The Phoenix Film Festival returns this Thursday for an 11-day run at Harkins Scottsdale 101, turning the north Valley multiplex into an indie-film hub with a packed slate of features, documentaries and shorts. Organizers say the program includes roughly 268 titles and rolls out two new shorts competitions, one focused on music videos and another spotlighting work from Deaf directors. Opening night belongs to John Carney’s Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, with the festival built around a steady stream of parties, panels and industry mixers.
Jason Carney, the festival’s CEO and executive director, told Phoenix New Times that this year’s program leans hard into local filmmaking and more experimental work, and that organizers have widened the shorts slate to a record 25 entries. According to New Times, opening-night festivities kick off at 6 p.m. in the PFF Party Pavilion before everyone heads into the premiere screening.
Opening Night And Standout Screenings
Per a press release on the festival website, John Carney’s Power Ballad is set as the official opening-night centerpiece, launching a run of centerpiece and showcase selections. The festival’s press materials single out titles such as The Last Viking and Normal among the notable features, and promise filmmaker Q&As and special events tied to many of the screenings. The press room on the site carries the full slate along with this year’s festival posters.
Industry Night, Parties And Local Bites
The night after the big premiere is Industry Night, a mixer scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m., designed as a hangout where filmmakers, press and supporters can connect before heading into their film blocks. Phoenix New Times reports that DJ MattyRob will be spinning in the pavilion, while local favorites Pinwheel and The Pizza Butcher 29 park their food trucks on site to keep the crowd fed.
Tickets, Passes And How To Plan
Single screening tickets are priced at $19, and the festival offers a range of passes that starts with a $50 Flex Pass and tops out with a $350 Platinum Pass, which includes the opening-night premiere, according to the festival's ticket page. The festival also outlines Ticket Center hours on its site and provides step by step instructions for picking up vouchers and swapping them at the Harkins box office for reserved seats.
Why It Matters To The Valley
Now in its 26th year, the Phoenix Film Festival has grown into one of the region’s biggest film events, pulling thousands of moviegoers and industry guests to the Scottsdale 101 complex each spring. Coverage from AZFamily notes that the run includes workshops, a free Kids’ Day and a concurrent International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival, underscoring how the event mixes community-friendly programming with a platform for emerging filmmakers.
