Ring in the 31st Anniversary Season of the Sedona International Film Festival early this year in a special evening featuring big band music, dancing, food and fun! The occasion is the “A Big Band Ball” Gala Event on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Enchantment Resort, presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. The evening will feature spectacular big band music and dancing by the Swingtips, along with a live auction, raffle, a decadent dinner and much more! Come join in the fun and festivities and celebrate 31 years of our signature film festival event. Kick off the evening reception with “A Taste of the Verde Valley” featuring fine wines from local vineyards. The tasting will be a prelude to a sumptuous three-course seasonal dinner prepared by Enchantment Resort. The evening’s entertainment will feature the Swingtips. Everyone who has ever seen the Swingtips perform knows how much fun it is to be a part of the band's live, interactive shows.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to welcome back GRAMMY® nominated recording artist David Arkenstone for a very special holiday performance — “A Winter’s Eve Concert with David Arkenstone & Friends” — live on stage at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on Friday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Join David Arkenstone and his band of virtuoso musicians for this lively candlelit concert of beloved holiday classics “reimagined,” blending world music, Celtic, orchestral, new age, and neo-classical crossover. David has plenty of surprises in store for this performance, including the debut of songs from his epic new release Quest For The Runestone. David has always believed that music can uniquely enrich our lives and ignite our imaginations, and he performs his evocative songs to take you and your family and friends on a one-of-a-kind holiday journey.

Meet the filmmakers at this special debut. Director/producer Gary Lundgren and producer Anne Lundgren will be in Sedona for the premiere event and will host a Q&A discussion following the screening. “Above the Trees” stars Danielle Kelly, Julian Remulla, Luis Rodriguez, Danforth Comins and Barret O'Brien. It was filmed on location in the Rogue Valley. When a good man is assaulted and left in a serious coma, his best friend and local boxer is charged with the crime. The story follows a mosaic of people linked to the tragedy, while the criminal trial unfolds in Jackson County. "In ‘Above the Trees’, Gary Lundgren — the Ashland director of ‘Calvin Marshall’ (2009) and ‘Phoenix Oregon’ (2019) — traces a tragedy’s aftershocks and twists of fate. The crime drama depicts the steamrolling momentum of the legal system and shines even brighter light on the fragile human lives held in its sway.” — Chance Solem-Pfeifer, Willamette Week

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to join theaters around the world for a global premiere event: “Average Joe” showing Oct. 11-17 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. High school football coach Joe Kennedy had no other choice but to fight. A childhood in foster care followed by 20 years in the Marine Corps was nothing compared to his biggest battle: his commitment to stand for God publicly by taking a knee in prayer after each game. When he was fired, Joe and his wife Denise knew this battle for religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the rights of all Americans was one they would have to fight — no matter the cost. From the director and producers of “God’s Not Dead” and the producers of “The Blind” comes “Average Joe”.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present “Charu Suri: A Sonic Journey Through India” — featuring Peter Sterling on harp and Joe Lastie from Preservation Hall on drums — at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. Join multi award-winning pianist and composer, Charu Suri, in a unique concert featuring her signature "raga jazz" style blending Indian ragas and jazz. Charu became the first Indian born jazz artist at Carnegie Hall and will perform there for the fifth time in 2025. Join her in an unforgettable sonic journey in Sedona with harpist Peter Sterling and legendary drummer Joe Lastie from Preservation Hall in New Orleans. Charu's work has been performed by Yo Yo Ma, Steve Gadd, John Patitucci and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, among others. “Charu Suri: A Sonic Journey Through India” will take the stage at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door.

In honor and celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), “Coco” returns to the big screen in Sedona on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the return one-night-only engagement at 4 p.m. at the festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Feel free to dress in costume — if you wish — and come enjoy the festivities of Dia de los Muertos with this special screening with Day of the Dead treats, food and fun — all included in the ticket price! Prizes will be given for the best costumes. “Coco” won two Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song for “Remember Me”. About the Film Despite his family's baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events.

For journalist Judith Rochant (Anaïs Demoustier) the assignment to interview renowned artist Salvador Dalí is a great career opportunity — if only he would agree to sit still and answer a single question. What begins as a 15-minute conversation blows up into a bonafide cinematographic documentary portrait, provided the world’s most enormous cameras are available to film it. As Judith’s interview is delayed, detoured, disrupted, and deranged by Dalí’s inexhaustible self-regard, the journalist finds herself becoming the subject. The legendary painter’s artistry and ego know no bounds, and “Daaaaaalí!” dutifully casts no less than five actors (Edouard Baer, Jonathan Cohen, Giles Lellouche, Pio Marmaï, and Didier Flamand) as Salvador Dalí in this prismatic portrait. The prolific Quentin Dupieux’s latest comedy is an exercise in dream logic and surrealist homage, with the rug pulled out from under you again and again before you even manage to get up off the floor.

