Only the Young at FilmBar Only the Young This weekend be sure to catch this film over at FilmBar in downtown Phoenix. Here's the synopsis: ONLY THE YOUNG follows the story of three teenagers that live in a small desert town in Southern California – a town dominated by foreclosed homes and underpasses, unfilled swimming pools and skate parks. These kids must find things to do in a place that offers nothing – yet in the course of observing their day-to-day lives, we see them discover friendship, first love, heartbreak, and what it means to be young. Tippet and Mims’ delicate, ethereal filmmaking and ONLY THE YOUNG’s innocent yet rebellious subjects collectively embody the very essence of adolescence. Click here for more information and tickets. In the news - 2013 Academy Awards Now that the Golden Globes have been dished out, it's time to turn our focus towards the Oscars. The big date is February 24 and it's time to start watching all the films to start picking your favorites. As we get a little closer keep an eye out here for details on an upcoming Oscar contest.

PHX Film News - January 11, 2013

PHX Film News January 11th, 2013 Happy New Year! This week we've got a review for Gangster Squad, info on this weeks new releases, details on a Phoenix Art Museum screening and finally, the PHX Film News Top 10 of 2012. Pic of the week - Gangster Squad Hey Phoenix Film fans! Opening this week is the highly anticipated film “Gangster Squad” starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling and Emma stone. Inspired by a true story, the backdrop of the film is set in Los Angeles circa 1949. Gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) moved west from Chicago, claiming the city of angels as his town. War hero and now L.A.P.D. Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) is a rare type of law man; he’s been able to withstand the temptation of being bought off by Cohen’s gang or any other type of criminal. Instead, he hunts them down renegade style, which lands him frequently in hot water with his department Police Chief. O’Mara refused to stand by and look the other way while corruption and mayhem over take the city he loves. Click here to read our review Other new releases Fresh off its Oscar nomination for Best Picture, Amouropens in Phoenix. You can see it exclusively at Harkins Camelview. Other notable releases include Chris Colfer's Struck By Lightning which you can catch at Harkins Shea 14. If you're in the mood for spoof comedy, A Haunted House also opens. Looking for some smaller films, check out The Blue Jewel, Madoka Magica Parts 1 & 2 or Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu Film event at the Phoenix Art Museum Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters January 11 to 13 at 1:00pm Phoenix Art Museum Acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson doesn’t just “take” his images, he creates them, through elaborate days and weeks of invention, design, and set-up. In his decade-long project “Beneath the Roses” he uses light, color and character to conjure arresting images, managing a crew of 60 amidst seemingly countless logistical and creative obstacles. Filmed over a decade, beginning in 2000, Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters provides an unparalleled view of the moment of creation of his images. It also reveals the life-story behind the work—through frank reflections on his life and career, including the formative influences of his psychologist father and his childhood fascination with the work of Diane Arbus. Childhood fears and ideals, adult anxieties and desires, the influences of pop-culture all combine to form who we are, and for Crewdson, motivate his work. Click here for more information Your Top 10 of 2012 Thank you to everyone who voted for their favorite movies of 2012. So here it is the PHX Film News Top 10 of 2012.... 10 - The Avengers 9 - Life of Pi 8 - Beasts of the Southern Wild 7 - Moonrise Kingdom 6 - The Intouchables 5 - Les Miserables 4 - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 3 - Silver Linings Playbook 2 - Lincoln 1 - Argo Note: With the late Phoenix releases of Zero Dark Thirty and Amour, they didn't quite make the list.

Who will win the 2013 awards? Here's who won last year.

Every year on Sunday night of the festival, awards are handed out for the competition features and shorts. The winners of the film awards are determined by members of the Phoenix Film Critics Society. With films now announced, we can start speculating on who is going to be this year's winners. Here's a look back at last year.  

