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Thursday, November 30
 

6:00pm AKST

Pre-Festival Screening: Keep Talking
Directed by Karen Weinberg
Run Time: 1h 20 min 
Made in Alaska

*Director Karen Weinberg in Attendance*

Four Alaska Native women learning to teach their critically endangered language, as only 41 fluent Elders still speak Kodiak Alutiiq. The grit and resilience of these women helps them overcome historical trauma, politics and personal demons as they evolve into "language warriors."

Watch the Trailer

Keep Talking Film  

In partnership with the Anchorage Museum, Keep Talking will be followed by a panel discussion addressing issues of revitalization, historical trauma and recovery with scholars Maria Williams, Aron Crowell, Roy Mitchell, Alisha Drabeck and Melissa Borton. Free; use the museum’s 7th Avenue entrance.





Thursday November 30, 2017 6:00pm - 9:00pm AKST
Anchorage Museum
 
Friday, December 1
 

12:00pm AKST

1 Course Discourse: Documentary Storytelling and the Making of Vietnam Echoes with Alaska Public Media
How can short-form storytelling help propel a community conversation about a war that still divides us as a nation? What are the challenges in documenting history as we live it? Join the creators of Alaska Public Media's Vietnam Echoes series to discuss how they mixed present-day interviews with archival footage to tell Alaskans' stories of the Vietnam War.

Friday December 1, 2017 12:00pm - 1:00pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

7:00pm AKST

*Opening Night: A Soirée of Shorts!
A First Friday to kick off winter, the Anchorage International Film Festival is stirring things up with its Opening Night. You're in for a treat!

As the film industry is reinventing itself, we too are changing things up and making some unconventional plans for Opening Night!  Short films are among our favorite programs, and they, too, deserve their time in the spotlight! 
Thus, we bring you a short film party to kick off the 17th Annual Anchorage International Film Festival!

Short Films Featured:

Cold Storage
Directed by Thomas Freundlich
Run Time 9min, Finland
On a desolate arctic shore, a lonely fisherman discovers his prehistoric counterpart frozen in the ice, and thaws him out as his newfound soul brother.

The Counselor
Directed by Guy Bauer
Run TIme: 11min, USA
At a crisis center in late 1971, a freshly minted counselor on the late shift takes his first call: a suicidal teenager whose parents won’t let her come home for Christmas.

Must Kill Karl
Directed by Joe Kicak
Run TIme: 12min, Canada
Everyone has “that” friend - the one who shows up uninvited, drinks all your booze, and hits on your girlfriend - who we all secretly hate and wish would just go away. One night, a group of friends decide enough is enough and there’s only one way to get rid of him for good…

Whoever Was Using This Bed
Directed by Andrew Kotatko
Run Time: 20min, Australia
A married couple is woken in the dead of night by a mysterious phone call. Unable to sleep, they are drawn into an unsettling examination of their fears and desires.

Iron
Directed by L. Gabriel Gonda
Run Time: 17min, USA
During the First World War an unflinching young woman determined to defy traditional roles, travels west to pursue a job working the rails.

**Intermission**

Feels Good
Directed by Andrew McLean
15min, Made in Alaska
Kelvin, a young Tlingit man living in the big city of Fairbanks, Alaska, is just getting by, trying to make that dollar delivering “packages” for village bootleggers. When his car breaks down on a deserted rural highway, Kelvin is picked up by Russ, a Gwich’in man looking for his runaway daughter. Their encounter sets off a chain of events that forces Kelvin to choose between heroism, and his front teeth.

The Robbery
Directed by Jim Cummings
Run Time: 15min
Crystal robs a liquor store. It goes pretty ok.


2D Run
Created by Marin Kafedjiiski
Run Time: 6 min
A top-down drone view of urban parkour free runner Ilko Iliev jumping all over Bulgaria. A nod to traditional video games, this aerial film is unlike all other aerial films. 

Game
Directed by Jeannie Donohoe
Run Time: 15min, USA
A new kid shows up at the high school boys' basketball tryouts and instantly makes an impression. Will talent and drive be enough to make the team once they discover a secret?


Blackwater Railroad Company, one of Alaska's favorite bands, is making AIFF opening night their homecoming show after touring in the Lower 48. This band is excited to announce a documentary project rolling out in 2018, and you'll hear their original music as soundtrack to the feature film, Broken Ghost

A festive photo booth, champagne and desserts, great live music, and many chances to talk with visiting filmmakers and guests will be part of an evening to remember!

7 p.m. Showtime (Door open at 6 p.m.)
BearTooth TheatrePub

Tickets are included with AIFF All Films Passes ($130, available at BearTooth Box Office), or for purchase separately ($30). Passes allow entry to all AIFF screenings and events, plus discounted admission to awards celebration.  Individual screenings throughout the ten-day festival will be $10, sold at venue box offices. Get your pass early! 




Friday December 1, 2017 7:00pm - 11:30pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

11:00pm AKST

AIFF After Hours
Limited Capacity seats available

A non-sponsored, cash bar open at Darwins Theory - this is one of the best dives in all of Anchorage. Just a way to keep the party going if you choose - smack in the middle of Downtown - Come hang out with the night owls!




Friday December 1, 2017 11:00pm - Saturday December 2, 2017 3:00am AKST
Darwins Theory 426 G Street
 
Saturday, December 2
 

10:00am AKST

Filmmaker Meet and Greet
Meet fellow filmmakers and festival programmers (as available) over a cup of coffee and a pastry. Strategize what you'll be seeing later in the day with your new found movie-goers. 

Filmmakers are invited to catch an AIFF volunteer-driven shuttle from Inlet Towers to downtown venues. Meet in Inlet Towers Lobby by 11:30. 

AIFF Passholders welcome. Free. 

Saturday December 2, 2017 10:00am - 11:15am AKST
Inlet Tower

10:00am AKST

Voice Over Workshop: Ages 8-12
Learn to be the voice of a cartoon character!

Alaska Native children ages 8-12 are invited to learn to do voice-over for film and television. 

Meet film actors and producers, and have fun making a cartoon character come alive!

Free. Pre-register online at www.uaf.edu/theatrefilm/Workshops

Head to the second floor of the Loussac Library and sign up there!


Saturday December 2, 2017 10:00am - 12:00pm AKST
Loussac Library 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503
  Workshop

11:45am AKST

Chasing the Blues
Chasing the Blues
Directed by Scott Smith

Two rival record collectors attempt to con an old lady out of a rare but cursed 1930s blues record. When a series of unfortunate circumstances lands them in jail, the feud festers for over 20 years until they are released from prison and get a second chance at snagging the vinyl – this time from a more formidable foe.

Chasing the Blues Film


Saturday December 2, 2017 11:45am - 1:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

12:00pm AKST

Short Docs 2: Against the Grain
Short documentaries full of compelling stories of the many ways to go against the grain.

52 Trolleybus
DIrected by David Aurbach
Run Time: 29 min, Austria
A story of a beloved former communist institution and its last gasps for survival and a look into the lives of the people that try to keep it all going amid the political and economic turmoil of the region. 

Bear In The Bedroom
DIrected by Albert Koomen
Run Time: 7 min, Australia
As he dresses, a bear reveals more than just a hairy chest - he talks about the highs and lows of his life and the healing power of love. 

Family Rewritten
Directed by Yasmin Mistry
Run Time: 13 min, USA
Despite battling Cystic Fibrosis, Camilla, age 16, identifies as a typical middle-class American teenager until the thread that holds her family together suddenly unwinds. Just months before her 18th birthday Camilla finds herself in foster care, but instead of being ashamed, she makes a conscious decision to not let her situation define her. 

GatorAide
Directed by Alex Witkowicz
Run Time: 10 min
The world's best alligator rodeo takes place in the unsuspecting shadow of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. But the reasons behind this bizarre annual roundup will leave viewers enraptured with the animals, the people who wrestle them, and will create a newfound appreciation for what it's like to live life with all ten of their fingers still attached. 

Hairat
Directed by Jessica Beshir
Run Time: 7 min, USA
One man's nightly ritual brings solace to the lovelorn of Harar. 

HI8
Directed by John Shaw
Run Time 5 min, USA
By powering up their "time machine," a dated Hi8 camcorder, two friends explore and discuss the joy of creating movies as a kid.

Unwelcome
Directed by Ida Theresa Myklebost
Run Time: 16 min, USA
In a tent at a gas station lives six year old Menwar. Together with his siblings and parents, he fled Syria, hoping to find peace in Europe. But when they finally arrive, they find a continent that does not want them, a continent that has closed its borders to refugees like them.

He Who Dances on Wood
Directed by Jessica Beshir
Run Time: 6 min, USA
One man's search for joy has culminated in a constant experience of rhythm in the world around him. 
 
Total Run Time: 95 min 

Saturday December 2, 2017 12:00pm - 1:30pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

12:00pm AKST

Shorts: Love and Pain
Limited Capacity seats available

8:AM
Directed by Emily Pando
Runtime: 5 Min, USA
A numbers-obsessed character who lives life very carefully misses an opportunity to cherish every breath before all counters hit zero.

Toby
Directed by Michael Walek
Runtime: 16 Min, USA
When a pedophile gets out of prison, he moves to New York City and forms an unlikely friendship with a single mom living in his apartment building.

Couples Night
Directed by Russell Summers and Robert Summers
Runtime: 4 Min, USA
A couples night goes off the rails when one couple reveals they're blood sacrificing devil worshippers. And then things get weird...

The Little Truth
Directed by Stefan Mandachi
Runtime: 15 Min, Romania
Italian Romeo and German Julia are together for three years and they live in L.A. They meet in a bar and Julia enthusiastically talks about her positive thinking course. Romeo is frustrated by his boring life in USA and the discussion escalates into a total intolerance.

Brain Storm
Directed by Christophe Clin
Runtime: 6 Min, Belgium 
What happens in our heads when we are about to meet someone on the street? Anguish, prejudice, expectation, surprise, disappointment … These few very brief moments are the nest of a real brainstorm.

Call of Charlie
Directed by Nick Spooner
Runtime: 15 Min, USA
A trendy Los Angeles couple sets up a blind date for two of their friends, one of whom is an ancient evil deity vibrating with pure malice. Unfortunately, on the evening of the rendezvous, two interlopers unexpectedly arrive at dinner to make the situation all the more awkward.

Baggage
Directed by Andi Behring
Runtime: 17 Min, USA
A comic tale of a small town girl who moves to New York City and realizes she's not in Kansas anymore. She's wide eyed about the high life of the big city - until she stumbles head first into the grip of its charming low lifes.

