Welcome to the 17th AIFF!

The 2008 Arizona International Film Festival: Over 80 films representing 15 countries will be featured in Arizona's longest running and largest Festival. So circle April 17-27 on your calendars and bookmark this website for the latest in festival information.

Check Us Out at Other Sites
Did you know that the Festival has other online homes? www.myspace.com/arizonafilmfestival provides a more personal look at the Festival through its MySpace videos, pictures, and eclectic friends list. Visit the Festival blog for in-depth reviews of some of the movies being shown at this year's festival! And don't forget to visit www.myspace.com/indiecoyote, mascot Indie's very own MySpace page.

Tucson Welcomes Festival Filmmakers
Out-of-town visitors have a variety of choices when it comes to resting their heads after an exciting day at the Festival! The Historical Hotel Congress, which housed and aided in the arrest of infamous bank robber John Dillinger, The Hotel Arizona, a hub for all things downtown Tucson, and The Inn Suites, where cinematic legend John Wayne used to stay! Each hotel features discounted rates for anyone attending the Arizona International Film Festival. Click here for more information.

Opening Night at the Fox Theatre
HOLLYWOOD CHINESE, winner of the Taipei Golden Horse for Best Documentary, will open the 2008 Arizona International Film Festival on Thursday, April 17 at 7:30pm at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Tucson. HOLLYWOOD CHINESE is a captivating revelation on a little-known chapter of cinema: the Chinese in American feature films. From the first Chinese American film produced in 1916, to Ang Lee's triumphant Brokeback Mountain almost a century later, HOLLYWOOD CHINESE brings together a fascinating portrait of actors, directors, writers, and iconic images to show how theChinese have been imagined in movies. Award-winning filmmaker Arthur Dong will introduce the film. Visit www.hollywoodchinese.com for more information on this award-winning film.

Opening Night at The Screening Room
FATHER G AND THE HOMEBOYS will open the Cine Chicano program on Friday, April 18th at 8:00pm at The Screening Room in downtown Tucson. This socially conscious documentary details the efforts of Father Greg Boyle in helping to redirect the troubled lives of four gang-bangers living in the battle scarred area of Boyle Heights. Filmmakers John Bohm and Pete Tapia will introduce the film. Visit www.fathergandthehomeboysmovie.com for more information.

Festival Talking Points
Join us throughout the Festival for lively discussions on diverse topics ranging from endangered languages to memory loss to filmmaking in Tucson. Click here for more information on panels and workshops.

Congratulations to the Reel Frontier Finalists
The Reel Frontier Film & Video Competition celebrates and rewards excellence and innovation in independent media arts expression. Animation, documentaries, comedy, indie features, experimental films and much more will be part of this cinematic mix.
Click here for the 2008 Reel Frontier finalists

IndieYouth Films Selected

Congratulations to the young filmmakers selected to screen at the 2008 Arizona International Film Festival.
Click here for the list of IndieYouth films.

Arizona Welcomes Chinese Student Films
Recent student films from Beijing Film Academy and Peking University, Beijing, provide an authentic look at contemporary Chinese cinema. The Chinese Student Film Showcase is a unique opportunity to see the work of young artists as they interpret their world. Click here for more information.

2008 Festival Chairpersons
Richard and Shauna Oseran, owners of the Historic Hotel Congress and downtown champions, are delighted to serve as the Honorary Chairpersons for the 2008 Festival. "Every April, the Festival beacons to the international film community that Tucson, Arizona is the place to screen independent films."

Festival Partners with Alzheimer's Association, Desert Southwest Chapter
A great way to experience the Festival is with the Don't Forget Pass sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter. The $50.00 pass provides admission to many of the Festival's films and events. The Don't Forget Pass can be purchased online at www.hotelcongress.com. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter in memory of the late, Dr. Owen C. Williams.

Visual Arts Exhibits
While waiting for a film screening, visit the visual art exhibits that are part of the Festival. Click here for more information.