The 31st Annual Sedona International Film Festival will be held from Saturday, February 22nd to Sunday, March 2nd, with over 150 films at Sif’s Alice Gilsheldon and Mary D. Fisher Theatre, Harkins Theatre and Sedona Performing Arts Center. Provides. “I’m most excited about every movie in this year’s lineup because we have some great movies that are trying to blow people away,” said Patrick Schweis, executive director of SIFF. I said that. “25 Cool Film Festivals” by Movie Maker Magazine. “We have an incredibly big first day at home with both Bob Mackey and Vicki Lawrence. What a star-studded opening weekend.”
Mackie will be taking part in the screening of the documentary “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion” at SPAC on Saturday, February 22nd. A question and answer session is then followed before Mackie introduces Lawrence. Costume designer for the Carol Barnet Show.
The production company said “we were given access to the full Mackey Archives, which are meticulously curated with many rare and invisible artifacts, including costumes that were not cut.” said a press release from SIFF. Lawrence played “Vicki Lawrence and the Mama: Two Women Show,” developing both the autobiographical stand-up and Thelma “Mama” Harper’s character in the evening at the “Carol Barnett Show.” Lawrence’s performance will be ticketed separately from the rest of the festival.
“It was really fun to push Mom into the new century and let her enjoy everything. [insanity] That’s going on,” Lawrence said.
Other filmmakers and actors participating in the festival question and answer session include:
▪ Actor Eric Roberts is featured in “Spit It Out” and “Death Pays Flora a Visit.”
▪Director Suzanne Rostack appeared on SPAC for the documentary “Follow Harry” on Tuesday, February 25th at 7pm, covering the final year of singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte, and Belafonte’s daughter Shari Belafonte will be added. The interview will be published on Wednesday, February 19th. Sedona Red Rock News.
▪ Finn Taylor, director and writer of “Giants Avenue,” will appear at SPAC on Wednesday, February 26th at 7pm with producer Noah Lang. The award accepted by his son Noah is accepted for his performance as a Holocaust survivor diagnosed with terminal illness that forms friendship with a lonely teenager.
▪Actor Jeremy Piven screened the story “Performance” at 7pm on Thursday, February 27th, after which Q&A and Piven won the SIFF Career Achievement Award. Piven’s character is “American Jewish and talented tap dancer,” the SIFF outline states. “On tours in Europe, Harold, his old flame carol and the rest of his group are being scouted by German attache Damian Fgler. Jews who don’t know the blonde May Being a person, Fugler offers a large sum of money to do one show in Berlin. Once they arrive in Germany, the group discovers that the show is Hitler’s own exclusive performance. .. Harold faces a choice. Run away.”
▪ Actors Jim Kabiesel, Carrie Elwes, Everett Osborne and director Martin Giguy will arrive at SPAC for a screening of “Sweetwater” on Friday, February 28th at 7pm. Sweetwater’ Clifton, the first black player to sign with the NBA after his time with the Harlem Globetrotters.
▪ Randall Kreiser, director of the 1978 musical Grease film Grease, will return on spack on Thursday, February 27th at 1pm for “An Afternoon with Diane Baker.” Wins a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work to preserve her career in television and films. “Baker is co-producing a six-part series with commercial/documentary filmmaker Dennis Powers, a partner on the history of American television illustration,” said a press release from SIFF.
▪ Free “Filmmaker Conversation” Workshop Series From Tuesday, February 25th to Saturday, March 1st, we will return to Yabapai College’s Sedona Centre, where workshops will cover film production, casting and music at 10am and 1pm. Schedules are available on the SIFF website.
“Be prepared to experience something amazing here. Be patient with traffic and take the shuttle,” Schweiss said. “We have a shuttle that leads some people from the road to the theatre.”
Movie fans can ask them to look for a free shuttle sign in the parking lot of Bassus shopping centre, which serves as three screening locations and an overflow lot. The shuttle runs from 9am to an hour after the final screening of the day.
The festival will close at SPAC on Sunday, March 2nd at 7pm and conclude with a free concert by the storytellers of the progressive bluegrass band who previously performed in the Spring 2024 Red Dirt Concert Series.
SIFF Platinum and Gold Passolders and Ticket Passolder can now select movies on their website. Individual tickets for the screening and events will be on sale Monday, February 17th. Visit to view the full schedule and purchase tickets. sedonafilmfestival.com Or call (928) 282-1177
