Flicks and felines

Once upon a time, “Riverdance” was all the rage — but nowadays “Catdance” is taking center stage. Fresh Step Litter is holding a nationwide search for scripted short films about cats — and sending five winners to the first ever “Catdance Film Festival” in Park City, Utah come January 2013.

You can see The Immigration Paradox this month at FilmBar in Phoenix

Folks who favor films about people have plenty of choices this month at FilmBar in Phoenix, which presents “age 21 and over” screenings of “Electoral Dysfunction” and “The Imposter” this week and an “all ages” screening of “The Immigration Paradox” later this month.

Film buffs ages 21 + can hit FilmBar for their choice of several November screenings of “Side by Side,” a documentary produced by Keanu Reeves that explores the shift from photochemical to digital filmmaking. The film features interviews with directors, cinematographers, film students, producers, technologists, editors and exhibitors.

The “Sedona Jewish Film Festival” continues through Nov. 7 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre — where you can also see the “Globe on Screen” presentation of “Doctor Faustus” (Nov. 9) and the “National Theatre Live” presentation of “Timon of Athens” (Nov. 18). The 2013 “Sedona International Film Festival” takes place Feb. 23-March 3.

“The Loft Cinema Film Fest,” which features shorts, documentaries and other films from around the world, takes place in Tucson Nov. 8-15. The venue holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its third screen on Nov. 9 and celebrates its 40th birthday on Nov. 15. “Play It Again 2012: Great Hits by University of Arizona Filmmakers” takes place Nov. 14.

The Arizona State University School of Theatre and Film presents several film-related events, including “The ASU Student Film Festival” (April 29 and 30, 2013), “Capstones” screenings of student film works at the end of each semester, and “Hollywood Invades Tempe” screenings and discussions. Other schools at ASU also present film screenings.

“Hollywood Invades Tempe” on Nov. 8 features a screening of “The Dark Knight” with ASU alumni Hamilton Sterling, a sound effects and lighting designer who’s worked on films including “The Dark Knight,” “Men in Black,” “Gangs of New York,” “The Tree of Life” and “There Will Be Blood.”

You can see Stephen Sondheim’s Company this month at Phoenix Art Museum

The Phoenix Art Museum continues its film offerings with a Nov. 10 screening of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” featuring the New York Philharmonic, and presents “Smoke Signals” — which seeks to “demythologize the American Indian” — on Nov. 18.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts continues the “Talk Cinema” series,  featuring film festival selections chosen by film critic Harlan Jacobson and post-screening discussions with guest moderators, on Nov. 13. Additional screenings take place on Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 5, March 19, April 16 and May 7. Links to featured films go up on the center’s website just a few days prior to each screening.

Harkins Theatres supports several film festivals each year, so folks who favor such things should “save the date” for early 2013 offerings that include “The Jewish Film Festival” and “Deadcenter Film Festival” in February and “The Phoenix Film Festival” in April.

Harkins Theatres and Emerging Pictures present film series dedicated to concerts, sporting events, classic movies and opera/ballet. Upcoming “Opera and Ballet in Cinema Series” selections include “Swan Lake” performed by the Royal Ballet (Nov. 6), “La Cenerentola – Cinderella” (Dec. 16) and “The Nutcracker” performed by the Bolshoi Ballet (Dec. 18).

Fathom Events presents “The Metropolitan Opera LIVE” series, which includes upcoming broadcasts of “The Tempest” (Nov. 10), “Aida” (Dec. 15) and other works. They’re also presenting several historic concerts from groups like Led Zeppelin (Nov. 13) and Bon Jovi (Nov. 27).

Studio Movie Grill in Scottsdale presents concerts, charitable events and other alternative programming through the “SMG with a Twist” series. A concert by “The Doors” hits the Scottsdale movie theater Nov. 6 and 7.  Studio Movie Grill also presents special screenings of family-friendly films for children with special needs, including “Wreck-It Ralph” on Nov. 10.

You’ll find additional film offerings at local community colleges, museums, libraries and performing arts venues — plus PBS, the Sundance Channel and other television venues. Naturally the family cat, Pinky, is holding out for a Catdance channel.

— Lynn

Coming up: Art meets athletics

2012 Film festival fare

For true movie buffs, just one movie never enough. But 145 movies just might be. That’s the number of selections being featured at the 2012 Sedona International Film Festival, which takes place Feb. 18-26. Think full-length features, shorts and documentaries. Also animated, foreign and student films.

I’m told that Kevin Clash, the puppeteer featured in the documentary “Being Elmo” (which is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg) will be making an appearance at the 18th annual festival. “Being Elmo” won the special jury prize for documentary at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

The Sedona International Film Festival is partnering with Arizona Musicfest to present a jazz concert featuring the Brubeck Brothers, and the screening of a new film about Marian McPartland, at the Sedona High School Performing Arts Center.

Advance-sale passes for the 18th annual Sedona International Film Festival are now available through www.sedonafilmfestival.com. Full-time students can purchase a 10 ticket package for just $80 by calling the festival box office at (928) 282-1177.

The 2012 Arizona International Film Festival takes place April 13-29 in Tucson and other southern Arizona communities. They’re currently seeking works by filmmakers age 18 and under to be featured in their “Indie Youth” program.

Submissions are welcome in several categories — dramatic, comedy, documentary, experimental and animation short. Information about opportunities for youth and adult filmmakers is available at www.filmfestivalarizona.com.

The 2012 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival, featuring works that honor Jewish tradition and heritage, takes place Feb. 12-26 at three Harkins Theatres in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The festival includes numerous Arizona and “area” premieres, and several guest speaker presentations. I’m especially pleased to see “The People v. Leo Frank” and “Hidden Children” in the festival line-up.

If you’re eager to sample a bit of independent film fare before 2012 festivals open, check out FilmBar in Phoenix (which has a nifty “Arizona Storytellers Project” event taking place Mon, Dec. 5 to benefit Republic Charities), The Loft Cinema in Tucson (which is doing a fun Eames chair giveaway on Thurs, Dec. 8) and Reel Arts 6 in Tucson (which is just wrapping up this year’s “Native Eyes Film Showcase“).

Or head to Harkins Camelview 5 in Scottsdale, Harkins Valley Art in Tempe, or the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts — which is featuring an especially controversial mature content movie for this month’s “Talk Cinema” selection.

— Lynn

Coming up: More film festival news, Family fun in Prescott