Receiving a ten-minute feature on national television is unheard of for an independent artist; but that is exactly what happened for this extraordinary local Sedona violinist. Sedona International Film Festival Theater is thrilled to present, Tyler Carson —Fiddler on the Rock — live in concert on Thursday, Oct. 24. Along with his One-Man Symphony 'hits' ranging from originals to popular covers by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Taylor Swift and more, Carson will include rare repertoire composed for and debuted at Pitanga Hall in Auroville, India. Join the wave of excitement as his show evolves to new heights this fall with a national TV feature on CBS Mornings. Today Carson's music centers around a live recording device called a 'looper' which allows him to create multiple layers of violin and sound. He uses additional pedals to create bass and rhythm parts while weaving in a rare 19th century Stroh or horn violin, all to create textures most people have never even considered possible

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with Theatrikos Theatre Company to bring movies to Downtown Flagstaff! This series continues on Wednesday, Oct. 16 with the Flagstaff premiere of “Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story” at 7:00 p.m. at Theatrikos Theatre Company. “Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story” is a documentary feature from director and producer Barnaby Thompson. 2023 was the 50th anniversary of Noel Coward’s death so it seems the right moment to look back at his extraordinary life. The film features Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Peter O’Toole, Harold Pinter, Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall, Michael Caine, and Lucille Ball. It is narrated by Alan Cumming and Rupert Everett is the voice of Noel Coward. Adam Lambert has recorded a new version of the title track, which has already had over a million hits on Spotify.

Sedona International Film Festival presents the Great Art on Screen series with “Florence and the Uffizi Gallery”. The film will premiere in Sedona on Tuesday and Sunday, Oct. 15 and 20 at the festival’s Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. Great Art on Screen is a series of documentaries featuring an in-depth look at the most extraordinary and groundbreaking art masters of their time. “Florence and the Uffizi Gallery” is a journey into the Italian Renaissance through the most beautiful, representative works of art of the period. It is a totally immersive and unique experience and allows the audience to see, listen, feel and savor the most outstanding and celebrated breeding ground of creativity in the history of art.

In 2016 filmmaker/photographer Pete McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko set out on a 750-mile journey on foot through the entire length of the Grand Canyon. From the outset, the challenge was far more than they bargained for. More people have stood on the moon than have completed a continuous through hike of the Canyon. McBride and Fedarko took a sectional approach, achieving a feat that many adventurers have taken decades to complete. Others have lost their lives trying. But their quest was more than just an endurance test – it was also a way to draw attention to the unprecedented threats facing one of our most revered landscapes. Throughout their passage, McBride and Fedarko encountered an astonishingly diverse and powerful landscape, rich in history, that is now facing perhaps the gravest crisis in the 100-year history of the Grand Canyon National Park

The Sedona International Film Festival presents the world premiere of “Jack Hardy’s Guide to Blackjack” on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. All tickets are FREE OF CHARGE. Writer, director and producer David Dufour will host the screening and Q&A discussion, which will also feature local cast members and crew. A brain-damaged father's love leads him out of madness toward his conflicted daughter as she struggles to understand the disaster that shattered their lives. Reality, love and the afterlife intertwine in this surreal psychological mystery where political taboos and complacency are not in the cards. Sometimes bordering on the experimental, this innovative film is sure to challenge assumptions through unexpected storylines and superimposed realities. Featuring talent from Sedona, Flagstaff, California, Colorado and Washington state, “Jack Hardy's Guide to Blackjack” took six years to make. It was inspired by observing human nature at blackjack

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to join theaters around the world for a global theatrical event: “Kiss Me, Kate: The Musical” on Sunday, Nov. 17 and Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. Adrian Dunbar and Broadway royalty Stephanie J. Block lead a stellar cast in a sizzling new 5-star production of “Kiss Me, Kate”, filmed live at the Barbican in London especially for the big screen. A glorious Golden Age spectacular, Cole Porter’s legendary musical comedy has backstage shenanigans, Shakespearean sonnets and singing gangsters – not to mention a romance that’s just too darn hot – and a full-scale orchestra performing the show tune classics Brush Up Your Shakespeare, Too Darn Hot, Always True To You (In my Fashion) and Tom, Dick or Harry. A simple love story about two people who just can’t stand each other, “Kiss Me Kate” is unmissable all-zinging entertainment with great songs, hot dancing, smart gags and glorious characters.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with award-winning surround sound composer and producer Koz Mraz for a “Latin A Go-Go” Surround Sound Experience on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. You will be blown away by this limited dark room 5.1 Surround Sound Music Experience in Sedona’s best sound system, the Mary D. Fisher Theater. This “Latin A Go-Go” dark room 5.1 surround sound experience will feature the passion of Spain and South America. Fiery Flamenco, bold Brazilian beats and passionate modern rhythms include the music of Sedona’s own Estaban, Carlos Santana, Steve Stevens (Guitarist for Michael Jackson, Billy Idol, Robert Palmer), Ron Benise, and much more. The experience culminates in a riveting and visually stunning musical video that embodies the passion of Andalusia Spain.

