Sunday, May 15, 2011

2011 Film Festival

11th Annual Zaki Gordon Institute Shorts Film Festival: BOX OFFICE is OPEN!

The graduating class of 2011 will be showcasing their films on Memorial Day Weekend - May 27-29, 2011.

FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Entertaining, Informative and Inspiring!

Screening over 30 short films and several feature-length films, there is something for everyone!
Documentaries, Animation, Comedies, Dramas and Art Films

FRIDAY NIGHT
The Opening Celebration on May 27 (for Premiere Pass holders ONLY) will be held at Reds in the Sedona Rouge Resort. Guests will enjoy an extended hors d'oeuvres buffet, casino games, exciting raffle prizes and mingling with filmmakers, actors and celebrity guests. The grand prize will be two Gold Passes to the Sedona International Film Festival and accommodations (booked at SIFF discretion).

SATURDAY & SUNDAY
All films will be screening at ZGI, 4215 Arts Village Drive, Sedona, AZ. Screenings begin at 10 AM on both days.

SATURDAY NIGHT
Screenwriting awards hosted by Dan Gordon and a Private Screening of B4, a psychological thriller. Followed by Q&A with the filmmaker, Matt Stedman.

SUNDAY NIGHT
Filmmaker Awards Ceremony & Raffle Drawing followed by the Wrap Party Barbeque. The Kiwanis team will be on hand to flip the delicious burgers donated by Dairy Queen and Nate Metro will be adding the "beat" to the Party. The Light Vibe dancers with Eric Aglia will be performing, too!

Printed programs are available at the Box Office. Schedule and Program Synopsis can be downloaded, see links below.

Premiere Pass: $50 (must be purchased in advance, we SELL OUT every year)

Screening Passes: $8/1-Day or $14/2-Day (Purchase in advance or at the door)

FILM FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE
Monday-Friday, 10am-3pm
928-649-4284

Zaki Gordon Institute
Yavapai College’s Sedona Center
4215 Arts Village Drive, Sedona 86336
(89A and Cultural Park Place)

Click HERE to Download Saturday Schedule

Click HERE to Download Sunday Schedule

Friday, February 18, 2011

Sedona International Film Festival Workshops are coming to ZGI next week. Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 1 - 4:30 PM. FREE!! Come join the fun!

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to offer a series of FREE workshops on a variety of timely and important topics. These are open to EVERYONE, free of charge ... from the beginning filmmaker to the seasoned professional, to the film lover who wants a glimpse behind the scenes.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 • 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
At Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking

You’ve made a movie. Congratulations. But now what?

Four of Hollywood’s most experienced professionals will let independent filmmakers in on the secrets of how to publicize, market and sell their movies: From production through the sales maze, theatrical and other windows, all the way to the awards circuit. All are long-time members of the Motion Picture Academy and each brings a distinctive perspective.

Murray Weissman, founder of Weissman/Markovitz Communications is an icon in the entertainment PR field, recently honored with a Career Achievement Award by the respected entertainment blog, GoldDerby.com. Immediately after leaving Sedona he will again be honored before 1,000 of his peers at the annual Publicists Luncheon held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Rick Markovitz is Murray’s partner and has worked in executive level positions with global advertising agencies BBDO and JWT, major entertainment companies Warner Bros and Rastar, as well as leading technology-based firms for more than 25 years. He is an expert on the online world and new media.

Leonard Morpurgo, vice president of WMC, has held executive positions at Columbia Pictures, Universal Studios and CBS and has worked in many parts of the world. He has been the unit publicist on numerous films and recently wrote a best-selling memoir about his years in the business.

Jon Sheinberg currently co-runs the production company THE BUBBLE FACTORY that he formed with his father, Sid Sheinberg (founder and former President of Universal Pictures). He operates his own movie production & consulting firm, THE MOVIE MACHINE, a full-service literary management organization and motion picture production company, delivering a full array of development, producing, sales, marketing services for writers and artists.

