First look:
The Phoenix Film Festival, running until Thursday, will have seven world premieres.
Part of the thrill of a film festival is getting in on the ground floor, seeing a great movie before anyone else does.
The Phoenix Film Festival, which runs through Thursday, April 13, offers an especially good opportunity to do that this year — seven movies are making their world premieres there.
Not by design, exactly, but something closer to a happy accident.
“For several festivals throughout the country, hosting world premieres is a big focus for them,” said Jason Carney, the festival’s executive director. “Our philosophy has always been to program the best films regardless of premiere status. This year it lined up perfectly to have so many unique films having their world premieres at our festival. We’re so honored that filmmakers have chosen us for their film’s debut.”
Of course, it’s not just premieres at the festival; 60 features will be shown during the course of the week. In addition, there is a Kid’s Day, Arts Day, Geek Day and workshops.
But ultimately, of course, a film festival is about films. The Phoenix Film Festival has long been known as a director’s festival, which doubtless helped it score all those world premieres.
“I screened my musical (‘How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song’) here previously and it was a fantastic, once-in-alifetime experience,” Gary King, whose
film “Unnerved” is one of the films premiering at the festival, said. “This is where you instantly feel that both the organizers and the audiences truly care about the filmmakers and their movies. You feel home. And that’s rare for a film festival. I can think of no other place where I’d be more proud to premiere our latest film.”
Thomas Marchese, whose “Fallen” also premieres at the festival, expressed a similar sentiment.
“Honestly, we turned down quite a few festivals while deciding on the best strategy for our film,” he said. “Ultimately, (the) Phoenix Film Fest just felt right. For us it really came down to two things: Their reputation as a filmmaker’s festival, and the fact that they lived up to that reputation from their very first contact with us.”
Seven films making their premieres at the festival » “Unnerved” » “Fallen” » “Secondhand Hearts” » “The Midnighters” » “The Long Way Back” » “FUNNE: Sea Dreaming” » “IMPerfect”