Temporary 
Directed by Milena Govich
Runtime: 12 Min, USA
A compassionate veterinarian works as an in-home euthanasia specialist for dying pets, but when he’s called to the house of an eccentric pet owner, she challenges the ideals of his chosen profession.


Saturday December 2, 2017 12:00pm - 1:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

1:00pm AKST

Screenplay Roundtable: From Script to Screen
Limited Capacity seats available

You’ve written a script, now what? Join this discussion of the process of getting your script to the screen by winning screenwriters, visiting producers and directors for a lively boost to your craft.

AIFF Screenwriter competition finalists and industry professionals provide their knowledge on what makes a good script, how to refine your pitch, and what to do with a finished script. 
How do you sell a project? How do you know if you're doing it "right"? And after you've finished the script...now what? 

Bring your ideas and questions, this event is open to writers from beginners to professionals! 

Panelists include AIFF award-winning screenwriter Jason Mott, script doctor Jay Burns, actor and industry professional Ron Holstrom. Moderated by award-winning screenwriter and writing professor Doug Bourne.  Free.

A bit about the panelists:

Jay Burns: 
Jay is an actor, writer, and script doctor.  Before becoming a freelance story consultant, he worked in Development for Platinum Studios, developing hundreds of titles, including work on Cowboys & Aliens and MIB III.  He has taught and taken pitches at the Great American Pitch Fest and the Willamette Writer's Conference.  He now fixes screenplays for studios, agencies, producers, and writers.  Jay's writing clients have gone on to become finalists in the Nicoll Fellowship screenwriting competition, and many others.  He is working on a screenwriting book focused on helping writers find their theme and structure.  Jay is active in Anchorage theatre, and acts regularly for Cyrano's Theatre Company (where he also serves on the board) and Perseverance.  He holds an MFA in Acting from Michigan State.

Ron Holmstrom:
Before relocating to Alaska, Ron worked for many years in the theatre, film and televisionindustries in Hollywood. He is the Alaska representative of the SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local Board and serves on the Stunt and Safety Committee. Ron was last seen in feature films ‘The FrozenGround,’ and ‘Sugar Mountain.’ He currently reports on entertainment news for FOX-4 and ABC-13. Ron has never been convicted of a felony.

Douglass Bourne:
Douglass is a multi-genre writer. His has published essays and poetry in creative writing magazines, written articles for trade publications, produced a food and culture radio program, and written a few award winning screenplays. He has served as editor and judge for national and regional magazines and contests. Currently, he serves as Screenwriting Program Coordinator for the Anchorage International Film Festival.

Jason Mott:
Jason Mott is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Returned and The Wonder of All Things. He has a BFA in Fiction and an MFA in Poetry from UNC Wilmington. He lives in southeastern North Carolina. He is the 2017 Winner of the AIFF Screenplay Competition. 

 



Saturday December 2, 2017 1:00pm - 3:00pm AKST
Port View Room 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

1:45pm AKST

Painless
Directed by Jordan Hororitz
USA

Henry Long was born with a rare condition that leaves him unable to feel physical pain. Life for him is a daily struggle, never knowing when he might become seriously injured without realizing it, or worse, die from some internal injury he never even knew existed. He lives in a constant state of fear and is completely alienated from those around him who cannot relate to his daily struggles.

Painless Movie


Saturday December 2, 2017 1:45pm - 3:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

2:00pm AKST

Animation 1
Limited Capacity seats available

Aeon
Directed by Derek O'Dell 
Runtime: 4 Min
Country of Origin: USA

An abstract immersive audio-visual experience as a study on the behavior of energy over a period of time.

BAUMU
Directed by Shao-Chun Chung
Runtime: 9 min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: Taiwan

Differences
Directed by Chun-Tzu Chang
Runtime: 5 Min
Country of Origin: Taiwan

Ghosts on The Wall Death Rope
Directed by Danilo Neve
Runtime: 3 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: Switzerland

Eddie, the grave digger, is haunted by the ghosts appearing on the walls in his home. The ghosts want revenge; Eddie didn't bury them well. So they tease, follow, and scare him to death.

Legio XVII
Directed by Jeremy Cisse
Runtime: 1 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: France

Inspired by the historic battle in Ancient Room, German clans join the rebellion organized by Arminius and push the Romans out of Germania.

Macabre Lighthouse Lake
Directed by Avery Herzog
Runtime: 4 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Set to the classical piece Danse Macabre, a girl travels through a barren winter wasteland armed only with a lantern of fireflies.

NEKO
Directed by Yu-Chi Liu
Runtime: 5 Min 25 Sec
Country of Origin: Taiwan

A story placed in a micro city, based on a kitty's perspective.

Rino
Directed by Ricardo Herrera
Runtime: 8 Min 25 Sec
Country of Origin: Mexico / USA

Rino is a one-of-a-kind rhinoceros living in a small rural town. Old, depressed, and nearly blind, townspeople share their lives and space with Rino as the town's pet. He has evertying but is still feels lonely until a special incident changes his life forever.

Running Sushi
Directed by Stephan Etrych
Runtime: 1 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: Czech Republic

Elite sushi athletes are going to compete at the hurdles.

Siene's Breath
Directed by Bethanie Montano
Runtime: 3 Min 25 Sec
Country of Origin: Australia

The face of an unknown young woman influences history after her death.

The Realm of Deepest Knowing
Directed by Seung Hee Kim
Runtime: 3 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: Korea

One digs beneath the surface of the other to reach the deepest place of his heart during struggles.

Yin and Yang
Directed by Jin Yaun (Mavis) Huang
Runtime: 6 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Yin and Yang is a story about a boy who is running away from a bully. He befriends a skeleton girl and her secrets begin to unfold.





Saturday December 2, 2017 2:00pm - 3:15pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

2:00pm AKST

42 Grams
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Jack C. Newell
Runtime: 1 Hour 22 Min
Country of Origin: USA

42 Grams is an intimate portrait of chef Jake Bickelhaupt's evolution from illegal restaurateur to culinary celebrity and the consequences the transformation has on his life and marriage.


42 Grams Film


Saturday December 2, 2017 2:00pm - 3:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

3:30pm AKST

Muse
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by John Burr
USA

Adam is an uninspired painter who lives in a dilapidated downtown artist's loft. Consumed by loneliness, he starts to have visions of a beautiful girl... and then one day, he wakes up to find her in his apartment. Rather than fear, Adam develops a deep affection and finds himself compelled to paint her -- even after he discovers that she is a savage killer that will murder anyone that poses a threat. As he grows more and more successful, however, the body count begins to rise, and he soon must make a choice between following the passion of his muse or facing the reality of his obsession.

http://musethefilm.com/


Saturday December 2, 2017 3:30pm - 5:00pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

3:45pm AKST

What if it Works?
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Romi Trower
Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Min
Country of Origin: Australia

Adrian, an irrepressibly chirpy tech nerd, has OCD. Grace, a beautiful street artist, has Multiple Personality Disorder. It's a love story that seems impossible. But what if it works?


What If It Works?


Saturday December 2, 2017 3:45pm - 5:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

4:00pm AKST

Prison Dogs
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Geeta Gandbhir & Perri Peltz
Runtime: 1 Hour 11 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Incarcerated for murder and armed robbery, select New York inmates learn to love again by raising puppies behind bars. In this inspirational tale, three prisoners battle self-doubt, anger and regret in their attempt to transform dependent pups into service dogs for injured US veterans. Bound together by fate, this uniquely vulnerable trio of puppy, prisoner, and veteran come to discover the redemptive power of second chances.

Emmy Award-Winning director Geeta Gandbhir will be in attendance!

Prison Dogs Film


Saturday December 2, 2017 4:00pm - 5:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

6:00pm AKST

Arctic Superstar
Directed by Simen Braathen
Runtime: 1 Hour 12 Min
Country of Origin: Norway

The indigenous, Samí rapper Nils Rune Utsi - aka SlinCraze - lives with his mother in Máze, a nearly abandoned town in the Arctic Highlands of Norway. Nils dreams of being able to make a living making music - and maybe even become world famous like his hero Eminem. Playing to sparsely attended shows, in remote locations, on makeshift stages, and usually for free, Niles uses his music to deal with the trauma of being bullied as a child and maybe even more importantly, prove to himself that he's not a nobody. The only problem is that less than 20,000 people in the world understand the endangered language he raps in.

Arctic Superstar Film

Trailer 

BUY TICKETS


Saturday December 2, 2017 6:00pm - 7:30pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

8:15pm AKST

Broken Ghost
Directed by Richard Gray
Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Min
Country of Origin: USA

On the face of it, they’re just another family moving to the wide open spaces of the Big Sky Country for a tree change. But for teenage Imogen Day and her parents, the move to Montana is an escape from quite a unique kind of bullying. Desperate to make a new life for herself, Imogen must overcome new tormentors, old secrets, and a strange presence in the attic in this coming-of-age tale, wrapped in a ghost story.

Cast and crew in attendance.

BUY TICKETS

Broken Ghost

Saturday December 2, 2017 8:15pm - 9:45pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

10:00pm AKST

AIFF After Hours with SlinCraze, Tayy Tarantino & Bishop Slice
Been watching movies all day and need to be social? Didn't get a ticket to 5 Day Film Royal? Dive into a bit of real Alaskana with us at Koot's bar, just a few blocks from the BearTooth TheatrePub. 

Join us cheering on documentary "Arctic Superstar"'s Nils Utsi, rapping as SlinCraze. If you missed the 6 pm screening at BearTooth, he's the Sami Norwegian rapper who raps in English ...AND a language only about 20,000 people speak. Woah. 

He's part of a hip-hop documentary project here in Anchorage and he's not your typical hip-hop artist. Give it a try.

Also, featuring Bishop Slice straight out of Fairbanks, Alaska. This local artist is also known as the Untamable Tongue as his unique flow shares his experiences in Fairbanks, growing up and learning from his mistakes. His pairing with SlinCraze will make for an amazing show!

SlinCraze will be joined by Bishop Slice out of Fairbanks, Alaska.
$8 at the door, $5 for AIFF Passholders

Koot's isn't your typical seven-bar, log cabin nightlife establishment. Come in and find out why we're all here.

AIFF After Hours supported by Jolly Roger



Saturday December 2, 2017 10:00pm - Sunday December 3, 2017 1:00am AKST
Chilkoot Charlie's 2435 Spenard Rd, Anchorage AK 99503

10:30pm AKST

5 Day Film Royal
Limited Capacity seats available

The most raucous screening at AIFF, guaranteed. Participants are given 5-days to completely produce a film – writing, shooting, editing – everything, incorporating three prompts that are announced at the start of the competition. See which of the 20+ teams will win prizes, and be a part of the decision-making yourself! $10.

