Film buffs will gather at Harkins Camelview 5 Theatre for this year’s Scottsdale International Film Festival starting on Oct. 2 and running through Oct. 6. And the cosmopolitan affair will be themed “Around the World in Five Days,” as 29 films from 25 countries, including Hollywood Premieres and Indie Arthouse flicks are set to air. The festival gets better and better each year with nine Oscar contenders from the latest Academy Awards set to be featured. Also, check out the expanded schedule on Saturday and Sunday mornings, along with the many membership benefits, discounts and two-for-one deals available for this year’s festival.

The festival kicks off with a fabulous after-film party at Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill on Friday from 9:30 p.m. to midnight at the upstairs bar and outside patio. Appetizers and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. The event will also feature a no-host, cash bar for cocktails.

Help Fund the Festival and Their Cause

The Scottsdale International Film Festival’s mission is to be the undisputed Arizona leader in the use of film to foster a meaningful understanding of the world’s cultures, lifestyles, religions and ethnicities. And every time you shop at any of 700+ online stores in the iGive network, a portion of the money you spend benefits the Scottsdale International Film Festival. iGive is a free service and you’ll never pay more when you reach a store through this program. In fact, smart shoppers will enjoy iGive’s repository of coupons, free shipping deals and sales.

Start iGiving at www.iGive.com and www.iSearchiGive.com.

Schedule:

Click here for the 2009 Scottsdale International Film Festival Timetable. 

Tickets:

Tickets can be purchased online before Oct. 1 by 5 p.m. After you must purchase tickets at Harkens Camelview 5 Theatre.

Pass Descriptions:

Opening Night Party Pass: The Opening Night Party occurs after the film from 9:30 p.m. to midnight at the upstairs bar and outside patio. Appetizers and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. There will be a no-host, cash bar for all alcohol.

VIP Full-Festival Pass: One VIP Festival Pass allows bearer into all Festival films and the Opening Night Party. VIP pass holders receive priority position in lines and are admitted into the theatre first. However, in the event of a sellout, no one is guaranteed a seat after the film has started. The VIP Pass is only available for purchase before the Festival and not available during the Festival. Limited number available on first-come, first-served basis.

Build-A-Five Pass: Five tickets for $45. Save $5. Only available for purchase before the Festival starts.

Build-A-Ten Pass: Ten tickets for $90. Save $10. Only available for purchase before the Festival starts.

About the Festival: The Festival has offered to its audience of 42,000 attendees more than 225 films from an impressive 51 nations around the globe and from countries as diverse as Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Slovenia, and Tanzania.

The inaugural Scottsdale International Film Festival was scheduled to commence on September 28, 2001. No one knew at the time how the events of 9/11 would impact the fledgling event. Much to the surprise of the Festival, the community turned out in force at double the seating capacity.

“The town clamored to embrace diversity rather than run from it. Attendees perceived the Festival as a necessary looking glass into other cultures and ways of life.”

The Scottsdale International Film Festival is the only event in the community that specifically focuses on foreign film. This Festival routinely attracts the official Best Foreign Language Film Academy Awards selections. Q&A sessions with directors and cast members are a patron favorite at the Scottsdale Festival.

Past high profile participants in audience discussions were Oscar nominee Mike Leigh, Golden Globe Winner and Oscar nominee Lesley Ann Warren, Seinfeld Aluma Patrick Warburton, and Oscar nominee Jennifer Tilly. The talents of cinematic scholars and even film critics from our own community regularly participate in moderated discussions.

For more information on the Festival, please visit www.scottsdalefilmfestival.com.

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