The Arizona International Film Festival is the oldest and longest running independent film festival in Arizona. Launched in 1990, Tucson welcomed the first annual Arizona International Film Festival, a four-day event held in November at the newly restored Temple of Music and Art. And with its premiere, AIFF set a high standard for festivals in our beautiful state. Audiences were treated to the surrealist animation of The Brothers Quay and transported back in time by the 1927 feature Wings, with an original score performed live by Jeffrey Haskell.
Staying true to its mission of showcasing independent film, the Arizona International Film Festival has exhibited over 3,000 films representing 100 countries to over 168,000 patrons in southern Arizona.
Celebrating the 30th edition of the festival, AIFF selected more exciting and innovative films from around the world for Arizona audiences. Along with this amazing milestone Independent Film Arizona has joined with the Arizona Film Festival not only as a sponsor but also a partner to highlight the talented filmmakers and crew members within our state. IFA & AIFF hope this is only the beginning of what will become a lasting relationship.
Our new indie filmmaker collation includes Independent Film Arizona lead panels, a celebration of 30 years of Arizona filmmakers at Hotel Congress, and discounted tickets for IFA members! With a diverse line-up of films, the Selection Committee has released their selection of films including 30 features and 80 shorts from 21 countries for screening at the 30th Arizona International Film Festival. The Selection Committee praised the quality and diversity of the record number of films submitted this year. Congratulations filmmakers!
Buy your tickets today too celebrate 30 years of Independent Filmmaking Showcased here in Southern Arizona!
Set in important cultural heritage sites in New Mexico and Arizona, Canyon Del Muerto, portrays the true story of North America’s first female archaeologist, Ann Axtell Morris. Ann worked side by side with the Navajo in the 1920’s in Canyon De Chelly, Arizona to uncover North America’s earliest civilization, the Anasazi Basket makers.
“The story’s central premise is that archaeology not only serves as a catalyst to the preservation of history, culture, and language of the Navajo people, but is the great unifier of humankind. Film, much like archaeology, has the incredible ability to bridge cultures and bring people together to be educated and enlightened by great stories.” – Coerte Voorhees, writer/director/producer of Canyon Del Muerto.
Canyon Del Muerto was produced by First Line Films and the Navajo Nation during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 with the support of multiple local Navajo chapters, businesses, and land users based in and around the two central locations of the film; Canyon De Chelly, Arizona and Red Rock National Monument, New Mexico. Most importantly the Navajo Nation provided exclusive and unprecedented access to the cultural heritage archaeological sites within Canyon De Chelly, many of which have never been filmed before.
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