The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the encore of the award-winning and acclaimed new film “The Phantom of the Open” showing July 22-28 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
“The Phantom of the Open” stars Academy Award-winner Mark Rylance, Academy Award-nominee Sally Hawkins and BAFTA Award-winner Rhys Ifans.
Follow your dreams, wherever they take you. “The Phantom of the Open” tells the heartwarming true story of Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance), a dreamer and unrelenting optimist. Things have never been easy for the working-class family man, but along the way he’s tried his hand at everything from writing and painting to high-diving and songwriting. His philosophy in life is simple: follow your dreams – something he encourages everyone around him to do as well.
This humble crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship qualifying in 1976, despite never playing a round of golf before.
With pluckiness, optimism and his twin sons at his side, Maurice pulls off a series of stunning, hilarious, and heartwarming attempts to compete at the highest level of professional golf, all without success, and much to the annoyance of the elitist golfing community — but to the delight of fans worldwide where his exploits became folklore.
He shot the worst round in Open history, but became a folk hero in the process.
Based on the remarkable true story of a man who embodied the ethos of “everyone deserves a shot at glory”, “The Phantom of the Open” is the extraordinary story of an ordinary man who — with the encouragement of his family — made history by reminding us all to dream big, no matter how it turns out.
“Cheerful! Crowd-pleasing!” — The Spectator
“When Rylance is on screen everyone’s a winner! Thrillingly unpredictable!” — London Evening Standard
“Mark Rylance scores! Terrific!” — Time Out
“A biographical comedy with an unlikely hero that will both make you laugh and cry.” — Daily Mirror
“The Phantom of the Open” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre July 22-28. Showtimes will be 4 p.m. on Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 22, 26 and 27; 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 24; and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Thursday, July 23 and 28.
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.