The quarter century mark is no minor milestone. But Jason Carney and the team at Phoenix Film Festival feel confident that they have put together a formidable lineup for the festival’s 25th anniversary, running March 27 through April 6 at Harkins Scottsdale 101.
“Opening night is always exciting,” says Carney, the annual shindig’s longtime executive director. “This year, we have The Ballad of Wallis Island. It’s full of charm and comedy.” The film stars Carey Mulligan in this story of a guy using his lottery winnings to fund a reunion of his favorite musicians. Mulligan stars along with, as Carney puts it, “a couple of other guys with accents,” namely Tim Key and Tom Basden.
Other new films on the schedule this year include big-star flicks like Holland, a thriller starring Nicole Kidman, Waltzing with Brando, in which Billy Zane takes on the role of the acting icon – Zane is scheduled to be present for the showing – the period drama On Swift Horses starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi and Will Poulter, and The Friend, a comedy-drama featuring Bill Murray, Naomi Watts and a Great Dane.
Other interesting selections include Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, starring Camille Rutherford, and the animated movie Sneaks, in which the title characters are indeed sneakers, as in the footwear. There’s also a variety of intriguing documentaries, including Deaf President Now, a chronicle of the 1988 protests that led to the first deaf president of Gallaudet University.
One of PFF’s most notable events this year, however, involves a movie that is not new: Oliver Stone’s 1986 Vietnam War drama Platoon.
“We’re doing a Platoon screening,” Carney says. Cast members are slated to attend, including Keith David, Corey Glover and Paul Sanchez. The fest is also showing Brothers in Arms, a documentary by Sanchez about the making of the film that features many of the actors. “Everybody’s just talking to Paul,” Carney notes, “so they’re unguarded.”
All of this, along with the usual shorts programs, workshops, parties, kids events and more. Simultaneously with PFF, once again, and in the same venue, is the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival, featuring plenty of scary and otherwise otherworldly stuff.
A PFF Platinum Pass is $350; individual tickets are $17. For details go to phoenixfilmfestival.com.