Hosted by AK Filmmakers 


Saturday December 2, 2017 10:30pm - Sunday December 3, 2017 11:30pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503
 
Sunday, December 3
 

11:30am AKST

Fanny's Journey
Directed by Lola Doillon
Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Min
Country of Origin: France

A group of Jewish youngsters flees Nazi-occupied France in the inspired-by-fact WWII drama “Fanny's Journey,” the third feature from director Lola Doillon (“In Your Hands,” “Just About Love”). The film is a handsome, compelling period piece that deftly portrays events through the eyes of its young protagonists.. In partnership with the Alaska Jewish Museum.

Screened with short film, "The Making of Fanny's Journey"

Fanny's Journey



Sunday December 3, 2017 11:30am - 1:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

11:45am AKST

Pale Blue Dot
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Girish Mohite
Runtime: 1 Hour 39 Min
Country of Origin: India

Eternity is a collective notion. Even while living this life making an effort to preserve one's own identity, often the destiny plays its cards in such an incomprehensible manner that one is imperatively left with no alternative but to ignore one's own personal existence or unique identity and dissolve oneself in the mighty oblivion of the Sarvanaam, the eternity. The Pale Blue Dot makes you aware of this insurmountable truth.


Sunday December 3, 2017 11:45am - 1:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

12:00pm AKST

We Breathe Again
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Marsh Chamberlain
Runtime: 56 Min
Made in Alaska

In a landscape as dramatic as its stories, We Breathe Again intimately explores the lives of ​four Alaska Native people, each confronting the impacts of ​intergenerational trauma and suicide. Reflected in the northern lights and the city streetlights, from the ice roads to the asphalt, the characters battle for personal healing, hoping to break new trail for their families and their communities to follow.

Keep Talking

Reel Therapy screens with Keep Talking

Reel Therapy 
Directed by:  Joseph Yates
Run TIme: 7min
Two young adults, from across the nation, both suffering from depression. After meeting in school, they find their passion through film and encourage others to follow their own. Screens with We Breathe Again.



Sunday December 3, 2017 12:00pm - 1:30pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

1:00pm AKST

Virtual Reality Experience

Join the Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF) and Alaska Filmmakers (AKF) and explore one of the newest, most exciting additions to the entertainment industry! Virtual reality (VR) is creating new and interesting ways to interact with stories, and AKF wants to show you how!

AKF will have a 10-minute VR experience for your enjoyment! Select an appointment or just stop by and join the fun! We will have two Oculus Rifts and two HTC Vives, along with some Google Cardboards that people can use to try out VR using their own phones!

$5 General Admission, Included with AIFF Pass. Be sure to sign up for a time! First come, first served. See you there!


vr jpg

Sunday December 3, 2017 1:00pm - 4:00pm AKST
Port View Room 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

1:45pm AKST

A to B Rollerski
Directed by Arnis Aspers
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Min
Country of Origin: USA

“A to B Rollerski” is a feature documentary film that tells the story of Raimonds Dombrovskis' epic rollerski journey from Arctic to Baja back in 1988, covering 4200 miles in 90 days. Raimonds is a Latvia-born US Olympic biathlete whose sudden life-threatening health condition forces him out of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Instead of giving up on his dreams, Raimonds recovers and embarks on a 90-day rollerski trip from Inuvik, Canada, to Baja, Mexico.

A to B Rollerski


Sunday December 3, 2017 1:45pm - 3:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

2:00pm AKST

Half Life in Fukushima
Half Life in Fukushima
Directed by Francesca Scalisi and Mark Olexa
Run Time: 1hour 1 min, Switzerland

Five years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Naoto Matsumura, a Japanese farmer ekes out a solitary existence within the radiation red zone.
Here, the blowing wind is the soundtrack to Naoto's lonely days, spent cultivating his land and feeding his cattle. Naoto fights to build a new life in this post-apocalyptic landscape, fearlessly facing the silent danger of radioactivity. He is a guardian of the past and the symbol of humanity's need for a change.

Half Life in Fukushima Trailer


Sunday December 3, 2017 2:00pm - 3:00pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

2:00pm AKST

Shorts: Global Village
7 Beds
Directed by Pedro Moreno del Oso
Run Time: 13 min,  Spain
Eduardo is about to commit a new infidelity.

Pastries 
Directed by Gianluca Manzetti
Run Time: 18 min, Italy
Agostino and Annalisa are a bizzarre young couple who are having one of those mornings... Agostino is having an audition, not before he had made an auspicious ritual.

Real Men Don't Cry
Directed by Lucas Castan
Run Time: 19 min, Spain
A father, a son and ice hockey as passion, but a harsh reality to face.
 
Yochi
Directed by Ilana Lapid
Run Time: 25 min, Belize
Yochi, a 9-year-old selectively mute Mayan boy, guards a nest of endangered Yellow-Headed Parrots in Belize’s pine savannah. When his beloved older brother, Itza, returns from the city, Yochi learns that he’s in debt and has turned to poaching – setting the brothers on a collision course.

Good Luck, Orlo
Run Time: 14 min
As his parents mourn the loss of his baby sibling, Orlo does what he thinks is necessary to repair his family. However, even the best intentions can lead to questionable decisions.

The Geneva Convention
Directed by Sara Kern
Run Time: 15 min, Slovenia & Croatia
As his parents mourn the loss of his baby sibling, Orlo does what he thinks is necessary to repair his family. However, even the best intentions can lead to questionable decisions.
 

Sunday December 3, 2017 2:00pm - 3:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

3:30pm AKST

Actors of Sound
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Lalo Molina
Runtime: 1 Hour 22 Min
Country of Origin: USA

From footsteps to bone cracks, Foley artists bring films to life with their imaginative sound effects. As digital technology goes full speed ahead in 21st century moviemaking, can Hollywood’s low tech Foley artist survive in this high tech age?

Actors of Sound Website



Sunday December 3, 2017 3:30pm - 5:00pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

4:00pm AKST

Over the River
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Vanina Lappa
Country of Origin: Italy
Runtime: 1:14:47

“We are too old-fashioned, this is the problem. We look at the moon, we look at too many things…” This is told to Angelo, a young waiter that lives in a small village. It is said that inside the grotto is guarded an ancient secret. The village seems to live in a suspended time, anchored to old rituals, such as pig’s killing, wheat harvesting or the electoral campaign. The young man follows all this with a participated detachment and he confront himself with an older man called Angelo, just like him, a barman at the local café, who that from behind the counter benefit of a favoured viewpoint on the village’s dynamics. They both dream and fear the escape at the same time, both scared by the idea that if they go away they may lose everything they are.


Sunday December 3, 2017 4:00pm - 5:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

4:00pm AKST

Made in Alaska: Shorts
Limited Capacity seats available

Alaska is full of characters, and this selection of shorts Made in AK is no exception.


Attack of The Killer King Salmon
Directed by Darlene Kawennano:ron Johnson
12m
Out of the forbidden past, terror that waited 3000 years rides the warming current from the once frigid Arctic Ocean to the mighty rivers to spawn its insatiable thirst for blood...and REVENGE! It's an adventure into the wilderness of Alaska such as few people have known and only those who see it can believe.

Conspiracy PIE
Directed by Levi Taylor
11m
Get ready for a nostalgic ride down memory lane to a time life was filled with Legos, video games and imaginative questions you’d muse with your best friend. Conspiracy P.I.E. reflects on friendship while reminding us to “never stop being that kid that asks 'why' after everything.”

Dead Run
Shane Taylor
8m
A young girl runs wildly through a dark wood, from what evil we do not know.

Elements
Directed by Stephanie Blondin
4m
Krimson’s newest single and first music video that was exclusively filmed on Kodiak, Alaska.

Feels Good
Directed by Andrew McLean
15m
Kelvin, a young Tlingit man living in the big city of Fairbanks, Alaska, is just getting by, trying to make that dollar delivering “packages” for village bootleggers. When his car breaks down on a deserted rural highway, Kelvin is picked up by Russ, a Gwich’in man looking for his runaway daughter. Their encounter sets off a chain of events that forces Kelvin to choose between heroism, and his front teeth.

Five/Thirty Urban Conflux
Directed by Rosey Robards
19m
In May of 2015, a group of musicians highjacked events across the city of Anchorage and moved the party to Town Square Park.

Mr. Right
Directed by Carl Weber
11m
Wendy is on the rebound after a messy divorce. She is finally at a place in her life were she realizes that before she can fall in love, she must first love herself. But as they say, 'The odds are good but the goods are odd.'

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Sunday December 3, 2017 4:00pm - 5:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

6:00pm AKST

Saving Brinton
Directed by Tommy Haines & Andrew Sherburne
Country of Origin: USA
Runtime: 1:27:30

In rural Iowa, a beloved history teacher uncovers the century-old showreels of one of America’s first motion picture impresarios and sets out to premiere the films at a historic local opera house.

Saving Brinton

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Sunday December 3, 2017 6:00pm - 7:30pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

8:15pm AKST

American Folk
Directed by David Heinz
Runtime: 1:39:19
Country of Origin: USA

Two strangers, both folk musicians stranded in California, take a road trip to New York in the days after 9/11. A story about the kindness of strangers and the power of music.

American Folk


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Sunday December 3, 2017 8:15pm - 9:45pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503
 
Monday, December 4
 

3:00pm AKST

Matinee: Short Docs 1: Stories of Redemption
Limited Capacity seats available

AIFF Matinee.

Mott Haven
Directed by Kyle Morrison
Run Time: 24m, USA
JC Hall is a social worker in the South Bronx who has been given the opportunity to create a music studio in the old storage room of a “second chance” high school. When one of the students who helped him build the studio is murdered in front of the school, JC and his after school program decide to hold a show in his honor. The film follows the group for over a year as they prepare for the show, all while processing their grief, overcoming individual obstacles and working towards graduating high school in a district where 49% of kids live below the poverty line.

Perception: From Prison to Purpose
Directed by Garrett Guinn
Run Time: 40min, USA
During his seven years of incarceration, Noah took advantage of every program, workshop and educational service provided and pushed himself not only to be better, but to challenge our perceptions of what it means to be an inmate. From gang member and drug dealer, to college grad, author, and TEDx speaker, Noah's determination and spirit have launched him to success.

