N. Scott Momaday. John Sayles and Maggie Renzi. Max Evans. John Waters.
These are a few icons that were honored at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival in 2017.
And it's part of the reason the film festival was named by MovieMaker as one of the "50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee in 2018."
It's the fifth consecutive year for the honor.
"This designation for the fifth year in a row highlights Santa Fe, and SFIFF as a top destination for film exhibition, and a creative center for filmmakers," says Liesette Paisner Bailey, festival director.
The festival is in prestigious company with Raindance Film Festival in London, Festival Internatcional de Cine de Gij'n in Spain; Slandace Film Festival in Park City, Utah; Seattle International Film Festival and Denver Film Festival.
Paisner Bailey says in 2017 the SFIFF also partnered with art-collective Meow Wolf for "John Waters Live."
The festival also had Sayles and Renzi received Lifetime Achievement Awards and Robert Redford presented Momaday at the Historic Lensic Center for the Arts..
"The festival opened with Palme d'Or winner and Academy Award nominee 'The Square' and closed with 'Arthur Miller: Writer,' each playing to sold-out theaters," she says.
MovieMaker highlights the festival's master discussions - which have featured screenwriting with Bill Broyles, acting with Cassidy Freeman, Wes Studi and Ara Woland. "With its eclectic pool of expert opinions from which to glean, SFIFF also proves that you don't have to learn how to make movies from moviemakers alone. After all, where else can you see Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin talk film at the very theater he owns - the historic Jean Cocteau Cinema," the article states.
The 2018 SFIFF runs October 17-21, in historic downtown Santa Fe. The regular submission deadline is May 1st.
