Governor Ducey and his committee applaud festival’s plans and grants permission for re-opening; Festival will follow CDC guidelines with patron/staff safety priority
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to announce that it will be safely re-opening its Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Friday, Aug. 28 after receiving the approval of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and his committee as well as the state and county health department officials.
“The board and staff — with significant input from our patrons and volunteers — have put a lot of thought and planning into making the theatre a safe, healthy and fun place to enjoy movies once again, with the well-being of our patrons and team our top priority,” said director Patrick Schweiss.
The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is also recognized as a Sedona Safe-Clean-Ready Business by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau. As such, the theatre and film festival are committed to upholding the CDC guidelines for cleaning, sanitation, social distancing, facial coverings and limited capacity, among others.
Most significantly, the theatre has installed a new UV Air Pure Air Scrubber System to purify the air continuously through the HVAC systems in the theatre and festival office. This UV Air Scrubber System substantially reduces odors, visible smoke in the air, and microbial populations on surfaces. The system consists of special UV lights and photo catalyst technology which protects and purifies the air and attacks contaminants on all surfaces.
“Patrons and guests can be assured they are breathing the cleanest, safest and freshest air while they are here enjoying films on the big screen,” added Schweiss.
The Mary D. Fisher Theatre team has been busy preparing to re-open the theatre in the safest way possible. They are taking a serious approach to maintain a healthy and safe environment for all. In addition to following all of the CDC recommended guidelines, new policies and practices that the festival and theatre are implementing include:
• Limited seating capacity for each show to allow for social distancing (33-37 people maximum)
• Specified seating chart to accommodate social distancing
• Require masks for all volunteers and staff
• Temperature checks for all shifts for volunteers and staff
• Sanitizer available throughout the lobby, venue and restrooms
• Sanitation after every show, with a designated cleaning team
• Disinfecting common areas and high-traffic areas after every show
• Addition of Plexiglas dividers at concession stand and ticketing area
• Requiring masks for all patrons for entrance/exit to the theatre (will provide masks, if needed)
• UV wand cleaning and sanitizing of seats after every show
Additionally, the theatre has installed touchless credit card options for guests when paying for tickets or concessions.
The festival and theatre will continue to offer virtual screenings of select films and programs online for those who are not yet comfortable in returning to the theatre.
“Our patrons’ health is our first concern. Our members are loyal supporters of the Sedona International Film Festival and the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. We will encourage them to stay at home if ill or uncomfortable to attend our films in person,” added Schweiss.
The re-opening of the theatre on Aug. 28 will give patrons the opportunity to enjoy films the way they are meant to be seen: on the big screen.
“We hope you will join us — when you feel comfortable — back in our beautiful art house venue,” said Schweiss.
For more details on the Mary D. Fisher Theatre re-opening and the schedule of films, please visit www.SedonaFilmFestival.orgor call 928-282-1177. The theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. State Route 89A in West Sedona.
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The Mary D. Fisher Theatre will safely re-open Friday, Aug. 28 after receiving the approval of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and his committee, as well as state and county health officials. The theatre is committed to upholding the CDC guidelines for cleaning, sanitation, social distancing, facial coverings and limited capacity, among others.
Sedona Film Fest presents ‘Made in Italy’ premiere Aug. 28-Sept. 3
Liam Neeson and Micheál Richardson star in heart-warming new drama
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Made in Italy” — starring Liam Neeson and Micheál Richardson showing Aug. 28-Sept. 3 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is re-opening following CDC guidelines and social distance seating at a limited capacity with the approval of Governor Doug Ducey and his staff.
“Made in Italy” is a heart-warming father son story set in glorious Tuscany about bohemian London artist Robert (Liam Neeson), who returns to Italy with his estranged son Jack (Micheál Richardson) to make a quick sale of the house they inherited from his late wife. Neither expects to find the once beautiful villa in such a state of disrepair.
Renovations go badly, with father and son soon finding themselves at odds. Robert’s comical lack of do-it-yourself experience leads him to seek help from some colorful locals including the no nonsense Kate (Lindsay Duncan) — an ex-pat making her living selling villas who quickly captures his attention.
For Jack, the state of the house seems to mirror his search for memories of happier times with his mother. He soon falls for Natalia (Valeria Bilello), a vivacious young Italian chef, who restores both body and soul with delights from her local trattoria — until the pair find their developing relationship in jeopardy from Natalia’s jealous and threatening ex-husband.
As Robert and Jack painstakingly restore the villa to its previous glory, they also start to mend their relationship. The future may now look quite different and surprise them both.
“It’s a great story about family and love — and compassion and loss and humor,” said lead actor Liam Neeson. “I found it very cathartic in dealing with my own grief. And to do that through one’s art — i.e. making film — was very, very unique and special.”
“Made in Italy” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre Aug. 28-Sept. 3. Showtimes will be 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Thursday, Aug. 28, 29, 31 and Sept. 3; and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 30, Sept. 1 and 2.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.
Sedona Film Fest presents ‘Irresistible’ premiere Aug. 28-Sept. 3
Steve Carell, Chris Cooper and Rose Byrne star in new Jon Stewart film
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of Jon Stewart’s new comedy “Irresistible” showing Aug. 28-Sept. 3 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is re-opening following CDC guidelines and social distance seating at a limited capacity with the approval of Governor Doug Ducey and his staff.
Written and directed by Jon Stewart, “Irresistible” is a comedy about what happens when a small Wisconsin town becomes the main attraction of our modern-day political circus.