Wildland
Directed by Daniel Steiner
Run TIme: 25min, USA
Three young inmates enlist in one of the last firefighting programs in the country for juveniles offenders; but a deadly incident forces them to contemplate their futures both on and off the fire-line. 

Monday December 4, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

3:00pm AKST

Matinee: Short Docs 2: Against the Grain
Limited Capacity seats available

AIFF Matinee

52 Trolleybus
DIrected by David Aurbach
Run Time: 29 min, Austria
A story of a beloved former communist institution and its last gasps for survival and a look into the lives of the people that try to keep it all going amid the political and economic turmoil of the region. 

Bear In The Bedroom
DIrected by Albert Koomen
Run Time: 7 min, Australia
As he dresses, a bear reveals more than just a hairy chest - he talks about the highs and lows of his life and the healing power of love. 

Family Rewritten
Directed by Yasmin Mistry
Run Time: 13 min, USA
Despite battling Cystic Fibrosis, Camilla, age 16, identifies as a typical middle-class American teenager until the thread that holds her family together suddenly unwinds. Just months before her 18th birthday Camilla finds herself in foster care, but instead of being ashamed, she makes a conscious decision to not let her situation define her. 

GatorAide
Directed by Alex Witkowicz
Run Time: 10 min
The world's best alligator rodeo takes place in the unsuspecting shadow of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. But the reasons behind this bizarre annual roundup will leave viewers enraptured with the animals, the people who wrestle them, and will create a newfound appreciation for what it's like to live life with all ten of their fingers still attached. 

Hairat
Directed by Jessica Beshir
Run Time: 7 min, USA
One man's nightly ritual brings solace to the lovelorn of Harar. 

HI8
Directed by John Shaw
Run Time 5 min, USA
By powering up their "time machine," a dated Hi8 camcorder, two friends explore and discuss the joy of creating movies as a kid.

Unwelcome
Directed by Ida Theresa Myklebost
Run Time: 16 min, USA
In a tent at a gas station lives six year old Menwar. Together with his siblings and parents, he fled Syria, hoping to find peace in Europe. But when they finally arrive, they find a continent that does not want them, a continent that has closed its borders to refugees like them.

He Who Dances on Wood
Directed by Jessica Beshir
Run Time: 6 min, USA
One man's search for joy has culminated in a constant experience of rhythm in the world around him. 

Monday December 4, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

5:30pm AKST

The Drawer Boy
Directed by Arturo Perez Torres
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Min
Country of Origin: Canada 

*Producer Aviva Armour-Ostroff in attendance*

Miles, a naive actor from Toronto, turns up at a remote farm run by two men: the ruggedly practical Morgan and the simple-minded Angus. Along with his fellow actors, Miles is collecting stories about rural life in order to make a play. 

Through patient research, and a good deal of eavesdropping, Miles uncovers the true story of the two farmer’s lives: as school and wartime buddies, Morgan and Angus were stationed in Britain in the 1940s, where they met their future brides. Angus suffered brain damage during the Blitz, and the foursome returned to Ontario to live out their rural dream. When the farmers let the city-boy into their home, Miles’ search for a story gradually unearths a devastating truth that threatens to destroy the tranquil lives of his hosts forever. 

Beautifully written, funny and moving, The Drawer Boy is a multi-award-winning bitter sweet tale of the power of storytelling, friendship, and the very thin line between truth and fiction.

Drawer Boy Film

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Monday December 4, 2017 5:30pm - 7:15pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

8:15pm AKST

Among Wolves
Directed by Shawn Convey
Runtime: 1h27m  
Country of Origin: USA

*Director Shawn Convey in attendance*

The Wolves are no ordinary biker club as revealed in this intimate portrait of trauma and survival. Still struggling from the aftermath of the Bosnian War, this multi-ethnic club organizes charity for their small mountain town and defends the threatened herd of wild horses they first met on the frontline. It’s out there, with the horses, they confront their past and reclaim that territory as a space for healing. 

When war correspondents move on to their next conflict, a more personal battle is just beginning for those left behind. Nearly 20 years after their brutal civil war, Bosnia still strives to overcome the economic depression and personal hardships left in the wake of the war. Fortunately for the small mountain town of Livno, an unorthodox leader has emerged, giving struggling veterans and their community an unlikely path to healing.

A paramilitary leader at the young age of 20, Lija helped defend the town while neighbors fell to the invading forces. Now he heads the Wolves, a motorcycle club that resembles the stereotype in rough image only. Under his leadership, this wild crew has become a positive force for good with a self-defined humanitarian focus. As their numbers grow, so do their successes, like holding charity events for the neediest in their community and securing badly needed supplies for hospitals in Livno an Srebrenica.

One mission, though, rich in symbolism, captures their spirit more than any other. On what was once the front line, they now tend to and defend a herd of wild horses that society has similarly deemed expendable. A harsh environment, poachers, and urbanization continually threaten the herd. Stirred by their strength, the Wolves are determined to control their own fate and finally emerge from the shadow of war.

Among Wolves Film

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Monday December 4, 2017 8:15pm - 9:45pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503
 
Tuesday, December 5
 

3:00pm AKST

Short Docs 3: Compelling Characters
Limited Capacity seats available

Duterte's Hell
Directed by Aaron Goodman & Luis Liwanag 
Run Time: 9m, Philippines
The terror and devastation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war in the Philippines.

Ghosts of The Arctic
Directed by Abraham Joffe
Run Time: 7 min, Australia
Polar Photographer, Joshua Holko, journeys through the frozen expanse of Svalbard seeking to encounter and photograph the majestic polar bear on foot, something rarely attempted.

Lifted: A Ski Film for the Rest of Us
Directed by Oly Mingo
Run Time: 30 min, USA
A wintertime love story exploring the universal attraction between skier, boarder and mountain. From first chair to flamingo days, from deep powder to epic corduroy, this is a celebrates athletes and amateurs of all shapes and styles.

Lucia
Directed by Emil Kahr
Run Time: 4 min, Denmark
In the rural mountains of Galicia, Spain a particular group of people practice an ancient tradition in which the village men wrestle and tame wild mountain horses with their bare hands in order to trim the horses' mane and tail. But a young courageous girl named Lucia decides that this man-vs-beast tradition is no longer just for men.

Still I Rise
Directed by Gabriel Diamond, Patrick Nelson Barnes and Phil Collis 
Run Time: 4 min, USA
A visual and musical interpretation of American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou’s electrifying poem "Still I Rise." Juxtaposing Angelou's timeless words with imagery of struggle and change from the past to the present, "Still I Rise" prompts us to ask ourselves: What side of the divide do you stand on? Where will you forge common ground?

Ten Meter Tower
Directed by Maximilien Van Aertryck & Axel Danielson
Run Time: 16 min, Sweden
People who have never been up a ten meter diving tower before have to choose whether to jump or climb down. The situation itself highlights a dilemma: to weigh the instinctive fear of taking the step out against the humiliation of having to climb down.

The Collection
Directed by Adam Roffman
Run time: 11 min, USA
Two friends stumble upon the holy grail of movie memorabilia in the most unlikely of places.

$30 to Antarctica
Directed by Joey Chu
Run Time: 18 min, USA
Ka Foon Chau grew up an impoverished child but retired a renowned doctor. Raised in 1960s Hong Kong, Chau faced the bias of her elders who attempted to discourage her interest in the academics but a small gesture of support she received from a teacher allowed Chau to build a life and career that moved beyond the restrictive boundaries set by her parents’ generation, including fulfilling a childhood dream to see Antarctica.

Tuesday December 5, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

3:00pm AKST

Life Hack
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Sloan Copeland
Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Min
Country of Origin: USA

White hat hacker Charlie finds out that his best friend is being blackmailed by the infamously unidentifiable Moraler - a glorified cyber bully who many believe is the mastermind behind recent anti-establishment hacks. After struggling actress Carolyn gets hacked, Charlie and Jack decide to embark on a tense and amusing search for the twistedly righteous Moraler before he releases Bobby’s blackmail video to social media. "Life Hack" is a comedic cautionary tale about our digital privacy…or complete lack thereof.


Tuesday December 5, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm AKST
Alaska Experiece Theater Small

5:30pm AKST

The Last Animals
Directed by Kate Brooks
Runtime: 1:31:50
Country of Origin: USA

The Last Animals is a story about an extraordinary group of people who go to all lengths to save the planet's last animals. The documentary follows the conservationists, scientists and activists battling poachers and transnational trafficking syndicates to protect elephants and rhinos from extinction. From Africa's front lines to behind the scenes of Asian markets to the United States, the film takes an intense look at the global response to this slaughter and the desperate measures to genetically rescue the Northern White rhinos who are on the edge of extinction.

The Last Animals

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uy Tickets 


Tuesday December 5, 2017 5:30pm - 7:00pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

5:30pm AKST

"The Cheerful Subversive's Guide to Independent Filmmaking" - A Workshop with Dan Mirvish
Directly from the Whistler Film Festival straight to The Anchorage International Film Festival we are proud to announce Dan Mirvish will be delivering a workshop for filmmakers from beginners to professionals.

Join AIFF and Dan Mirvish, co-founder of Slamdance Film Festival, for a workshop that will help you steer your film's future and help you get the most out of its festival run plus whole lot more. 

Head to the lower level of the 49th State Brewing Company to the West Barrel Room. Pizza and snacks provided!

A bit about the Cheerful Subversive:
Dan Mirvish is a director, screenwriter, producer and author. His newest award-winning film BERNARD AND HUEY was written by Oscar/Pulitzer winner Jules Feiffer, and stars Oscar-winner Jim Rash and David Koechner. It’s already screened in 16 festivals this fall, from Germany to Brazil to Guam. Dan’s previous feature, BETWEEN US, starring Julia Stiles and Taye Diggs, played in 23 festivals in 7 countries, sold to 144 countries, and screened in the US theatrically, and on Showtime, Starz, Netflix and all digital outlets. Dan was mentored by Robert Altman on his first film, OMAHA (THE MOVIE), which led him to co-founding the upstart Slamdance Film Festival that runs concurrent with Sundance. Dan’s film OPEN HOUSE led the Academy Awards to controversially rewrite their rules on the Best Original Musical category. Mirvish wrote the critically-acclaimed book “The Cheerful Subversive's Guide to Independent Filmmaking” for Focal Press/Routledge, and he co-wrote the best-selling novel “I Am Martin Eisenstadt” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) based on the fake McCain advisor who took credit for Sarah Palin not knowing Africa was a continent.


Tuesday December 5, 2017 5:30pm - 7:30pm AKST
49th State Brewing Co.

