The Phoenix Film Festival returns Thursday, March 27 – Sunday, April 6 at Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theatre celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Originating in 2001 by local filmmakers, this 11-day celebration of over 250 films will once again welcome filmmakers from around the globe to present another year of diverse films. Additional happenings will include but are not limited to: the Party Pavilion, Industry Night, Film Prom, and Kids’ Day.
Tickets and Festival Passes for the 2025 Phoenix Film Festival are now on sale and can be purchased either at the festival’s website at www.phoenixfilmfestival.com or calling the film festival office at 480-513-3195.
Pricing for the tickets and festival passes are as follows:
Single Ticket – $17
Flex Pass – $50
Super Flex Pass – $130
Festival Pass – $225
VIP Pass – $300
Platinum Pass – $350
Opening Night Film!
The 2025 Phoenix Festival will commence with its annual Opening Night Premiere Event on Thursday, March 27 and will feature a special screening of THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND.
Directed by James Griffiths, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.
Grab your Opening Night tickets now for $60 per ticket or with the purchase of a Platinum Pass for $350!
In addition to the screening, tickets to the Opening Night Premiere Event will included access to the Party Pavilion. Located directly outside Harkins Theatres Scottsdale 101, the Party Pavilion is a lively celebration filled with live music, a silent auction, and complimentary cocktails and food tastings from top local restaurants. The Opening Night Premiere Event benefits the educational initiatives of the Phoenix Film Foundation. This means you can enjoy the festivities and savor delicious food while also contributing to a worthy cause!
‘PLATOON’ REUNION EVENT TO FEATURE DISCUSSION AND Q&A WITH OLIVER STONE
On Saturday, March 29th at 7:00 PM, the Phoenix Film Festival will host a special reunion event dedicated to Oliver Stone and the 1986 classic “Platoon.” After screening the movie, attendees will have the opportunity to partake in a panel discussion and Q&A session featuring writer/director Oliver Stone along Capt. Dale Dye (Technical Advisor / “Capt. Harris”), Keith David (“King”), Corey Glove (“Francis”), Paul Sanchez (“Doc”), Mark Ebenhoch (Assistant Military Technical Advisor) plus others.
In December 1986, the groundbreaking film “Platoon” burst onto the cinema scene, earning a perfect four-star rating from the legendary film critic Roger Ebert, setting the stage for its phenomenal success. The film quickly captivated audiences and critics alike, securing eight Oscar nominations and clinching four awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for the cinematic legend Oliver Stone. This electrifying journey culminates at the Phoenix Film Festival, where Oliver Stone will be honored with the prestigious Copper Wing Tribute Award at the grand finale of this premiere event. Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of film history!
Oliver Stone, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director, won his first Oscar (Best Adapted Screenplay) for “Midnight Express” in 1978. Following that, he won Best Director at the Oscars for “Platoon” (1986) and “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989). Stone went on to create several hit films, including The Doors (1991), JFK (1991), Natural Born Killers (1994), and Nixon (1995).
Featured Films – Not to Be Missed!
WALTZING WITH BRANDO
Cast: Billy Zane, Jon Heder, Camille Razat, Alaina Huffman, Richard Dreyfuss, Tia Carrere, Rob Corddry, James Jagger
Synopsis: Movie star Marlon Brando recruits a Los Angeles architect to build the world’s first ecologically perfect retreat on a small, uninhabited island in Tahiti.
Screening Saturday, March 29th at 2:45pm
**Billy Zane will be attending and participating in a Q&A following this screening.**
THE FRIEND
Cast: Naomi Watts and Bill Murray
Synopsis: A story of love, friendship, grief and healing, about a writer who adopts a Great Dane that belonged to a late friend and mentor.
Screening Sunday, March 30th at 7:00pm
ON SWIFT HORSES
Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, and Sasha Calle
Synopsis: Muriel and her husband Lee are beginning a bright new life in California when he returns from the Korean War. But their newfound stability is upended by the arrival of Lees charismatic brother, Julius, a wayward gambler with a secret past. A dangerous love triangle quickly forms. When Julius takes off in search of the young card cheat hes fallen for, Muriels longing for something more propels her into a secret life of her own, gambling on racehorses and exploring a love she never dreamed possible.
Screening Tuesday, April 1st at 7:00pm
JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE
Cast: Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson
Synopsis: Agathe is a hopelessly clumsy yet charming young woman who works in the legendary Shakespeare & Co. bookshop in Paris, while she dreams of being a successful writer, and of experiencing love akin to a Jane Austen novel, she finds herself desperately single and plagued by writer’s block. When Agathes best friend gets her invited to the Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in England, she finally has her Jane Austen momentand is caught in a very unexpected romantic triangle. Agathe must let go of her insecurities to decide what she really wants for herself, and to achieve her romantic and professional dreams.
Screening Thursday, April 3rd at 7:00pm
HOLLAND
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Gael García Bernal, Jude Hill
Synopsis: In this wildly unpredictable thriller, Nicole Kidman is the meticulous Nancy Vandergroot, a teacher and homemaker whose picture-perfect life with her community pillar husband and son in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan tumbles into a twisted tale. Nancy and her friendly colleague become suspicious of a secret, only to discover nothing in their lives is what it seems.
Screening Friday, April 4th at 7:00pm
THE STAMP THIEF
Cast: James Felix Cook, Laura Putney, Betsy Zajko
Synopsis: Part detective story, part heist film, part untold history, The Stamp Thief investigates a tale dating back to the Holocaust: that a mysterious Nazi stole priceless stamp collections from concentration camp victims and buried the stolen stamps in a small town in Poland. Embarking on a real-life Argo-like adventure, one-time Seinfeld producer Gary Gilbert sets out to confirm the story and recover the stamps. His tactic: a fake movie shoot. His goal: to return the stamps to their rightful owners, hopefully delivering a small measure of justice more than 70 years after the Holocaust.
Screening Monday, March 31st at 7:00pm
PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL HOSTS KIDS’ DAY MARCH 29 – FREE EVENT FOR FAMILIES
Attention all families: The Phoenix Film Festival is thrilled to announce Kids’ Day will be returning on March 29th, 2025 at the Party Pavilion Tent, located outside Harkins Scottsdale 101, from 10am to 3pm. All are welcome to attend this FREE family event! Kids’ Day is a perfect way to get the whole family involved in the art of film with a blockbuster lineup of age-appropriate, hands-on activity stations focusing on different aspects of film production. This year, families will have the opportunity to participate in:
Acting Station: Unleash your inner actor in this chance to shine in the limelight!
Animation Workshop: Discover the fundamental basics of the exciting art of animation!
Green Screen Photo Booth: Step into your favorite movie scene through green screen technology!
Makeup and Face Painting Station: Be transformed using the power of cinematic makeup!
Red Carpet: Experience the thrill of stardom as you strike a pose on a dazzling “Hollywood Premiere” red carpet!
Storyboard Workshop: Delve into the art of filmmaking by creating your very own illustrated storyboards
The festival will also be featuring two incredible family-friendly movies, “The Legend of Ochi” and “A Sloth Tale.”