Lisa Cooling

IN A WORLD where the cultural scene can sometimes feel as dry as the surrounding desert, comes a welcome reprieve. A festival – a FILM festival. A festival to quell the inspirational drought and refresh the way Valley denizens feel about independent film. And it’s coming to a theater near you…this April!

With the mere mention of Arizona triggering thoughts of high noon gunfights and John Wayne, it is clear that the looks and locales of those movies have made an impact on the world’s collective psyche. But the value of the state’s predictably clear weather, low production costs, and proximity to Los Angeles has attracted Hollywood. And they’re not here to shoot just Westerns anymore.