The Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF) is known as one of the top festivals in the nation. SIFF is a 9 day event beginning on February 22nd and continuing through March 2nd. The event takes place in Sedona, Arizona at the Harkins Theatre, The Mary D. Fisher Theatre, and the Sedona Performing Arts Center. The festival features independent films in a wide variety of categories from feature length films, to short films, to documentaries and animation. There are even a number of indie films presented by Actors and Directors of Hollywood success. The festival will also be featuring the short film nominees for the Academy Awards which has become something of a tradition over the past 9 years.
In addition to screening films this festival is known for their high quality workshops which allow film students and cinephiles a chance to work side by side with leaders in the film industry. The workshops are not part of the paid event of the festival but instead are free and open to the public.
Among the films that will be screened at the festival are Forrest Whitaker’s Repentances, Academy Award nominee The Act of Killing, and Girl on A Bicycle from Jeremy Leven known for screenwriting The Notebook. For a full list of films to be screened click here. This film festival is one that all film students and lovers of film should make an effort to attend at some time in their life.