May 2024

For Love & Life: No Ordinary 
Campaign

Directed by: Christopher Burke  

Synopsis: FOR LOVE & LIFE: NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN is an emotionally gripping documentary illustrating the power of love and determination in the face of adversity.  The film follows the life of Brian Wallach and his wife Sandra in the aftermath of his ALS diagnosis at age 37.  Exemplifying bravery, inspiration and hope, Brian and Sandra, continue to fight against a broken system for their own future, while seeking to build a brighter one for countless others.

May 2024

Resistance - They Fought Back

Directed by: Paula Apsell, Kirk Wolfinger

Synopsis: “People have this myth stuck in their heads that Jews went to their deaths like sheep to the slaughter. But this is where the real story begins...Jews did not go as sheep to the slaughter... They fought back.” Professor Richard Freund We’ve all heard of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, but most people have no idea how widespread and prevalent Jewish resistance to Nazi barbarism was. Instead, it’s widely believed “Jews went to their deaths like sheep to the slaughter.” Filmed in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Israel, and the U.S., Resistance – They Fought Back provides a much-needed corrective to this myth of Jewish passivity. There were uprisings in ghettos large and small, rebellions in death camps, and thousands of Jews fought Nazis in the forests. Everywhere in Eastern Europe, Jews waged campaigns of non-violent resistance against the Nazis.

May 2024

On the Adamant

Directed by: Nicolas Philibert

Synopsis: The Adamant is a one-of-a-kind place: a floating refuge on the Seine River in the heart of Paris that offers day programs for adults with mental health disorders. Its attendees come from across the city and are offered care that grounds them in time and space, helping them achieve recovery and stability. Through a blend of therapy, education, and culture rooted in music and the arts, the Adamant offers a hopeful vision of what a humanistic approach to mental health care could look like.

The community on the boat is thoughtfully constructed and maintained by both the staff and the people receiving care, each group treated with the same respect and dignity. Their meetings and conversations reveal the camaraderie and collective humanity of a group of people whose similarities far outweigh their differences. This affecting, enlightening documentary from nonfiction master Nicolas Philibert (To Be and to Have, In the Land of the Deaf) invites viewers to come aboard the Adamant and witness the transformational power of art and community.

April 2024

Phoenix Film Festival

Phoenix Film Society membership includes tickets and fun perks for the annual Phoenix Film Festival each year!

This year’s 11 day celebration of film included over 270 film screenings, filmmaking panels, parties, student workshops and much more all at the Harkins Scottsdale 101.

It’s the perfect place to find your new favorite movie.

March 2024

Wicked Little Letters

Directed by: Thea Sharrock

Starring: Olivia Colman, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Gemma Jones, Timothy Spall, Jessie Buckley, Eileen Atkins

Synopsis: When people in Littlehampton--including conservative local Edith--begin to receive letters full of hilarious profanities, rowdy Irish migrant Rose is charged with the crime. Suspecting that something is amiss, the town's women investigate.

February 2024

Problemista

Directed by: Julio Torres

Starring: Catalina Saavedra, Julio Torres, Greta Lee, Tilda Swinton, RZA, Isabella Rossellini, James Scully

Synopsis: Alejandro is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream.

February 2024

The Monk and the Gun

Directed by: Pawo Choyning Dorji

Starring: Tandin Wangchuk, Tandin Phubz, Pema Zangmo Sherpa, Tandin Sonam, Choeying Jatsho, Deki Lhamo, Harry Einhorn

Synopsis: In 2006, the Kingdom of Bhutan is about become a democracy. As the unexpected transition approaches, government officials organize a mock election as a training exercise. In the town of Ura, an old lama orders a monk to get a pair of weapons to face the imminent change in the kingdom. Meanwhile, an American antique weapons collector lands in Bhutan in search of a valuable rifle that falls into the monk's hands.