8:00pm AKST

AlphaGo
Directed by Greg Kohs
Country of Origin: USA
Runtime: 1:30:28

AlphaGo chronicles a journey from the backstreets of Bordeaux, past the coding terminals of Google DeepMind, to Seoul, where a legendary Go master faces an unproven AI challenger. As the drama unfolds, questions emerge: What can artificial intelligence reveal about a 3000-year-old game? What will it teach us about humanity?

AlphaGo Movie

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Tuesday December 5, 2017 8:00pm - 9:30pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

8:00pm AKST

Guilty Pleasures: Beastmaster
Limited Capacity seats available

Guilty Pleasures takes nostalgic movies that are "misunderstood" and then go mock the hell out of it. One part "USA Up All Night", two scoops pub quiz, 200% awesome! Join Chris, Matt and Nathan in their rendition of 1982 cult classic, “Beastmaster” at 49th State Brewing Co. theater. Free.

Beastmaster Trailer 




Tuesday December 5, 2017 8:00pm - 10:00pm AKST
49th State Brewing Co.
 
Wednesday, December 6
 

3:45pm AKST

After-School Special
Limited Capacity seats available

In partnership with the Alaska Teen Media Institute, a showcase of young Alaskan filmmakers under age 21 show off their best and boldest video work! A limited number of free tickets can be picked up in person at a Bosco’s store location for entry. No reason to miss out! BearTooth Theatrepub. $5

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Wednesday December 6, 2017 3:45pm - 5:00pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

6:00pm AKST

Grand Unified Theory
Directed by David Ray
Runtime: 1 Hour 41 Min
Country of Origin: Canada

During one fateful weekend, the family of brilliant astrophysicist Albert James has a complete meltdown, setting in motion a raucous and hilarious series of events that mirror his radical theories of the behavior of the universe.

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Grand Unified Theory


Wednesday December 6, 2017 6:00pm - 7:45pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

8:15pm AKST

Proper Binge
Directed by Dean Mitchell / Michael Burns
Runtime: 1 Hour 46 Min
Country of Origin: USA / Alaska

For Burgess "Buzz" Zwink, wasting life is a way of life. After his carefree recklessness lands his lifelong friend in the hospital after another of his drunken mishaps. Buzz begins to realize just how much pain he has caused to those around him. With the help of a young Inupiaq boy, and an elderly, life-long alcoholic, Buzz must face his past, present, and possible future in order to take his life back.

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Wednesday December 6, 2017 8:15pm - 10:30pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503
 
Thursday, December 7
 

6:00pm AKST

Don't Come Back from the Moon **SMALL THEATER**
Directed by Bruce Cheng
Runtime: 1 Hour 22 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Mickey, a wayward teenager living on the fringe of the California Desert, is filled with angst. His father has disappeared. One by one other men also vanish from his decaying working class town. One man props open the door to his bar and leaves a note. 'I'm going to the moon,' it reads. 'I took the cash.'
Mickey tries to escape the bleakness of life by causing trouble with his friends but his rage becomes too much to contain. The lure of just giving up and running away is palpable. Mickey, like his father, face the decision to resist or to heed the call of 'heading to the moon. (Cast includes James Franco).

Don't Come Back From The Moon


Thursday December 7, 2017 6:00pm - 7:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

6:00pm AKST

Shorts: Global Village
Limited Capacity seats available

AIFF Matinee

7 Beds
Directed by Pedro Moreno del Oso
Run Time: 13 min,  Spain
Eduardo is about to commit a new infidelity.

Pastries
Directed by Gianluca Manzetti
Run Time: 18 min, Italy
Agostino and Annalisa are a bizzarre young couple who are having one of those mornings... Agostino is having an audition, not before he had made an auspicious ritual.

Real Men Don't Cry
Directed by Lucas Castan
Run Time: 19 min, Spain
A father, a son and ice hockey as passion, but a harsh reality to face.
 
Yochi
Directed by Ilana Lapid
Run Time: 25 min, Belize
Yochi, a 9-year-old selectively mute Mayan boy, guards a nest of endangered Yellow-Headed Parrots in Belize’s pine savannah. When his beloved older brother, Itza, returns from the city, Yochi learns that he’s in debt and has turned to poaching – setting the brothers on a collision course.

Good Luck, Orlo
Directed by Sara Kern
Run Time: 14 min
As his parents mourn the loss of his baby sibling, Orlo does what he thinks is necessary to repair his family. However, even the best intentions can lead to questionable decisions.

The Geneva Convention
Directed by Benoît Martin
Run Time: 15 min, France
As Hakim is waiting for the bus after class, he is caught in a vendetta between teenagers. He is not exactly keen to get into a fight, but how can he possibly avoid an awaited confrontation?ionable decisions.
 

Thursday December 7, 2017 6:00pm - 7:30pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

6:15pm AKST

Made in Alaska: Shorts **LARGE THEATER**
Limited Capacity seats available

Alaska is full of characters, and this selection of shorts Made in AK is no exception.


Attack of The Killer King Salmon
Directed by Darlene Kawennano:ron Johnson
Runtime:12min

Out of the forbidden past, terror that waited 3000 years rides the warming current from the once frigid Arctic Ocean to the mighty rivers to spawn its insatiable thirst for blood...and REVENGE! It's an adventure into the wilderness of Alaska such as few people have known and only those who see it can believe.

Conspiracy PIE
Directed by Levi Taylor
11min

Get ready for a nostalgic ride down memory lane to a time life was filled with Legos, video games and imaginative questions you’d muse with your best friend. Conspiracy P.I.E. reflects on friendship while reminding us to “never stop being that kid that asks 'why' after everything.”

Dead Run
Shane Taylor
8min

A young girl runs wildly through a dark wood, from what evil we do not know.

Elements
Directed by Stephanie Blondin
4min

Krimson’s newest single and first music video that was exclusively filmed on Kodiak, Alaska.

Feels Good
Directed by Cara Marcous
15min

Kelvin, a young Tlingit man living in the big city of Fairbanks, Alaska, is just getting by, trying to make that dollar delivering “packages” for village bootleggers. When his car breaks down on a deserted rural highway, Kelvin is picked up by Russ, a Gwich’in man looking for his runaway daughter. Their encounter sets off a chain of events that forces Kelvin to choose between heroism, and his front teeth.

Five/Thirty Urban Conflux
Directed by Rosey Robards
19min

In May of 2015, a group of musicians highjacked events across the city of Anchorage and moved the party to Town Square Park.

Mr. Right
Directed by Carl Weber
11min

Wendy is on the rebound after a messy divorce. She is finally at a place in her life were she realizes that before she can fall in love, she must first love herself. But as they say, 'The odds are good but the goods are odd.'

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Thursday December 7, 2017 6:15pm - 7:45pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

7:45pm AKST

Voyage of the Southern Sun
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Rob Murphy
Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Min
Country of Origin: Australia

Adventurer of the Year, Michael Smith discovered the delights and perils of true adventure in a solo circumnavigation in his tiny amphibious flying boat, Southern Sun, that retraced historical Qantas, Imperial and Pan Am airmail routes of the 1930’s. At a leisurely 80 knots, taking his time flying from cities to forests; deserts and rivers; over mountains and volcanoes; coral reefs, vast stretches of oceans, ice flows and glaciers; oh, and giant rats. Michael’s journey captured the geographic splendour of the world and learnt a little of human kind and himself along the way.

Voyage of the Southern Sun


Thursday December 7, 2017 7:45pm - 9:15pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

8:00pm AKST

Gay-La Movie : Check It
AIFF Gay-La Selections celebrate stories and triumphs of the LGBTQ community and their allies. 

Directed by Dana Flor & Toby Oppenheimer
Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Fed up with being abused and harassed on the brutal inner-city streets of Washington D.C., a group of gay and trans teens form a gang to fight back. This raw and intimate portrait follows four Check It members as they struggle to find a way out of gang life through an unlikely avenue: fashion.


Thursday December 7, 2017 8:00pm - 9:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

8:15pm AKST

Short Docs 3: Compelling Characters
Limited Capacity seats available

Duterte's Hell
Directed by Aaron Goodman & Luis Liwanag 
Run Time: 9m, Philippines
The terror and devastation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war in the Philippines.

Ghosts of The Arctic
Directed by Abraham Joffe
Run Time: 7 min, Australia
Polar Photographer, Joshua Holko, journeys through the frozen expanse of Svalbard seeking to encounter and photograph the majestic polar bear on foot, something rarely attempted.

Lifted: A Ski Film for the Rest of Us
Directed by Oly Mingo
Run Time: 30 min, USA
A wintertime love story exploring the universal attraction between skier, boarder and mountain. From first chair to flamingo days, from deep powder to epic corduroy, this is a celebrates athletes and amateurs of all shapes and styles.

Lucia
Directed by Emil Kahr
Run Time: 4 min, Denmark
In the rural mountains of Galicia, Spain a particular group of people practice an ancient tradition in which the village men wrestle and tame wild mountain horses with their bare hands in order to trim the horses' mane and tail. But a young courageous girl named Lucia decides that this man-vs-beast tradition is no longer just for men.

Still I Rise
Directed by Gabriel Diamond, Patrick Nelson Barnes and Phil Collis 
Run Time: 4 min, USA
A visual and musical interpretation of American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou’s electrifying poem "Still I Rise." Juxtaposing Angelou's timeless words with imagery of struggle and change from the past to the present, "Still I Rise" prompts us to ask ourselves: What side of the divide do you stand on? Where will you forge common ground?

Ten Meter Tower
Directed by Maximilien Van Aertryck & Axel Danielson
Run Time: 16 min, Sweden
People who have never been up a ten meter diving tower before have to choose whether to jump or climb down. The situation itself highlights a dilemma: to weigh the instinctive fear of taking the step out against the humiliation of having to climb down.

The Collection
Directed by Adam Roffman
Run time: 11 min, USA
Two friends stumble upon the holy grail of movie memorabilia in the most unlikely of places.

$30 to Antarctica
Directed by Joey Chu
Run Time: 18 min, USA
Ka Foon Chau grew up an impoverished child but retired a renowned doctor. Raised in 1960s Hong Kong, Chau faced the bias of her elders who attempted to discourage her interest in the academics but a small gesture of support she received from a teacher allowed Chau to build a life and career that moved beyond the restrictive boundaries set by her parents’ generation, including fulfilling a childhood dream to see Antarctica.

Thursday December 7, 2017 8:15pm - 9:45pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501
 
Friday, December 8
 

2:00pm AKST

Martini Matinee
A delightful matinee of quirky and sometimes off-the-wall shorts of all type. Sit back, enjoy a martini, and let the show begin. 

