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Scottsdale �ilm fest is virtual and in-person

BY CONNOR DZIAWURA

Progress Staff Writer

After a surprise success adapting to the pandemic last year, the annual Scottsdale International Film Festival is returning as a hybrid event this week.

Despite going virtual and halving the length of last year’s event, festival director Amy Ettinger said it was as successful as the year prior. Festival planners complemented it with the 2nd Look Streaming Cinema event this past spring.

“It was really a good year for us,” festival director Amy Ettinger said. “I can’t tell you what’s going to happen with this given festival at the moment – all bets are off until it’s over and you can look at your numbers.

“But, surprisingly, we did better with the combination of the virtual festival that we did last November and then we went on, many months later, and made kind of a reprise of 20 of our top-rated �ilms over the last 20 years. And so that was just like icing on the cake.

“The festival itself last season did just as well as the 10-day festival had done the year before,” she continued. “It was very startling. … The 20-year reprise was a more modest success, but it was a success nonetheless.”

Starting this weekend, organizers are changing things up again.

Rather than returning to one long event and instead of choosing between solely in-person or virtual screenings, Ettinger described it as a “festival in two parts.”

Now in its 21st year, the Scottsdale International Film Festival will screen 22 �ilms at Harkins Theatres’ Shea 14 and Camelview at Scottsdale Fashion Square locations from Friday, Nov. 5, to Tuesday, Nov. 9. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is required to attend; negative tests will not be accepted.

Kenneth Branagh’s coming-of-age drama “Belfast” concludes the in-person portion of the Scottsdale International Film Festi-

val. (Courtesy of the Scottsdale International Film Festival)

Then, after the in-person portion concludes, 16 of the �ilms will become available online from Nov. 10 to Nov. 12.

The festival is once again partnering with the virtual platform Eventive and digital ticket buyers will get 48 hours to �inish a �ilm once it is started.

Films vary throughout the duration of the festival, from comedies and dramas to thrillers and documentaries. And their perspectives are many, ranging from those produced in the United States to international projects from Belgium, France, Iran, Italy, Kosovo and the Netherlands, to name a few. Among the slated �ilms are the Julia Child documentary “Julia,” which opens the festival Nov. 5 at Shea 14 location, and Kenneth Branagh’s coming-of-age drama “Belfast,” which marks the end of the inperson screenings on Nov. 9 at Camelview. The centerpiece is director Eva Husson’s “Mothering Sunday,” an adaptation of a Graham Swift novel that Ettinger said has a “phenomenal cast” of Odessa Young, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth and Olivia Colman. It screens at Shea 14 Nov. 6.

“It’s the kind of thing that appeals to the masterpiece PBS lovers,” Ettinger emphasized. “It’s one of those Brit period pieces and based on a best-selling novel.”

The Phoenix Film Critics Society will once again vote on awards to be announced on the opening night, helping audiences to decide which �ilms are most recommended. Moviegoers can then vote on the Audience Award via ballots throughout the festival.

Otherwise, this year’s event is a simple, reduced affair. Only one post-�ilm Q&A is slated, for �irst-time �ilmmaker Jack Paulson’s �ilm “Peeky.”

Other creators decided it best not to travel, according to Ettinger.

The reduction in programming isn’t necessarily a new idea. Prior to the pandemic, the festival had been surveying audiences and Ettinger said most didn’t seem interested in things such as opening night receptions or discussions anyway.

“I think that’s probably going to take some time for that to come back,” Ettinger speculated of the receptions, adding, “And we got the sense that they probably wouldn’t stick around much for too many Q&As. They just wanted to kind of tiptoe back in, put their toes back in the water, to watch some �ilms. …

“Everybody wants it a little calmer. We’re not going to have rope lines. Every seat is reserved. That’s a new thing for us, but it’s also a Harkins requirement, which is perfect for us this year.

“We didn’t want to have throngs of people standing on top of each other, breathing down each other’s necks, and rope lines. So it’s a simple thing to show up, come to the concierge table, show us your proof of COVID-19 full vaccination – meaning two of the Moderna, two of the P�izer or one of the J&J – and get your wristband and go to your reserved seat.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | OCTOBER 31, 2021

Interior designers to offer holiday house tour

BY PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

The Arizona North Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers has set Nov. 20 for tours of its Holiday Designer Show House to bene�it an organization that helps foster children.

