BECAUSE IF WE DON’T SHARE THEIR STORY, NO ONE WILL. FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC HAS BEEN A WATCHDOG AND FRIEND. “They Have Names,” our documentary showcased at the Phoenix Film Festival, extends watchdog reporting to the big screen. The film details how children, families and case workers navigate an overloaded system. Through the power of journalism and film making, The Arizona Republics shares these powerful stories with the world. The Arizona Republic supports the Phoenix Film Festival. YOU CAN SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM FOR LESS THAN $10 A MONTH. subscribe.azcentral.com 2020 PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL PHOENIX FILM FOUNDATION CONTENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS THE FESTIVAL Alison Frost - Board Chair 4 Partnership Recognition Lori Alderfer - President 6 Festival Staff Brent Stokes - Vice Chair Ira Wechter - Treasurer 8 Opening Night Film Susanna Kilby - Secretary 10 Closing Night Film 53 Film Index DIRECTORS Monica Apodaca 55 Reel Friends Leslie Benner James Christian Mario Romero SCREENING & PROGRAMS Jeff Sobotka 11 Feature-Length Film Competition Jennifer Stein 16 Short Films NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD 19 World Cinema Film Programs Chris LaMont, President 23 Showcase Features Linda Herold - Jim Manley 37 Arizona Films Rick McCartney - Sentari Minor Slobodan Popovic 40 Unified by Film 44 Intl Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival PHOENIX FILM FOUNDATION 45 IHSFF Showcase Features 7000 E Mayo Blvd, Suite 1059 Phoenix, AZ 85054 47 Horror Features www.PhxFilm.com 48 Sci-Fi Features 49 Horror Shorts PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL 2020 OFFICIAL PROGRAM 50 Sci-Fi Shorts Jason Carney – Editorial Director 52 Arizona Student Film Festival Marty Freetage – Graphic Designer Welcome to the 20th Anniversary edition of the Phoenix Film Festival. Thank you for joining us and for WELCOME BACK supporting the 501c3 non-profit Phoenix Film Foundation. A big change for the 2020 festival is that all seating is reserved. In order to attend, you’ll need to make your purchase in our Ticket Center. When you make the purchase, you’ll receive a voucher that you’ll take over to the Harkins Scottsdale 101 Box Office where you will exchange it for a ticket and a reserved seat. It’s super important that you follow this process in order to attend. Here are some things to keep in mind on the safety front: While Harkins Theatres has instituted enhanced health and safety measures, it is impossible to eliminate the risk of exposure to COVID-19, a highly contagious disease that causes illness, may lead to death, and poses particular risks to senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions. By attending the Festival, your party agrees: To wear face coverings at all times while at the To stay home if you’re not feeling well or By attending the Festival and visiting the 1 Festival Ticket Center, interacting with Festival 2 experiencing any symptoms of illness, 3 theatre, you and your party voluntarily assume staff, in the Harkins Plaza and at the theatre especially COVID-19. all risks related to COVID-19 exposure. (except while eating or drinking in your seat inside the auditorium.) Welcome back to the movies. We’ve missed you and we hope you have a great time. ©Copyright 2020 PHOENIXFILMFESTIVAL.COM 3 FESTIVAL PARTNERS PREMIERE VENUE SCOTTSDALE 101 14 MEDIA OFFICIAL FESTIVAL OFFICIAL 4 20TH ANNIVERSARY PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 12 – 22, 2020 PRODUCING FOUNDATIONS Desperado LGBT Film Festival SUPPORTING RESTAURANT PHOENIXFILMFESTIVAL.COM 5 2020 PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL STAFF ADMINISTRATION Apryl Guthrie Tex Stechnij Jason Carney Guest Relations Coordinator Student Film Programmer Executive Director Sam Kirkland Cassandra Nicholson Leigh Ann Dolan Guest Relations Coordinator African-American Directed Films Programmer Managing Director Kelli Yeakey Michael Hardesty Guest Relations Coordinator Ernie Quiroz Latinx Directed Films Development Director Deborah Bello Programmer Aaron Kes Guest Relations Coordinator Monte Yazzie Phoenix Film Foundation IFP Phoenix Program Director Pamela Wilson Merchandise Coordinator Native American Films At-A-Glance Monte Yazzie Programmer IHSFF Festival Director Sue Wilson Merchandise Coordinator Ben Cahlamer LGBTQ Programmer Mission Statement AUCTION The Phoenix Film Foundation is IHSFF PROGRAMMING Brenda Berliner TECHNICAL a 501c3 Non-profit Organization Auction Director Brandon Kinchen IHSFF