January 2024

Driving Madeleine

Directed by: Christian Carion

Starring: Line Renaud, Dany Boon, Alice Isaaz, Jérémie Laheurte, Gwendoline Hamon, Julie Delarme, Hadriel Roure, Thomas Alden, Christophe Rossignon, Elie Kaempfen, Christian Carion, Léonie Carion, Philippe Beautier, Meryl Mourey, Nadir Legrand, Sylvie Audcoeur, Tom Hudson, Juliette Steimer

Synopsis: Madeleine, 92 years old, calls a taxi to take her to the retirement home where she will be living. Charles, a disillusioned driver with a tender heart, agrees to drive by the places that affected Madeleine's life. Through the streets of Paris, her extraordinary past is revealed. They don't know it yet, but they will forge a friendship during this drive that will change their lives forever.

January 2024

The Zone of Interest

Directed by: Jonathan Glazer

Starring: Sandra Hüller, Christian Friedel,
Freya Kreutzkam, Ralph Herforth, Max Beck, Ralf Zillmann, Imogen Kogge, Nele Ahrensmeier, Marie Rosa Tietjen, Christopher Manavi, Stephanie Petrowitz, Julia Polaczek, Johann Karthaus, Zuzanna Kobiela, Daniel Holzberg, Lilli Falk, Sascha Maaz, Luis Noah Witte

Synopsis: The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.

January 2024

Occupied City

Directed by: Steve McQueen 

Starring: Melanie Hyams

Synopsis: The past collides with our precarious present in Steve McQueen’s bravura documentary Occupied City, informed by the book Atlas of an Occupied City (Amsterdam 1940-1945) written by Bianca Stigter. McQueen creates two interlocking portraits: a door-to-door excavation of the Nazi occupation that still haunts his adopted city, and a vivid journey through the last years of pandemic and protest. What emerges is both devastating and life-affirming, an expansive meditation on memory, time, and where we’re headed.

January 2024

Four Daughters

Directed by: Kaouther Ben Hania

Starring: Eya Chikhaoui, Tayssir Chikhaoui, Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, Olfa Hamrouni, Nour Karoui, Majd Mastoura, Ichrak Matar, Hind Sabri

Synopsis: A riveting exploration of rebellion, memory, and sisterhood, Four Daughters reconstructs the story of Olfa Hamrouni and her four daughters, unpacking a complex family history through intimate interviews and performance to examine how the Tunisian woman’s two eldest daughters were radicalized. Casting professional actresses as the missing eldest daughters Ghofrane and Rahma, along with acclaimed Egyptian-Tunisian actress Hend Sabri as Olfa, director Kaouther Ben Hania restages pivotal moments in the family’s life, interwoven with confessions and reflections from Olfa and younger daughters Eya and Tayssir that capture moments of joy, loss, violence, and heartache. Four Daughters is a compelling portrait of five women and a unique and ambitious work of nonfiction storytelling that questions the nature of memory, the weight of inherited trauma, and the ties that bind mother and daughter.

December 2023

The Boys in the Boat

Directed by: George Clooney

Starring: Chris Diamantopoulos, Callum Turner, James Wolk, Sam Strike, Tom Varey, Hadley Robinson, Luke Slattery, Thomas Elms, Jack Mulhern, Bruce Herbelin-Earle, Wil Coban, Joel Edgerton, Courtney Henggeler

Synopsis: The Boys in the Boat is based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction novel written by Daniel James Brown. The film, directed by George Clooney, is about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.

December 2023

Our Son

Directed by: Bill Oliver

Cast: Luke Evans, Billy Porter, Christopher Woodley, Phylicia Rashad, Andrew Rannells, Robin Weigert, Kate Burton, Isaac Powell, Michael Countryman, David Pittu, Cassandra Freeman, Gabby Beans, Liza J. Bennett, Nuala Cleary, Francis Jue

Synopsis: Nicky (Luke Evans), a book publisher devoted to his work, lives with his husband Gabriel (Billy Porter), a former actor and stay-at-home dad, and their eight-year-old son, Owen. Gabriel loves Owen more than anything; Nicky loves Gabriel more than anything. Despite appearances, Gabriel has been dissatisfied with their marriage for some time and files for divorce, leading to a custody battle that forces both of them to confront the changing reality of their love for each other and for their son.

November 2023

Dream Scenario

Directed by: Kristoffer Borgli

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Dylan Gelula, Dylan Baker, Lily Gao, Kate Berlant, Tim Meadows, Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera

Synopsis: Hapless family man Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom, in this wickedly entertaining comedy from writer-director Kristoffer Borgli (Sick of Myself) and producer Ari Aster.