Located at the foot of Mummy Mountain, the private 22,000-square-foot Paradise Valley house sits on 3-acres – and took tour organizers two months to decorate.

Guests are invited to shop while touring the luxurious home that has been professionally decorated by ASID. It has taken designers nearly two months to decorate leading up the event.

“We are so incredibly proud to share this extraordinary home and masterfully decorated estate all for a good cause,” said Susan Solliday, said former designers group former president and board member.

“There will be more than a million twinkling and festive lights outside and holiday décor spanning from the gates of the property to more than 20 rooms inside this grand estate.”

Among the 20 special rooms and spaces on tour are a “winter wonderland master bedroom,” “chef’s candy land kitchen,” “rocking horse red, black and silver dining room,” and a grand reception room decked in what a spokeswoman called “a dazzling array of metallics and glittering crystal.”

Guests will be able to enjoys sparkling water and prosecco while enjoying the festivities.

And they also can shop for one-of-kind holiday ornaments, dozens of designer decorated trees, holiday décor, unique pieces, custom wreaths and centerpieces, fashions and more.

There will be two touring slots; 1pm - 3pm and 3pm - 5pm.

Tickets are $65 for the tour. There also is a VIP dinner and live auction for $225 a ticket. But there are only 50 tickets available for the evening event, which includes passed appetizers and a three-course meal by Benedict’s Catering.

Tickets to the VIP Dinner are $225 and limited to just 50 guests for the evening.

To purchase a ticket: email info@ azn.asid.org or modernluxuryevents.com/holidaydesignershowhouse.

There will also be a shuttle to the home for day tour goers. The address for event will be emailed following the ticket purchase to VIP Ticket holders. Proceeds will bene�it Voices for CASA Children, a nonpro�it that promotes and supports volunteer advocacy in court for abused and neglected children and public awareness of the importance of safe and permanent homes for all children.

The Arizona North Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers was established in 1976 and includes 500 interior designers, 200 industry terior designers, 200 industry partners, and 108 students.

Interior designers spent two months decorating the Paradise Valley estate for this year's Christmas

House tour. (Special to the Progress)

CALL FOR CANDIDATES | SRP Elections Set for April 5

Nomination papers and petitions for candidates seeking the positions of President or Vice President or positions on the Boards or Councils of the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association (the “Association”) and the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (the “District”), collectively SRP, are available by request from the SRP Corporate Secretary. Email election@srpnet.com or call the SRP Elections Information Line at (602) 236-3048. Nomination papers and petitions may be filed beginning Jan. 5, 2022 and must be completed and filed with the SRP Corporate Secretary no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2022. The SRP elections are slated for April 5 and will fill 22 positions of the Association, which manages the water operations of SRP, and 24 positions of the District, which oversees the electric operations of SRP. Applications for early voting ballots will be accepted beginning Jan. 2, 2022. Prior to that date, applications to be placed on the Permanent Early Voter List can be submitted and be in effect for the April 5 elections. Early voting ballots will be mailed beginning March 9. Qualified candidates must own qualified land or have been appointed to vote qualified land held in a qualifying trust that is within the respective boundaries of the Association or District and in the voting area they wish to represent as of Dec. 26, 2021; reside within the respective boundaries of the Association or District; and be a qualified, registered Arizona voter. SRP Board members establish policy, approve annual budgets and set prices and fees. SRP Council members amend and enact by-laws and make appointments to fill vacancies on the Boards and Councils.

Positions up for election are as follows: ASSOCIATION: President; Vice President; one position on the Board of Governors in each of voting districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10; and three positions on the Council in each of voting districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. All Association positions have four-year terms. DISTRICT: President; Vice President; one position on the Board of Directors in each of voting divisions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10; two at-large Board of Director positions, voting divisions 12 and 14; and three positions on the Council in each of voting divisions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. All District positions have four-year terms. The two at-large Board of Director positions are elected on a one landowner, one vote basis. All other positions are elected on a one-vote-per-acre voting system. For example, an owner of five acres of land has five votes; an owner of one-half acre has half a vote (0.50). Voters in the District election must be qualified, registered Arizona voters. The last day to register to vote is March 7, 2022.

For more information regarding eligibility, job duties, qualifications, election facts and answers to frequently asked questions, potential candidates can visit SRP’s website at srp.net/elections or call the SRP Elections Information Line at (602) 236-3048 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.