The Loft Film Festival Brings the World of Cinema to Tucson!
On Wednesday, November 9 to Sunday, November 13, the Loft Cinema presents the seventh annual Loft Film Fest, featuring appearances by an amazing array of acclaimed filmmakers and a stellar program of world, North American, Southwest and Arizona premieres selected from prestigious festivals around the globe, including Berlin, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Venice and more.
Playing at this well-known, though rather out-of-the-way film festival in Tucson, Arizona are exciting new films starring such big screen favorites as Gael Garcia Bernal in “Neruda”, the possible Oscar Winner for Best Foreign Language Film, Catherine Deneuve in “The Brand New Testament” one of the funniest and most original stories I have ever seen; Michael Fassbender in “Trespass Against Us”, Adam Smith’s gangster film, so far unknown in the U.S., — except that whatever Michael Fassbender, the Irish-German actor, is in is always astounding.
Opening night features the North American Premiere of “Dominion” about the last days of the poet Dylan Thomas as he dreams and drinks, starring John Malkovich, another great actor, too rarely seen, playing Dr. Felton opposite Rhys Ifans as Dylan Thomas. The noted film critic and host of NPR’s The Treatment, and FilmIndependent/ LACMA programmer Elvis Mitchell, will join director Steven Bernstein for a conversation following the film. This special opening night event will be taped for later use in the prestigious New York Film Critics Series of captured live broadcast events seen in theaters across the country. Those lucky attendees will enjoy free champagne, light hors d’oeuvres and live music before the movie!
The world-class line-up of award-winning international cinema, including this year’s Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, and this year’s winner of Mexico’s Ariel Award for Best Picture, as well as numerous official submissions for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award!
This year’s Lofty Achievement Award will go to the legendary director Alex Cox (“Repo Man”, “Sid and Nancy”, “Walker”), who presents his new film, “Tombstone Rashomon”, the Tombstone story told in the style of the Japanese classic “Rashomon” where history is seen from several perspectives including that of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Kate, Ike Clanton, Colonel Hafford and Johnny Behan.
Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick, presents this year’s Kirby Dick Social Justice Award to director/cinematographer/activist Kirsten Johnson for her new film, “Cameraperson” in which Kirsten Johnson creates from the vast trove of footage she has shot over decades around the world a visually bold memoir and a revelatory interrogation of the power of the camera. And acclaimed filmmaker David Pablos presents his new film, winner of Mexico’s 2016 Ariel Award for Best Film and Best Director “The Chosen Ones”.
Unique events infused with local flavor, include a screening of the 2015 sci-fi hit by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, “The Martian”, featuring a discussion with world-renowned American astronaut and long-time Tucsonan Mark Kelly (and husband to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords); a special “Work in Progress” World Premiere screening of the new western, “Tombstone Rashomon”, shot at Old Tucson Studios using local cast and crew; the Arizona Premiere of the inspiring documentary “The Rebound”, with director Shaina Allen, producer Michael Esposito and film subject (and current Tucsonan) Mario Moran in person; and the Arizona Premiere of the new documentary, “The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith”, which features photographs culled from the W. Eugene Smith archive housed at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, with director Sarah Fishko and CCP archivist Leslie Squyres in person.
Culturally-diverse, socially-relevant narratives and documentaries include the new documentary “100 Years: One Woman’s Fight for Justice”, about famed Native American activist Elouise Cobell (presented by Native Eyes Film Showcase).
Read more and see the trailer for “100 Years” here on Indiewire.
In addition are the hard-driving documentary “Speed Sisters”, following the Middle East’s first all-female race car team (presented by The Tucson International Jewish Film Festival); and the acclaimed documentary “Do Not Resist”, about the current militarization of U.S. police, featuring a post-film panel discussion with local guests including TPD Chief of Police Chris Magnus, Tucson NAACP President Doris Snowden, and ACLU of Arizona Executive Director Alessandra Soler, moderated by Tucson City Councilperson Steve Kozachik.
The Loft Film Fest is the only American festival member of CICAE (the International Confederation of Art Houses), a network of 4,000 screens and 22 international film festivals. The 2016 CICAE Award will be decided in a competition determined by a three person jury, including Oscar-winning producer/screenwriter Diana Ossana (“Brokeback Mountain”); Urszula Śniegowska, Artistic Director of the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, Poland; and Sydney Levine, film industry blogger and author. These same films will also be in the running for the 2016 Loft Film Fest Audience Award.
And still more: 70mm screening of the 1984 comedy classic, “Ghostbusters”, with the Arizona Ghostbusters in person; exciting short film programs, edgy late night entertainment and more will be offered.
The Loft Film Fest 2016 is presented by Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, with additional support from Alliance Française de Tucson, Arizona Daily Star, Arizona Inn, Buffalo Exchange, Congressman Ron and Nancy Barber, Center for Creative Photography, Cox Communications, Geico, New Belgium Brewing, Old Tucson, University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arizona Poetry Center, University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film and Television, and Zocalo Magazine
For the full schedule of events, please visit www.loftcinema.org.
Single Screening Admission: $10 general; $8 Loft members
Festival Passes: $125 general; $100 Loft members
The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.