November 2023

The Persian Version

Directed by: Maryam Keshavarz

Cast: Bijan Daneshmand, Shervin Alenabi, Layla Mohammadi, Niousha Noor, Kamand Shafieisabet, Bella Warda

Synopsis: Coming from two countries at odds with each other, Iranian-American Leila (Layla Mohammadi) strives to find balance and embrace her opposing cultures, while boldly challenging the labels society is so quick to project upon her. When her family reunites in New York City for her father’s heart transplant, Leila navigates her relationships from arms length in an effort to keep her “real” life separate from her family life. However, when her secret is unceremoniously revealed, so are the distinct parallels between her life and that of her mother Shireen (Niousha Noor). Punctuated by a bright color palette, snappy comedic relief, and vibrant dance numbers, The Persian Version delivers an honest portrayal of a woman who remains unapologetically herself, blended seamlessly into a heartfelt story about family, belonging, and the undeniable influence of pop music. Winning both the Audience Award and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award in Dramatic Competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, writer-director-producer Maryam Keshavarz delivers a universal and timely story of the Iranian and the Iranian-American experience.

October 2023

The Burial

Directed by: Maggie Betts

Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Jamie Foxx, Jurnee Smollett, Mamoudou Athie, Pamela Reed, with Bill Camp, and Alan Ruck

Synopsis: Inspired by true events, when a handshake deal goes sour, funeral homeowner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones) enlists charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary (Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx) to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensue as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice in this inspirational, triumphant story.

October 2023

The Lost Weekend

Directed by: Eve Brandstein, Richard Kaufman, Stuart Samuels

Synopsis: "The Lost Weekend: A Love Story” explores the 18-month relationship (1973-1975) that John Lennon spent with May Pang, his Chinese American assistant turned lover (on Yoko Ono’s insistence). With May's help, Lennon reunited with his son Julian and had his most artistically and commercially productive period post-Beatles - with the albums "Mind Games", "Walls and Bridges" which included his only #1 Hit Single "Whatever Gets You Through the Night", "Rock and Roll" and collaborated with Elton John, David Bowie, Harry Nilsson, Mick Jagger, and Ringo to name a few. Pang chronicles it all revisiting her younger self, a naïve 22-year old experiencing her first, unforgettable love.

September 2023

The Storms of Jeremy Thomas

Directed by: Mark Cousins

Featuring: Jeremy Thomas, Tilda Swinton, Debra Winger, Rebecca O'Brien

Synopsis: Jeremy Thomas, the Oscar-winning producer of films like EO and THE LAST EMPEROR, is joined by documentarian Mark Cousins on his annual pilgrimage to the Cannes Film Festival, to give an intimate glimpse into the life of the legendary icon behind some of the most acclaimed and controversial films of all time. Featuring insights into a life lived just off-frame, the film bridges the epic and the intimate, just as Thomas did so consistently, making the dreams of cinema’s most daring visionaries come true.

Cousins, also the director of THE STORY OF FILM: AN ODYSSEY, THE EYES OF ORSON WELLES, follows Thomas' illustrious career with a dazzling range of film clips and interviews, rich in insights about creativity and survival. THE STORMS OF JEREMY THOMAS is a road movie, a portrait of France, a master class, and — in the era of streaming and corporatization — a passionate call to arms for movies that get to the heart of life.

September 2023

Flora and Son

Directed by: John Carney (Once, Sing Street, Begin Again)

Cast: Eve Hewson, Oren Kinlan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt,

Synopsis: Single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, Flora tries to occupy him with a beat-up acoustic guitar. With the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music. From the musical mind of John Carney, “Flora and Son” explores the bond between a mother and son on a journey toward a new harmony.

September 2023

A Million Miles Away

Directed by: Alejandra Márquez Abella

Cast: Michael Peña, Rosa Salazar, Bobby Soto, Sarayu Blue, Veronica Falcón, Julio César Cedillo, Garret Dillahunt and Eric Johnson

Synopsis: Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm workers on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives, and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive & determination culminate in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal. Acclaimed writer and director Alejandra Márquez Abella has created a dazzling tribute to the loyalty and tenacity of the entire Hernández family, as well as anyone who dares to dream.