Brain Storm
Directed by Christophe Clin
Run Time: 6min, Belgium
Short
What happens in our heads when we are about to meet someone on the street? Anguish, prejudice, expectation, surprise, disappointment … These few very brief moments are the nest of a real brainstorm.

Cigare 
Directed by Tom Tassel
Run Time: 6min, Canada
Animation
An animated dance choreography featuring a drop of water and a drop of oil.

Baggage
Directed by Andi Behring
Run Time: 17min, USA
Short
A comic tale of a small town girl who moves to New York City and realizes she's not in Kansas anymore. She's wide eyed about the high life of the big city - until she stumbles head first into the grip of its charming low lifes.

Conspiracy PIE
Directed by Levi Taylor
Run Time: 11min, USA
Mae in Alaska
Get ready for a nostalgic ride down memory lane to a time life was filled with Legos, video games and imaginative questions you’d muse with your best friend. Conspiracy P.I.E. reflects on friendship while reminding us to “never stop being that kid that asks 'why' after everything.”

Second to None
Created by Vincent Gallagher
Runtime: 7min, Ireland
Frederick Butterfield has always been runner up to his twin brother Herman. When Herman becomes the world’s oldest man with a mere minute gap between them, Frederick finally sees an opportunity to be first place.

GatorAide
Directed by Alex Witkowicz
Run Time: 10min, USA
Short Docs
The world's best alligator rodeo takes place in the unsuspecting shadow of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. But the reasons behind this bizarre annual roundup will leave viewers enraptured with the animals, the people who wrestle them, and will create a newfound appreciation for what it's like to live life with all ten of their fingers still attached.

Happy End
Directed by Kamila Dohnalova
Run Time: 6min, Czech Republic
Animation
A dark comedy about death with a happy ending, with a splendid chain of unlikely encounters.

Ten Meter Tower
Directed by Maximilien Van Aertryck & Axel Danielson
Run time: 16min, Sweden
People who have never been up a ten meter diving tower before have to choose whether to jump or climb down. The situation itself highlights a dilemma: to weigh the instinctive fear of taking the step out against the humiliation of having to climb down.

BUY TICKETS

Friday December 8, 2017 2:00pm - 4:00pm AKST
BearTooth TheatrePub 1230 W. 27th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503

5:00pm AKST

Short Docs 1: Stories of Redemption
Limited Capacity seats available

Mott Haven
Directed by Kyle Morrison
Run Time: 24m, USA
JC Hall is a social worker in the South Bronx who has been given the opportunity to create a music studio in the old storage room of a “second chance” high school. When one of the students who helped him build the studio is murdered in front of the school, JC and his after school program decide to hold a show in his honor. The film follows the group for over a year as they prepare for the show, all while processing their grief, overcoming individual obstacles and working towards graduating high school in a district where 49% of kids live below the poverty line.

Perception: From Prison to Purpose
Directed by Garrett Guinn
Run Time: 40min, USA
During his seven years of incarceration, Noah took advantage of every program, workshop and educational service provided and pushed himself not only to be better, but to challenge our perceptions of what it means to be an inmate. From gang member and drug dealer, to college grad, author, and TEDx speaker, Noah's determination and spirit have launched him to success.

Wildland
Directed by Daniel Steiner
Run TIme: 25min, USA
Three young inmates enlist in one of the last firefighting programs in the country for juveniles offenders; but a deadly incident forces them to contemplate their futures both on and off the fire-line.

Friday December 8, 2017 5:00pm - 6:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

5:00pm AKST

Dim The Flourescents
Directed by Daniel Warth
Runtime: 2 Hours 8 Min
Country of Origin: Canada

Struggling actor Audrey and aspiring playwright Lillian pour all of their creative energy into the only paying work they can find: corporate role-playing demonstrations. When they book the biggest gig of their careers at a hotel conference, work commences on their most ambitious production to date and the ensuing tensions threaten to derail both the production and their friendship. As wryly funny as it is unexpected, Dim the Fluorescents is a one-of-a-kind portrait of the artistic life and process in the unlikeliest of settings.


Friday December 8, 2017 5:00pm - 7:00pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

6:00pm AKST

Half Life in Fukushima
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Francesca Scalisi and Mark Olexa
Runtime: 1 Hour 1 Min
Country of Origin: Switzerland

Five years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Naoto Matsumura, a Japanese farmer ekes out a solitary existence within the radiation red zone.

Here, the blowing wind is the soundtrack to Naoto's lonely days, spent cultivating his land and feeding his cattle. Naoto fights to build a new life in this post-apocalyptic landscape, fearlessly facing the silent danger of radioactivity. He is a guardian of the past and the symbol of humanity's need for a change.


Friday December 8, 2017 6:00pm - 7:15pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

7:00pm AKST

Shorts: Love and Pain
8:AM
Directed by Emily Pando
Runtime: 5 Min, USA
A numbers-obsessed character who lives life very carefully misses an opportunity to cherish every breath before all counters hit zero.

Toby
Directed by Michael Walek
Runtime: 16 Min, USA
When a pedophile gets out of prison, he moves to New York City and forms an unlikely friendship with a single mom living in his apartment building.

Couples Night
Directed by Russell Summers and Robert Summers
Runtime: 4 Min, USA
A couples night goes off the rails when one couple reveals they're blood sacrificing devil worshippers. And then things get weird...

The Little Truth
Directed by Stefan Mandachi
Runtime: 15 Min, Romania
Italian Romeo and German Julia are together for three years and they live in L.A. They meet in a bar and Julia enthusiastically talks about her positive thinking course. Romeo is frustrated by his boring life in USA and the discussion escalates into a total intolerance.

Brain Storm
Directed by Christophe Clin
Runtime: 6 Min, Belgium 
What happens in our heads when we are about to meet someone on the street? Anguish, prejudice, expectation, surprise, disappointment … These few very brief moments are the nest of a real brainstorm.

Call of Charlie
Directed by Nick Spooner
Runtime: 15 Min, USA
A trendy Los Angeles couple sets up a blind date for two of their friends, one of whom is an ancient evil deity vibrating with pure malice. Unfortunately, on the evening of the rendezvous, two interlopers unexpectedly arrive at dinner to make the situation all the more awkward.

Baggage
Directed by Andi Behring
Runtime: 17 Min, USA
A comic tale of a small town girl who moves to New York City and realizes she's not in Kansas anymore. She's wide eyed about the high life of the big city - until she stumbles head first into the grip of its charming low lifes.

Temporary 
Directed by Milena Govich
Runtime: 12 Min, USA
A compassionate veterinarian works as an in-home euthanasia specialist for dying pets, but when he’s called to the house of an eccentric pet owner, she challenges the ideals of his chosen profession.

Friday December 8, 2017 7:00pm - 8:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

7:45pm AKST

Animation at Night

A collection of animation films for adult audiences. 

Stay tuned, list to be released shortly. 


Friday December 8, 2017 7:45pm - 9:00pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

7:45pm AKST

Painless
Directed by Jordan Horowitz
Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Henry Long was born with a rare condition that leaves him unable to feel physical pain. Life for him is a daily struggle, never knowing when he might become seriously injured without realizing it, or worse, die from some internal injury he never even knew existed. He lives in a constant state of fear and is completely alienated from those around him who cannot relate to his daily struggles.


Friday December 8, 2017 7:45pm - 9:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

9:00pm AKST

A to B Rollerski
Directed by Arnis Aspers
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Min
Country of Origin: USA

“A to B Rollerski” is a feature documentary film that tells the story of Raimonds Dombrovskis' epic rollerski journey from Arctic to Baja back in 1988, covering 4200 miles in 90 days. Raimonds is a Latvia-born US Olympic biathlete whose sudden life-threatening health condition forces him out of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Instead of giving up on his dreams, Raimonds recovers and embarks on a 90-day rollerski trip from Inuvik, Canada, to Baja, Mexico.


Friday December 8, 2017 9:00pm - 10:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

9:00pm AKST

Late Night Lounge: Alaskana Party
Join us for a celebration of films, their filmmakers, and AIFF attendees at the E Street Theater - Formerly The Bear and Raven Theater!

Wear your flannels, Xtra Tuffs and Beanies! Do you own a Salty Dawg hoodie? Wear it! Do you own a pair of Carhartts? Wear them! Represent Alaska in the only way we know how. Casual, meets lumberjack, meets fisherman. 

There will be cat videos, music and beer. This is a closed party - invite only! Mingle with filmmakers and locals alike. 

Friday December 8, 2017 9:00pm - Saturday December 9, 2017 12:00am AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

9:45pm AKST

Muse
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by John Burr
USA

Adam is an uninspired painter who lives in a dilapidated downtown artist's loft. Consumed by loneliness, he starts to have visions of a beautiful girl... and then one day, he wakes up to find her in his apartment. Rather than fear, Adam develops a deep affection and finds himself compelled to paint her -- even after he discovers that she is a savage killer that will murder anyone that poses a threat. As he grows more and more successful, however, the body count begins to rise, and he soon must make a choice between following the passion of his muse or facing the reality of his obsession.




http://musethefilm.com/


Friday December 8, 2017 9:45pm - 11:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large
 
Saturday, December 9
 

12:00pm AKST

Family Films
Undiscovered
Directed by Sara Litzenberger
Runtime: 2 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: USA

Sasquatch has always remained elusive in photos--but not for the reasons we think.

The Cloud and The Whale
Directed by Tomilova Alyona
Runtime: 3 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: Russian Federation

A touching story about the friendship between small Cloud and big Whale.

Short Changed
Directed by Barbara Mones
Runtime: 6 Min
Country of Origin: USA

A small quiet park filled with people hoping to cast their wishes in the park’s fountain is invaded by a sinister character aiming to steal their wishing coins.

Secret Chamber Murder
Directed by Yin Shuohan
Runtime: 4 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: China

From a cookie’s viewpoint, a murder incident develops into a complicated plot.

Navajo Tales - The Stars
Directed by Dallin Penmen
Runtime: 4 Min 2 Sec
Country of Origin: USA

A traditional Navajo tale showing the creation of the stars, in the Navajo Language.

Light Sight
Directed by Seyed Tabatabaei
Runtime: 7 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: Iran

M.E., the imprisoned character in a room is attracted to a hanging light and tries to catch it. But the room itself becomes an obstacle on his way.

Hunchback and the Swan
Directed by Dotty Kultys
Runtime: 9 Min 30 Sec
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

The Hunchback has no friends in the village, but his friends are the animals of the forest. When he suddenly disappears, it's up to them to save the day. A classic folk tale of friendship and belonging, narrated by the UK's First Storytelling Laureate — Taffy Thomas, MBE.