Program Director Dan Gluck whose mission is to support and Technical Director EDUCATION Danny Marianino develop the artistic appreciation, Aaron Kes IHSFF Horror Program Director THEATRE OPERATIONS educational opportunities and IFP Program Director Michael Stackpole Vanessa Hodges IHSFF Sci-Fi Program Director growth of independent film Bob Marquis Theatre Operations Student Education Director Auditorium Director within Arizona. The Foundation’s MARKETING Carol Gibson Linda Nguyen primary functions through Kids’ Day Director Lauren Hansen Theatre Operations its programs are to promote Marketing Director Lobby Director Joe Gruberman the exhibition of independent Seminar Director Marty Freetage Hunter Brockman films and conduct educational Sean Oliver Festival Art Director Theatre Operations Student Education Coordinator Linda Nguyen Lobby Manager programs that teach the art of David Miller Promotions Manager Tiffany Hunter independent filmmaking. Film Challenge Director Amy Betts Film Presentation Manager Cassandra Nicholson Art Designer Michael Alvarez Filmmaker Fusion Director Lisa Marie Lara Theatre Operations Coordinator Melissa Farley Art Designer Filmmaker Fusion Director Alex Patrick Merrill Cristina Celaya Art Designer Theatre Operations Coordinator EVENTS Brittany Rislund Art Designer Timothy Meyer Samantha Bartram Theatre Operations Events Director Lauren Pitts Coordinator PFF Social Media Manager Leslie Criger Caren Joblonsky Entertainment Director Matthew Robinson Theatre Operations Jillian Clark IHSFF Social Media Director Coordinator Events Coordinator Robin Miner Jennifer Barnes Andrew Wright Promotions Coordinator Theatre Operations Events Coordinator Jennifer Mullins Coordinator Duran Cribbs Festival Photographer Larry Callahan Events Coordinator Usher Coordinator PFF PROGRAMMING FILMMAKER RELATIONS Greg Hall VOLUNTEER Katie McLarty PFF Features Program Director Kim Rodhouse Filmmaker Relations Director Slobodan Popovic Volunteer Director Jessica Parks PFF World Cinema Features Short Filmmaker Relations Program Director INTERNS Director Deb Hildebrandt Emilie Berthiaume Olivia Chappell Joe Palomino PFF Short Film Program Director Adrian DeGuzman Filmmaker Relations Manager Tanisha Geiman David Young Shyre Davis Alaina Lass PFF Showcase Film Cassidy McCauley Short Filmmaker Relations Carson Schilling Manager Programmer Danny Schutta Jeff Mitchell Julie Tjalas PFF Showcase Film Consultant Mara Sturans GUEST RELATIONS Danny Schutta Tessa Carney Dan Gluck FESTIVAL POSTER Guest Relations Director Arizona Film Program Director Make a tax-deductible donation to PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT Chris Cox Stan Bain the Phoenix Film Foundation by PFF Shorts Programmer Nader Abushhab Guest Relations Manager calling 480-513-3195 or visit www.phxfilm.com 6 20TH ANNIVERSARY PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 12 – 22, 2020 YOU ARE Cordially Invited TO JOIN US FOR RELAXED ELEGANCE BIG FLAVOR IN AT TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: Scottsdale Promenade Biltmore Fashion Square EVERY BITE. 16489 N Scottsdale Rd. 2502 E Camelback, Ste 199 Scottsdale Scottsdale, AZ Phoenix, AZ 480.333.4100 480 348 1700 602 952 8900 LUNCH | DINNER | BANQUET CARRYOUT | DELIVERY DISCOVER OUR NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DRY AGED STEAKS, FRESH DAILY SEAFOOD OFFERINGS, AND AN AWARD-WINNING WINE LIST. OFFERING INTIMATE TABLES FOR UP TO 10 GUESTS IN maggianos.com ADDITION TO LARGE, FULLY PRIVATE SPACES. South Scottsdale Uptown Phoenix 2534 N. Scottsdale Road 322 E Camelback Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85257 Phoenix, AZ 85012 (480) 994-1799 (602) 601-6390 Mon - Thu: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Mon - Thu: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Fri - Sat: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Fri - Sat: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Sun: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Sun: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm PHOENIXFILMFESTIVAL.COM 7 OPENING NIGHT FILM The Comeback Trail Run Time: 105 minutes Screening Time: Thursday, Nov 12 at 7:30pm Directed by: George Gallo Cast: Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Morgan Freeman, Zach Braff, Emile Hirsch, Eddie Griffin, Kate Katzman, and Blerim Destani Synopsis: Two movie producers who owe money to the mob set up their aging movie star for an insurance scam to try and save themselves. But they wind up getting more than they ever imagined. 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