When the Democratic National Committee’s top strategist Gary Zimmer (Steve Carell) sees a video of retired Marine colonel Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper) standing up for the rights of his town’s undocumented workers, he believes he has found the key to winning back voters in America’s heartland.
Paying an unscheduled visit to Hastings’ dairy farm in rural Deerlaken, Wisconsin, Gary persuades the largely apolitical retired Marine to run for mayor. Initially, Gary relies on Jack’s very capable daughter, Diana (Mackenzie Davis) and a team of enthusiastic, if inexperienced, volunteers. However, when the Republican National Committee counters him by sending in his brilliant nemesis Faith Brewster (Rose Byrne), Gary is more than primed to up his game.
As Gary and Faith square off, what started out as a local race quickly becomes escalates to a national political battle and a hilarious fight for the soul of America.
“Irresistible” marks a reunion for writer/director Jon Stewart and actor Steve Carell, who was a correspondent on “The Daily Show” from 1999-2005. Carell was the first person to read the screenplay and he was eager to join his former colleague for his second feature film. “I thought Jon did an excellent job with ‘Rosewater’. And I just really wanted to work with him again. He’s so smart and funny, and he’s a great guy.”
Carell was struck by the depth of feeling in the story. “When we first started talking about Irresistible, the thing that really sparked my interest was the fact that it felt very human and funny,” he recalls. “Ostensibly it’s a political comedy, but it’s really not so much about the politics themselves, in my mind. It’s about the human beings that get caught in the middle. In that way it’s a universal kind of movie that doesn’t necessarily lean right or left. But it does expose the absurdity in politics.”
“Irresistible” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre Aug. 28-Sept. 3. Showtimes will be 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Thursday, Aug. 28, 29 and Sept. 3; and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 30, Sept. 1 and 2.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.
Sedona Film Fest presents ‘Summerland’ premiere Sept. 4-10
Gemma Arterton, Penelope Wilton and Tom Courtenay star in new drama
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Summerland” showing Sept. 4-10 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
A young woman revisits her past when she opens her heart to a young evacuee in “Summerland”, a wartime drama with a contemporary sensibility.
Set over one extraordinary and memorable long hot English summer, “Summerland” tells the story of Alice, a reclusive woman who has closed her heart to the world.
She uses her scientific background to debunk the existence of other-worldly forces and magic. But Alice’s world is turned upside down when she is tasked with caring for Frank, a frightened and innocent young boy seeking shelter from the London Blitz.
Over sun-dappled days in the Sussex countryside, Frank’s curiosity and open-mindedness unlock deeply buried secrets in Alice’s past, and make her re-evaluate what it really means to free your imagination.
Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Tom Courtenay star in this intensely emotional story of love’s endurance in trying times.
“Summerland” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre Sept. 4-10. Showtimes will be 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4, 5 and 6; and 7 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7, 9 and 10.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.
Sedona Film Fest presents ‘The Burnt Orange Heresy’ premiere Sept. 4-10
Donald Sutherland, Mick Jagger and Elizabeth Debicki star in award-winning drama
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “The Burnt Orange Heresy” — starring Donald Sutherland, Mick Jagger, Claes Bang and Elizabeth Dibicki — showing Sept. 4-10 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
You can’t paint over the truth.
Charming and ambitious art critic, James Figueras (Claes Bang), has fallen from grace. He spends his days in Milan lecturing witless tourists about art history. His only glimmer of hope is a new-found love interest, the enigmatic American, Berenice Hollis (Elizabeth Debicki).
An opportunity strikes when he is contacted by wealthy art dealer Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger) who summons James to his villa on Lake Como and asks him to steal a painting from the legendary reclusive artist, Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland).
Soon, James’ greed and ambition get the better of him, and he finds himself caught in a web of his own making.
“A spiky romance laced with art-history references and the trappings of a sleekly elegant neo-noir.” — The Hollywood Reporter
“The Burnt Orange Heresy” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre Sept. 4-10. Showtimes will be 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4, 5 and 6; and 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7, 9 and 10.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.
Great Art on Screen ‘Frida: Viva La Vida’ premieres Sept. 8
Sedona Film Festival hosts big-screen presentation of art series at Mary D. Fisher theatre
Sedona International Film Festival presents the Great Art on Screen series with “Frida: Viva La Vida”. The event will show in Sedona on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 4 and 7 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
Great Art on Screen is a series of documentaries featuring an in-depth look at the most extraordinary and groundbreaking art masters of their time.
“Frida: Viva La Vida” is a cinematic documentary event film that highlights the two sides of Frida Kahlo’s spirit: a revolutionary pioneering artist of contemporary feminism, and on the other, a human being tormented by agony and love.
With Asia Argento as narrator, the two faces of the artist will be revealed, by pursuing a common thread consisting of Frida’s own words: letters, diaries and private confessions.
The documentary film event will alternate interviews with historical documents, captivating reconstructions and Frida Kahlo’s own paintings, kept in some of the most amazing museums in Mexico.
The Great Art on Screen Series is generously sponsored by Goldenstein Gallery.
“Frida: Viva La Vida” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15, or $12.50 for Film Festival members. Tickets are available in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office or by calling 928-282-1177 or online at www.SedonaFilmFestival.org. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona.
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“Frida: Viva La Vida” is a cinematic documentary event film that highlights the two sides of Frida Kahlo’s spirit: a revolutionary pioneering artist of contemporary feminism, and on the other, a human being tormented by agony and love.