Groomed
Directed by Samantha Armiger
Runtime: 3 Min
Country of Origin: USA

When a little schnauzer with a sentimental attachment to his beard is brought in for a haircut, his world is turned upside down.

Good Boy
Directed by Claudia Marino
Runtime: 6 Min 45 Sec
Country of Origin: USA

A hopeful man goes on a blind date with the women of his dreams expecting to have the best night of his life. Things seem to be going perfect, until the night takes an unexpected turn.

Flipped Out
Directed by Jiheon Bae
Runtime: 5 Min 45 Sec
Country of Origin: USA

An old flip phone gets replaced by the latest smartphone model. Through the animation's hand-drawn style, older technology faces inevitable obsolescence with grace and wisdom.

Dreamweaver
Directed by Cheryl Briggs
Runtime: 6 Min 25 Sec
Country of Origin: USA

Asibikaashi, the spider woman, protects children from bad dreams at night by weaving dream catchers to hang above their heads while they sleep. She teaches Namid, an eight year old Chippewa girl who suffers from nightmares, to overcome her fears.

Dog Clog
Directed by Maggie Miller
Runtime: 3 Min 45 Sec
Country of Origin: USA

A dog really wants water.

Danse Aqua
Directed by Cindy Foucault
Runtime: 1 Min
Country of Origin: Canada

In the mist of the imaginary world, a girl reveals her passion through her steps.

Corky
Directed by Ty Primosch
Runtime: 5 Min 45 Sec
Country of Origin: USA

A corkscrew with a screw loose battles a giant glass bottle to uncork seven magical lightning bugs trapped inside.

Buzzed
Directed by Ryan Rosenthal
Runtime: 3 Min
Country of Origin: USA

A student film about the struggle of desire.

Barkley and Friends
Directed by Chia-Hua Chang
Runtime: 3 Min
Country of Origin: Taiwan

Barkley and friends are students living in the city with many happy memories together. Even though these friends have arguments, they are learning how to get over these difficult times with positive ways.

Bakiro
Directed by Miguel New
Runtime: 15 Min
Country of Origin: Venezuela

Bakiro is a shy peccary who works as a janitor at a classical music hall. He dreams of being an opera singer but has a horrible voice. However, moved by a mysterious force that compels him to sing, Bakiro discovers his inner self. 



Saturday December 9, 2017 12:00pm - 1:15pm AKST
Loussac Library 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503

12:00pm AKST

Check It

Directed by Dana Flor & Toby Oppenheimer
Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Fed up with being abused and harassed on the brutal inner-city streets of Washington D.C., a group of gay and trans teens form a gang to fight back. This raw and intimate portrait follows four Check It members as they struggle to find a way out of gang life through an unlikely avenue: fashion.


Saturday December 9, 2017 12:00pm - 1:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

12:30pm AKST

Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Jennifer Townsend
Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise’ takes the viewer on a dramatic and exciting ride beginning with Thelma and Louise taking off for the weekend and continuing until they fly off the cliff at the end. Filmgoers who responded to a survey about the iconic ‘mother film’ 26 years ago guide the story and the hold Thelma & Louise have on popular culture.

Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise 


Saturday December 9, 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

1:00pm AKST

Partners in Healing
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Mary Katzke
Runtime: 46 Minutes
Country of Origin: USA

This is an introduction to integrative medicine for anyone fighting for optimal health.

Saturday December 9, 2017 1:00pm - 2:30pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

1:00pm AKST

Music in Film Panel presented by AKIMI
The Alaska Independent Musicians Initiative (AKIMI) presents a special panel for musicians and filmmakers alike, discussing hot topics surrounding music in film. Join special guest, Liz Storm, and other industry professionals to discuss music licensing for film, copyrights, and distribution royalties. Bring your ideas and questions, this session is open to musicians, filmmakers and interested public. Free. 

Liz Storm is a legal consultant with over 10 years of experience researching and securing copyright and trademark. Storm works with artists, publishers, writers, filmmakers and producers on various licensing, marketing, management and recording agreements for documentaries, full length and short films including with MovieTraX on the Rhythm & Light DVD re-release of the Gospel series, Jubilee Showcase.


Saturday December 9, 2017 1:00pm - 3:00pm AKST
Port View Room 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

2:00pm AKST

Tribal Justice plus AKPM Hosted Discussion
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Anne Makepeace
Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Two strong Native American women, both chief judges in their tribe's courts, strive to reduce incarceration rates and heal their people by restoring rather than punishing offenders, modeling restorative justice in action.

Join Alaska Public Media journalist Anne Hillman for a discussion following the film.  


Saturday December 9, 2017 2:00pm - 4:15pm AKST
Loussac Library 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503

2:30pm AKST

Pale Blue Dot
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Girish Mohite
Runtime: 1 Hour 39 Min
Country of Origin: India

Eternity is a collective notion. Even while living this life making an effort to preserve one's own identity, often the destiny plays its cards in such an incomprehensible manner that one is imperatively left with no alternative but to ignore one's own personal existence or unique identity and dissolve oneself in the mighty oblivion of the Sarvanaam, the eternity. The Pale Blue Dot makes you aware of this insurmountable truth.


Saturday December 9, 2017 2:30pm - 4:00pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

3:00pm AKST

Between Earth and Sky + Mega Tsunami
Limited Capacity seats available

Between Earth and Sky 
Directed by Paul Allen
Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Min
Country of Origin: USA

Alaska has been the source of myth and legend in the imagination of Americans for centuries, and what was once the last frontier of American expansion, has become the first frontier in climate change. Between Earth and Sky examines climate change through the lens of impacts to native Alaskans, receding glaciers, and arctic soil.

Icy Bay Mega-Tsunami 
Directed by Bjorn Olsen
Runtime: 17 Min
Country of Origin: USA / Alaska

Oct. 17, 2015. Some 200 million metric tons of rock slid down the mountain in Taan Fjord, IcyBay, Alaska, in a crash that must have been deafening. It hit the ocean, sending up a wave that peaked at nearly 600 feet high. The wall of water stripped alder thickets from the hillside, tossed boulders up hills and carpeted the land in rubble from the bottom of the ocean. No one noticed.


Saturday December 9, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

3:00pm AKST

Journeys to Adaka, Old Harbor New Hope
Limited Capacity seats available

Journeys to Adaka
Directed by Fritz Mueller
Runtime: 57 Min
Country of Origin: USA

An indigenous community in Canada’s Yukon turns to celebration and ceremony to fight back against a legacy of systemic hurt and racism. A beautifully filmed and intimate portrait of seven First Nations artists whose culture is their salvation.

Old Harbor, New Hope
Directed by Joshua Branstetter
Runtime: 15 Min
Country of Origin: USA / Alaska

Western control suppressed Alutiiq language and culture for centuries. Today, only 400 people in the world speak Alutiiq, and 60 of them reside in Old Harbor, Alaska. This is the story of the first Alutiiq dance festival. 


Saturday December 9, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

5:00pm AKST

Over the River
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Vanina Lappa 
Runtime: 1 Hour 14 Min
Country of Origin: Italy

“We are too old-fashioned, this is the problem. We look at the moon, we look at too many things…”

This is told to Angelo, a young waiter that lives in a small village. It is said that inside the grotto is guarded an ancient secret. The village seems to live in a suspended time, anchored to old rituals, such as pig’s killing, wheat harvesting or the electoral campaign. The young man follows all this with a participated detachment and he confront himself with an older man called Angelo, just like him, a barman at the local café, who that from behind the counter benefit of a favoured viewpoint on the village’s dynamics. They both dream and fear the escape at the same time, both scared by the idea that if they go away they may lose everything they are.


Saturday December 9, 2017 5:00pm - 6:15pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

5:00pm AKST

Actors of Sound
Directed by Lalo Molina
Runtime: 1 Hour 22 Min
Country of Origin: USA

From footsteps to bone cracks, Foley artists bring films to life with their imaginative sound effects. As digital technology goes full speed ahead in 21st century moviemaking, can Hollywood’s low tech Foley artist survive in this high tech age?

Actors of Sound Website

Saturday December 9, 2017 5:00pm - 6:30pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

5:15pm AKST

Life Hack
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Sloan Copeland
Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Min
Country of Origin: USA

White hat hacker Charlie finds out that his best friend is being blackmailed by the infamously unidentifiable Moraler - a glorified cyber bully who many believe is the mastermind behind recent anti-establishment hacks. After struggling actress Carolyn gets hacked, Charlie and Jack decide to embark on a tense and amusing search for the twistedly righteous Moraler before he releases Bobby’s blackmail video to social media. "Life Hack" is a comedic cautionary tale about our digital privacy…or complete lack thereof.


Saturday December 9, 2017 5:15pm - 6:45pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

7:00pm AKST

Drive-In: CANCELLED
This isn't in the cards this festival, though we certainly put a lot of effort into making this happen!

The films scheduled to play here are now at the E St Theater:

7pm: Animation
8:30pm: What if it Works?

Join us for some after-hours mingling with your film-festival friends at Tequila 61!

Enjoy your festival!

Saturday December 9, 2017 7:00pm - 7:30pm AKST
Drive-In

7:00pm AKST

Animation 2
Afterwork
Directed by Luis Uson
Run Time: 7 min, Ecuador
The cartoons entertain us, they make us laugh, but do we know what they do when the screen goes off? Do we know who they really are? Welcome to... Afterwork.

Cigare
Directed by Tom Tassel
Runtime: 6min, Canada
An animated dance choreography featuring a drop of water and a drop of oil.

Daisy Love
Directed by Nicole Costa
Run TIme: 3min, USA
Curtis falls in love at first sight with Naveen. But when you're a flower, how do you get another flower's attention?

Genesis
Directed by Abtin Mozafari
Run Time: 10min, Iran
A first episode of a fantasy series set in Syria.

Happy End
Directed by Jan Saska
Run Time: 6 min, Czech Republic
A black comedy about death with a happy ending, with a splendid chain of unlikely encounters.

Lume
Directed by Laura Owens
Run Time 3.5min, United Kingdom
A burdened slave navigates through a cavernous world to carry out his punishing work.

Ming
Directed by Danski Tang
Run Time: 3 min, China
A Chinese student's experience as a live figure model while abroad.

Not One of Us
Directed by Bill Jarcho
Run time: 9min, USA
An ominous warning about the perils of building walls in the name of greed, hegemony, and xenophobia.

