The recently renovated Screening Room at 127 E. Congress St. officially reopened Wednesday in time to host the 27th annual Arizona International Film Festival, which runs through April 29.
The festival’s opening night film, “Living in the Future’s Past,” stars Jeff Bridges and makes its Arizona premiere with original thinking about the environmental challenges the world faces. The film will be shown again at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21.
On Thursday, April 19, offerings start at 7 p.m. with “Ordinary Days” a Canadian film (82 minutes) about a bright, athletic college student who disappears without a trace.
That’s followed by “Arizona shorts” with three short films including “Father Daughter Dance,” about a man who feels like an interloper in his own life. The screenplay was written by Tucson native Mark Jude Poirier.
With nearly 90 films included this year, the lineup includes short documentaries, “Dramatic Shorts,” “Global Shorts” and “Comedy Shorts,” along with “Animation Shorts,” and “Indieyouth Shorts.” The festival also will screen feature-length films.
Tucson singer-songwriter Tom Walbank will perform at the screening of “Late Blossom Blues,” a testament to a hard-working bluesman in 1932 segregated Mississippi.
Some of this year’s filmmakers have come as far as South Korea and Albania. As of Tuesday, 50 had flown in so far, and more were expected, said Mia Schnaible, the festival’s marketing and development director.
Journeys can also be counted in years.
Local filmmaker Tim Gassen, part of the American garage rock band the Marshmallow Overcoat, shares an insider’s glimpse into the workings of no-budget rock band in the documentary “All You Need is Fuzz: 30 years in a garage band.”
On Sunday, the festival will celebrate Irish filmmaker Liam O Mochain’s 20th anniversary with the festival.
If You Go
All screenings will take place at the renovated Screening Room, 127 E. Congress, which seats 120 patrons. read aboutfilmfestivalarizona.com
• All access pass; $100. Entitles holder to priority seating to all screenings and special events. Present pass at the door.
• Saver pass;$25. Attend any five screenings of your choice. This pass can only be used by one person per screening.
• Single tickets. $8 single admission. $6 admission for seniors, military and students with ID.
• Buy tickets in advance: www.brownpapertickets.com or an hour before each show.
• Peruse the lineup at filmfestivalarizona.com