The 2012 Phoenix Film Festival Award Winners:

International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Fest Awards

Best Sci-Fi  Short Film - Secret Identity Best Sci-Fi Feature Film - Pig Best Horror Short Film - Brutal Relax Best Horror Feature Film - It’s In The Blood

Short Film Awards

Best Grade/HS Short Film - Trolley Best College Short Film - The Life Smugglers Best Arizona Short Film - Parallax Best Documentary Short Film - Sacred Poison Best Live Action Short Film - Play By Play Best Animated Short Film - Masks

World Cinema Awards

World Cinema Short Film - La Media Pena World Cinema Documentary - Wolves Unleashed World Cinema Director - Ruggero Dipaola, Apartment in Athens World Cinema Best Picture - Apartment in Athens World Cinema Audience Award Winner - Lidice

Foundation Awards

Arizona Filmmaker of the Year - Diane Dresback Volunteer of the Year - Tiffany Hutson Board Member of the Year - Lori AlderferFeature

Film Awards

Dan Harkins Breakthrough Filmmaker Award - Gary King, How Do You Write A Joe Schermann Song Best Documentary - We Run Sh*t Best Ensemble - Searching for Sonny Best Director - Kurt Kuenne, Shuffle Best Screenwriting - Andrew Disney, Searching for Sonny Cox Audience Award - How Do You Write A Joe Schermann Song Best Picture - Shuffle

PHX Film News - 12/28/12

PHX Film News December 28, 2012 Since there are no new releases today, we're going to something fun to end the year. See below for information on casting your vote for top films of 2012..... Vote for your 5 favorite movies of the year We're compiling our own Top 10 list for the best movies of 2013 and we need your help. Over the next week (through January 3rd), we'll be collecting your votes for your five favorite movies of 2012. Just click the link below and vote for your FIVE favorite films of the year. Please only choose five films or your vote won't be counted. Happy voting and tune in next week for the results. Click here to cast your vote

PHX Film News for 12/21/2012

PHX Film News December 21, 2012 Wow. We've got a jam-packed newsletter for you this week. Lots of releases and reviews, including for a couple of big films coming out on Christmas Day. Plus we'll close out this week's newsletter with a special best and worst from a long time friend of the festival. Spotlight Movie of the Week - This is 40 There comes in time in every adults life when you realize that the candles on your cake keep increasing, your body starts going through the next phase of change, but your mind hasn’t quite caught up to the age of your body? In Judd Apatow’s latest film, This is 40, he brings back the gang (some of them) from Knocked Up – the family made up of Pete, Debbie and their girls Charlotte and Sadie a few years older, maybe a little wiser but still trying to figure life and relationships out with a sense of humor. Click here to read our review More new releases If you’re looking for an action movie to take him this weekend before the Christmas holiday opening in theaters,“Jack Reacher”, a film based on the book “One Shot” by Lee Child, starring Tom Cruise. Now click here to see what we thought. What do you get when you team up one of the most successful directors of all time, but as a producer, another Academy Award nominated director and the equivalent of a modern day circus? The million dollar answer is… “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away”, brought to you from Executive Producer James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar) and Director Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe). Click here to see the review. With less than two weeks to go for the 2012 movie release schedule, The Guilt Trip is a comedy that doesn’t quite fit the typical holiday release film type. Director Ann Fletcher brings together a quirky, yet witty cast of characters, with the most intriguing pairing of mother and son in Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogen.Click here for our review Christmas Day Releases - Django Unchained and Les Miserables There are a couple of huge releases on Christmas Day and we've got a couple of early reviews for you. Up first is the latest from Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained. Whether you love him or hate him, Tarantino always is pushing the envelope and developing iconic characters. Click here to read what we thought about his latest effort Then of course, there's Les Miserables. This film boasts a stellar cast and is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. We love ending the year with a musical and here's what we thought A special best and worst of the year from Neil Cohen The saddest moment of the year for us was the recent passing of local film critic, Neil Cohen. Neil was a founding member of the Phoenix Film Critics Society and a judge of the Phoenix Film Festival for over ten years. He was a vibrant person, an actor, writer and was always smiling. We'll greatly miss Neil, but he left us with one last gift, and that's his best and worst in film this year. Or as they're better known, "The Neelys" Click here to read Neil's thoughts on the films 2012 from Echo Magazine