Loft Film Festival Delivers Cinema Delights

“Wrong”

Mark your calendar cinema fans, November 8-15, the Loft Cinema will again deliver a stunning array of films. Presenting their second annual “Loft Film Festival,” Tucson’s art house cinema extraordinaire has again programmed a killer festival with 40+ films to experience. With documentaries, narrative features, shorts and even a concert film, the festival will keep you busy day and night. That’s not to mention the panel discussions, Q & A sessions and parties along with the dedication of their newest screening room. We spoke with Peggy Johnson, Executive Director of the Loft about this year’s festival.

This year has a very exciting line up of films. Was it easier this year to get some titles based on last year’s success with the Festival?

P.J. – Certainly every year builds on the success of the previous year and of course it depends on what’s available, but yes, we think this year’s lineup is very exciting.

Are there any favorites for you and the Loft staff this year in the fest?

P.J. – For me, personally, Post Tenebras Lux is a favorite— a bold, fresh, challenging work of art. The director, Carlos Reygadas, won Best Director at Cannes for the film, and he will be here to talk about it, which is really exciting.  Selecting favorites is always hard as there are many I love for a variety of reasons, and we take a great deal of care curating the festival so that there are films that will appeal to a great cross-section of patrons.

You’re spoiling us! We almost don’t need to travel to other fests any more with all of the great programming that the Loft is offering…is that a goal?

P.J. – You bet!  We hope people will come to Tucson for our festival.  You’re right – many of my favorite films from Cannes, SXSW, Sundance, Telluride – they’re at our fest!

This year there are so many physical changes to the Loft (New screening room, parking, etc.)  the festival seems like a great way to let folks know indie cinema is alive and well in Tucson…true?

P.J. – Yes, we have worked hard to make the timing work so that we are opening the new screen on our opening night.  It is going to be a great space that we’re excited to share with the community! We’re also celebrating The Loft’s 40th Anniversary during the festival. That’s four decades of great film in Tucson.

We had a chance to preview a few of the films from this year’s festival and some highlights include:

Wrong

The delightfully odd follow-up feature from director Quentin Dupieux (Rubber) follows a man in search of his lost dog. A fan favorite at Sundance last January, it finally hits Tucson. Do not miss a chance to see this movie.

Post Tenbras Lux

The Best Director award winner at Cannes this year, this film is part experimental cinema, part drama and part character study. Thought provoking and meditative, the movie is a must-see that leaves you thinking.

Holy Motors

This is one of the most unique and odd films in recent memory. It defies definition. A French film about a shadowy character and the “roles” he plays in one long, strange day.

Barbara

From Germany, another award winning film (Berlin Film Festival) about a small town doctor in East Berlin before the fall of the wall. Full of mystery, deception and intrigue.

Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters

A spellbinding documentary on the work of photographer Crewdson and the amazing images he creates that are part cinema, part narrative and all beauty.

Visit LoftCinema.com for more info on the festival.

Category: Entertainment, Film