Wednesday, Feb. 23
3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
At Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking

Investigating Cross-Cultural Dialogue: New Initiatives by Chinese Young Female Directors

Meet the head professor of the Beijing Film Academy in China, professor Huang Shixian and enjoy a cross-cultural dialogue about the new current situation and some significant changes in Chinese film industrial, particularly in the young female directors.

Professor Huang brings to Sedona a beautiful new Chinese film Close to the Sun, which has garnered international awards and acclaim and was written and directed by one of the Beijing Film Academy’s female directors (and a student of the professor’s), ChouChou, who will also be in Sedona to represent her film.

Thursday, Feb. 24
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
At Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking

It Starts with a Story Workshop
Whether its a Hollywood blockbuster, a documentary, or a short film, it all begins
with the story. From concept to pitch, to finished script, our panel will discuss what
goes into gettng your story green lit. Studio or independent, what is best for your screenplay?

Thursday, Feb. 24
3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
At Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking

What does a Producer do?
You can have a great script, but without a producer the film will never get made. A panel
of film and television producers talk about the many roles a producer plays to get a film made.
Script, Talent, Director, and budget are all assembled by the producer. Personal successes and pitfalls in the industry will surely lead to an enlightening conversation.

Friday, Feb. 25
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
At Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking

Lenses and Light Cinematography
How does a directors vision come to life? Cinematographers from independent to Hollywood,
discuss traditional film and contemporary High Definition techniques used to visually
tell a story. Talk about technical and artistic choices which determine emotional and intellectual quality of the scene.

Friday, Feb. 25
3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
At Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking

Our Sustainable Future
Join John Neville (Sustainable Arizona) & Matthew Bonnstetter (SolarWorks) for a lively and informative roundtable discussion with several passionate Arizona sustainable advocates. Audience participation will be invited and encouraged.

This discussion will focus on where we are now, what we are doing and what we can or should do to become more sustainable for a better quality of life for everyone on our wonderful planet.

John Neville, president and founding board member, has been involved creatively in sustainable development and communications for more than 30 years. He has helped organizations with sustainability systems, business communications and management practices, leadership development, and diversity enhancement.

Currently, John is USGBC LEED-AP and provides sustainable systems consulting and communications services to municipalities and businesses and is a frequent guest speaker. He serves on the board of the Coconino County Sustainable Economic Development Initiative, chairs the Sustainability in Education team, works on the energy efficiency & renewables, the sustainable community indicators and the policy and communications teams. He is an emeritus board member of the Arizona Solar Energy Association and the Sedona Community Foundation.

Matthew Bonnstetter is currently a partner with SolarWorks, assisting customers to switch to clean renewable solar energy. Having spent many years in international business specializing the human development and the self-improvement area, he had an epiphany. The world of business and the natural world were out of sync, so he turned his energies to learning all he could about sustainability and natural systems. He spent ten years traveling to green expos, conferences, and related events. During his travels, he realized the power of film to help educate people on the serious issues facing humankind as we struggle to endure on our amazing planet.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Attention Actors!


Yavapai College’s Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking (ZGI) hosts an Actor’s Open House Sept. 10 from 6 to 9:00 p.m. at the Sedona Center for Arts & Technology. Each year ZGI students cast local talent for upcoming student thesis projects providing a great opportunity for new and experienced actors to gain experience acting for film, exercising acting skills and the possibility of contributing a breakthrough performance in an independent film. Become a part of the actor’s database during the open house. Students shoot scenes Tuesdays during the fall semester and completed films screen at the ZGI Shorts Film Festival on Memorial Day Weekend. Headshots and resumes may also be submitted to Jeremy.hawkes@yc.edu. For more information, call 649-4276. Learn more about ZGI at www.zgi.yc.edu

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

ZGI Shorts Film Festival was a Big Success!



This year's festival was a great celebration of independent filmmaking in Sedona. The class of 2010 screened numerous entertaining and insightful shorts to the festival's largest audience ever. We are so thankful for the community support and to the filmmaker's families for attending all of the festivities throughout the weekend. Here are some pictures from the awards ceremony. Others will be posted soon