A group of New York City psychics conduct deeply intimate readings for their clients, revealing a kaleidoscope of loneliness, connection, and healing in “Look Into My Eyes”. From acclaimed filmmaker Lana Wilson (Miss Americana) comes a candid, often funny, and surprisingly moving portrait of New York City psychics and the everyday people who consult them, seeking confirmation, comfort, or closure in the welfare and whereabouts of parents, pets and absent friends. Wilson settles her gaze on the private lives of seven unconventional healers; creative types searching for solace and struggling to make dreams come true in a city of 8 million people. They might not always have the answers — but in “Look Into My Eyes”, sometimes the connection is comfort enough.

“Lover Of Men” examines the intimate life of America’s most consequential president, Abraham Lincoln. As told by preeminent Lincoln scholars and never-before-seen photographs and letters, the film details Lincoln’s romantic relationships with men. “Lover Of Men” widens its lens into the history of human sexual fluidity and focuses on the profound differences between sexual mores of the nineteenth century and those we hold today. The film fills in an important missing piece of American history and challenges the audience to consider why we hold such a limited view of human sexuality. “Lover Of Men” is not only an exploration of gender roles and sexual identity, but also serves as an examination of American intolerance.

“Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story” is a documentary feature from director and producer Barnaby Thompson. 2023 was the 50th anniversary of Noel Coward’s death so it seems the right moment to look back at his extraordinary life. The film features Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Peter O’Toole, Harold Pinter, Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall, Michael Caine, and Lucille Ball. It is narrated by Alan Cumming and Rupert Everett is the voice of Noel Coward. Adam Lambert has recorded a new version of the title track, which has already had over a million hits on Spotify. Noël Coward grew up in poverty and left school when he was only nine years old. He was queer in a very straight world. And yet by the age of 30, he was the highest paid writer in the world, and a star on the Broadway stage.

The City of Sedona Arts and Culture division is excited to announce the celebration of the Mayor’s Arts Awards. This signature event will take place Saturday, November 2 from 6-8 pm at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, located at 2030 West Highway 89A in Sedona. The Mayor’s Arts Awards recognizes four categories for exceptional contributions in the development and success of the arts in our community. We are excited to celebrate the 2024 recipients that will be honored. This includes Winnie Muench for Individual, Sedona Visual Artists Coalition for Business/Organization, Chamber Music Sedona for Education and Susan Kliewer for Lifetime Achievement. Muench, Founder and Executive Director of Sedona Chamber Ballet will be honored for her vision and commitment enriching the arts in Sedona for over a decade. She has brought world class dance performances to our community, as well as nurtured and impacted over 250 students directing The Nutcracker performances.

American soprano Angel Blue headlines as the Ethiopian princess torn between love and country in a new production of Verdi’s Aida by Michael Mayer that brings audiences inside the towering pyramids and gilded tombs of ancient Egypt with intricate projections and dazzling animations. Romanian-Hungarian mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi also stars as Aida’s rival, Amneris, alongside Polish tenor Piotr Beczala as the soldier Radamès—completing opera’s greatest love triangle. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium to conduct the January 25 performance, which will be transmitted live from the Metropolitan Opera stage to cinemas worldwide.

Following a string of awe-inspiring Live in HD performances, Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Leonore, the faithful wife who risks everything to save her husband from the clutches of tyranny in Beethoven’s Fidelio. Completing the distinguished cast is British tenor David Butt Philip as the political prisoner Florestan, Polish bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny as the villainous Don Pizarro, veteran German bass René Pape as the jailer Rocco, Chinese soprano Ying Fang and German tenor Magnus Dietrich as the young Marzelline and Jaquino, and Danish bass Stephen Milling as the principled Don Fernando. Susanna Mälkki conducts the March 15 performance, which will be transmitted live from the Met stage to cinemas worldwide.