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Phoenix Film Festival presents Best Indy Flicks

In less than two weeks, Phoenix Film Festival audiences, will see more of the best of independent filmmaking than ever before, viewing 50 feature and short films. The 12 feature films and six programs of 40 selected shorts will be presented over four days, April 1-4, at the Harkins Cine Capri Theatre Complex in Phoenix.
Says Festival Executive Director Chris LaMont, “The nearly 600 films submitted this year, almost double from last year, means we have an even bigger opportunity to give moviegoers of Arizona the best film festival they’ve ever seen.”
Among the selected features are two films directed by former child stars. Fish Without a Bicycle, about a naïve girl and her Prince Charming, was directed by Brian Austin Green, one of the main actors on the TV hit series Beverly Hills 90210. Rick Schroder, who at eight-years-old, starred in The Champ with Jon Voight, will attend the screening of his film Black Cloud, a film about an American Indian who searches for his identity in and out of the boxing ring. Black Cloud also features the acting debut one of
country music’s biggest stars, Tim McGraw, who is married to Faith Hill and is the son
of the late baseball pitcher Tug McGraw.

Road Case is a documentary about another country star, Kenny Chesney’s sold-out Margarita’s ‘n’ Senoritas tour. The documentary Up for Grabs details the fight for possession of the ball hit by Barry Bonds which set the single season home run record in 2001. The ball was eventually sold to collector Todd McFarlane of Scottsdale.

Festival Program Director Greg Hall says this year’s Phoenix Film Festival has something for everyone, from comedy to drama to action to music…films from all over the United States. The selected feature films are:

Black Cloud written and directed by Rick Schroder
Break A Leg written by John Cassini, directed by Monika Mitchell
Clipping Adam written and directed by Michael Picchiottino
The Falls directed by Paul DeNigris
Fish Without a Bicycle written by Jenna Mattison, directed by Brian Green
Greasewood Flat written and directed by Susan Brigham
i died written and directed by Mark Atwood
Last Man Running written by Damon Stantostefano & Rick Gomez, directed by Damon Santostefano
Noon Blue Apples written and directed by Jay Lee
Road Case written and directed by Shaun Silva
Up For Grabs documentary directed by Michael Wranovics
You Got Nothin’ written and directed by Philip Angelotti, Jr.

“The selection process is a difficult one,” says Hall. “Filmmakers put a lot of time and effort in their work, and should be rewarded for it, but I am only able to invite a select few. I am confident that these 12 films portray independent filmmaking at its best.” Shorts were selected by Short Film Director Jason Carney.

At the Festival closing ceremonies Sunday night, awards will be presented in various categories, including Best Picture, Best Picture-Audience Award, Best Director, Best Acting Ensemble and Best Screenplay, Best Documentary and Best Arizona