Tacoma Film Festival

Established in 2006, the Tacoma Film Festival was created and developed by the passionate individuals behind Tacoma's only non-profit art-house movie theater, The Grand Cinema (www.GrandCinema.com). The Grand (TFF's primary venue) is one of the Puget Sound region's strongest outlets for both international and local independent filmmakers, and works hand-in-hand with the festival to connect our neighborhood with even more dynamic and entertaining films. We bring films from all over the world to our festival, but we particularly encourage filmmakers from the Pacific Northwest to submit their work. We strive to invigorate and support our film community by putting on the Tacoma Film Festival every year. This also provides a platform for our neighborhood filmmakers to share their work. The Grand's impact reaches beyond our city limits as well: The Grand's staff started a new annual event in 2010, and coordinated with Filmmaker Magazine to host the first-of-its-kind film series for the filmmakers named in its 25 New Faces of Independet Film issue. We look forward to continuing this special event, as we aim to further support up-and-coming indie filmmakers and their work.

In past years, TFF has screened films (including the major Music Box releases "North Face" and "Young Goethe in Love" and the acclaimed local films, "The Off Hours" and "The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle") at several venues around the city. Some TFF alumni encountered great success at our festival, and in projects following their screenings in Tacoma, whether it be a theatrical run at the Grand Cinema following sold-out screenings at TFF (the 2008 Audience Choice Winner, WIENER TAKES ALL, played at the Grand Cinema for two weeks following the festival), or distribution success with subsequent film projects (Drake Doremus, director of the TFF '09 selection, SPOONER, recently saw his latest film (LIKE CRAZY) open with incredible numbers in its Fall 2011 nation-wide release by Paramount Vantage)! No matter where your filmmaker endeavors take you, everyone with the Tacoma Film Festival is dedicated to supporting you and your work.

Nearly 1/2 of the films had a filmmaker present at their screening in in each of the past 3 years. We make every effort to program TFF so that as many filmmakers can attend their screening as possible. The number and quality of films in TFF has improved every year, and we very much look forward to welcoming you to our best festival yet in October 2012.

Each year TFF recognizes the best-of-the-best with our Grandie Awards. In 2012 we will celebrate the:

• Best Short (Narrative) Film

• Best Short Documentary

• Best Animated Film

• Best Regional Film

• Best Feature Film

• Best Feature Documentary Film

• Audience Choice (Filmmakers not from the Pacific Northwest are eligible for this award; winner chosen based on audience votes.)

• Local Audience Choice Award (Filmmakers from the Pacific Northwest are eligible for this award; winner chosen based on audience votes.)

Films will be placed in competition at the sold discretion of the Tacoma Film Festival, based on the comments of our experienced panel of judges and film reviewers. All winners will receive a cash prize.