RIPrivacy
Directed by Aycan Basar
Run Time: 5 min, Turkey
A satirical humor of our very much connected life.

South Forest
Directed by Wenrui Huang
Run Time: 7 min, Japan

Stalagbite
Directed by Kevin Luo
Run Time 3 min, USA
A caver named Crouton is lured into a mysterious cave of unidentified toothed creatures. Harassed and scattered by these monsters, he ventures deep into the unknown, only to discover a monstrosity much too hard to swallow.

Twice Upon a Time
Directed by Vojin Vasovic
Run Time: 15 min, Canada
Twice Upon a Time, there was a king with split personality whose one half wants to become a poet and the other a fearless warrior. They desperately want to get rid of each other.

Saturday December 9, 2017 7:00pm - 8:15pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

7:00pm AKST

AlphaGo
Directed by Greg Kohs
Country of Origin: USA
Runtime: 1:30:28

AlphaGo chronicles a journey from the backstreets of Bordeaux, past the coding terminals of Google DeepMind, to Seoul, where a legendary Go master faces an unproven AI challenger. As the drama unfolds, questions emerge: What can artificial intelligence reveal about a 3000-year-old game? What will it teach us about humanity?

AlphaGo Movie

Saturday December 9, 2017 7:00pm - 8:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

7:00pm AKST

The Laplace's Demon
Directed by Giordano Giulivi
Run Time: 1h45m
Country of Origin: Italy

Imagine a glass in free fall. Have you ever thought if it is possible to calculate into how many pieces it can break into? After numerous experiments, a team of researchers succeeds in doing just this apparently impossible task. Attracted to their experiment, a mysterious professor invites the scientists into his isolated mansion to know more about their studies. However, when they arrive, they are not greeted by their host but they are faced with a strange model of the mansion, where the researchers will soon be involved in a new experiment in which they’ll have to play a very different role: that of the glass in free fall.

Trailer


Saturday December 9, 2017 7:00pm - 9:00pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

8:30pm AKST

What if It Works?
Directed by Romi Trower
Australia

Adrian, an irrepressibly chirpy tech nerd, has OCD. Grace, a beautiful street artist, has Multiple Personality Disorder. It's a love story that seems impossible. But what if it works?


What If It Works Film

 


Saturday December 9, 2017 8:30pm - 10:00pm AKST
E Street Theater 315 E Street Anchorage, AK 99501

9:00pm AKST

Chasing the Blues
Limited Capacity seats available

Chasing the Blues
Directed by Scott Smith

Two rival record collectors attempt to con an old lady out of a rare but cursed 1930s blues record. When a series of unfortunate circumstances lands them in jail, the feud festers for over 20 years until they are released from prison and get a second chance at snagging the vinyl – this time from a more formidable foe.

Chasing the Blues Film


Saturday December 9, 2017 9:00pm - 10:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

9:00pm AKST

Shorts on the Edge
Shorts, on the Edge. 
*A number of these films were seen on Opening Night*

Cold Storage
Directed by Thomas Freundlich
Run Time 9min, Finland
On a desolate arctic shore, a lonely fisherman discovers his prehistoric counterpart frozen in the ice, and thaws him out as his newfound soul brother.

The Counselor
Directed by Guy Bauer
Run TIme: 11min, USA
At a crisis center in late 1971, a freshly minted counselor on the late shift takes his first call: a suicidal teenager whose parents won’t let her come home for Christmas.

Iron
Directed by L. Gabriel Gonda
Run Time: 17min, USA
During the First World War an unflinching young woman determined to defy traditional roles, travels west to pursue a job working the rails.

Must Kill Karl
Directed by Joe Kicak
Run TIme: 12min, Canada
Everyone has “that” friend - the one who shows up uninvited, drinks all your booze, and hits on your girlfriend - who we all secretly hate and wish would just go away. One night, a group of friends decide enough is enough and there’s only one way to get rid of him for good…

Whoever Was Using This Bed
Directed by Andrew Kotatko
Run Time: 20min, Australia
A married couple is woken in the dead of night by a mysterious phone call. Unable to sleep, they are drawn into an unsettling examination of their fears and desires.

The Robbery
Directed by Jim Cummings
Run Time: 15min
Crystal robs a liquor store. It goes pretty ok.

Game
Directed by Jeannie Donohoe
Run Time: 15min, USA
A new kid shows up at the high school boys' basketball tryouts and instantly makes an impression. Will talent and drive be enough to make the team once they discover a secret?

Saturday December 9, 2017 9:00pm - 10:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

9:00pm AKST

Late Night Lounge at Tequila 61
Limited Capacity seats available

Mingle with AIFF-goers and visiting filmmakers while talking up the week’s worth of films! Enjoy Tequila 61 late-night food specials just for AIFF and sip a unique festival cocktail.

Cash bar, appetizer specials, and a great way to wrap up an exciting run of films! 


Saturday December 9, 2017 9:00pm - Sunday December 10, 2017 12:00am AKST
Tequila 61
 
Sunday, December 10
 

12:00pm AKST

Arctic Daughter
Directed by Jean Aspen & Tom Irons
Run Time: 1h27m
Made in Alaska

Arctic Daughter: A Lifetime of Wilderness is a 90-minute documentary written and recorded, directed and produced by author Jean Aspen and her husband, Tom Irons. Recorded at their log cabin in the remote Brooks Range of Alaska, this retrospective piece carries the viewer from Aspen’s childhood in an arctic log cabin, through her precarious youthful wanderings, and across six wild decades. Using historic footage, vivid photographs, high-definition video, and original music, Jeanie shares her amazing life beyond civilization and conveys her love affair with wilderness and family. The couple’s work speaks to the authentic human journey and to our belonging in the greater community of life.  

Edited by Brian George Smith (Puffin Bay, The Care and Feeding of Jack). From Anchorage to L.A. and back Brian has worked in the movie industry his entire adult life. Brian’s sensitivity to sound, timing, music, and story line has made this documentary come to life on the big screen. 
Second in a planned trilogy of documentaries by Aspen, Irons, and Smith Arctic Daughter: A Lifetime of Wilderness is deeply honest while carrying a message for everyone who loves and cherishes wild places. Their first, Arctic Son: Fulfilling the Dream, depicting their young family establishing a foothold alone in the arctic, aired on PBS stations across the nation. Currently, the two elders are recording Rewilding Kernwood, as they release and deconstruct all that they have built, restoring the land to nature. Their message is universal, as is their intended audience.  }

Sunday December 10, 2017 12:00pm - 1:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

12:30pm AKST

Short Docs 2: Against the Grain
Limited Capacity seats available

Short documentaries full of compelling stories of the many ways to go against the grain.

52 Trolleybus
DIrected by David Aurbach
Run Time: 29 min, Austria
A story of a beloved former communist institution and its last gasps for survival and a look into the lives of the people that try to keep it all going amid the political and economic turmoil of the region. 

Bear In The Bedroom
DIrected by Albert Koomen
Run Time: 7 min, Australia
As he dresses, a bear reveals more than just a hairy chest - he talks about the highs and lows of his life and the healing power of love. 

Family Rewritten
Directed by Yasmin Mistry
Run Time: 13 min, USA
Despite battling Cystic Fibrosis, Camilla, age 16, identifies as a typical middle-class American teenager until the thread that holds her family together suddenly unwinds. Just months before her 18th birthday Camilla finds herself in foster care, but instead of being ashamed, she makes a conscious decision to not let her situation define her. 

GatorAide
Directed by Alex Witkowicz
Run Time: 10 min
The world's best alligator rodeo takes place in the unsuspecting shadow of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. But the reasons behind this bizarre annual roundup will leave viewers enraptured with the animals, the people who wrestle them, and will create a newfound appreciation for what it's like to live life with all ten of their fingers still attached. 

Hairat
Directed by Jessica Beshir
Run Time: 7 min, USA
One man's nightly ritual brings solace to the lovelorn of Harar. 

HI8
Directed by John Shaw
Run Time 5 min, USA
By powering up their "time machine," a dated Hi8 camcorder, two friends explore and discuss the joy of creating movies as a kid.

Unwelcome
Directed by Ida Theresa Myklebost
Run Time: 16 min, USA
In a tent at a gas station lives six year old Menwar. Together with his siblings and parents, he fled Syria, hoping to find peace in Europe. But when they finally arrive, they find a continent that does not want them, a continent that has closed its borders to refugees like them.

He Who Dances on Wood
Directed by Jessica Beshir
Run Time: 6 min, USA
One man's search for joy has culminated in a constant experience of rhythm in the world around him. 
 
Total Run Time: 95 min 

Sunday December 10, 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

2:00pm AKST

Keep Talking and Shaawatke'e's Birth
Directed by Karen Weinberg
Run Time: 1h 20 min 
Made in Alaska

*Producer Kari Sherod in Attendance*

Four Alaska Native women learning to teach their critically endangered language, as only 41 fluent Elders still speak Kodiak Alutiiq. The grit and resilience of these women helps them overcome historical trauma, politics and personal demons as they evolve into "language warriors."

Watch the Trailer

Keep Talking Film  

Shaawatke'e's Birth 
Runtime: 4 Min
Directed by: Ronald Spatz
Made in Alaska

A poem by Emily Wall and X'unei Lance Twitchell. Told from the perspective of both father and mother, this origin story chronicles the birth of Shaawatkee through Tlingit and English--representing the power and the importance of language and identity. 




Sunday December 10, 2017 2:00pm - 3:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

2:30pm AKST

Best of Fest Shorts
Selections of award winners.

Sunday December 10, 2017 2:30pm - 4:00pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

4:00pm AKST

Aerial Films Showcase
Alaska Aerial Media’s first AIFF showcase, of aerial films from around the globe. This is a showcase of the top ten selections from their program. 

More details to come! 

Sunday December 10, 2017 4:00pm - 5:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

4:15pm AKST

Shorts to Features: The Ins and Outs of Indie Filmmaking
Join a selection of award-winning Alaska Filmmakers in a discussion about how to bring your story from script to screen. AK Filmmakers’ founder D.K. Johnston will moderate an interactive discussion between our panelist and audience, and showcase the various path’s filmmakers can take when putting their production together.

D.K. will be joined by Writer/Director Levi A. Taylor (Conspiracy P.I.E., Way Up North), Cinematographer/Gaffer April Frame (Frame by Frame Productions), Director/Editor Quinton Oliver Smith (Ruthless Rhymer, Find Me) and Director Logan Dellinger (Moose the Movie, Sudsy Slim Rides Again). Each filmmaker has taken part in both large and small-scale productions including feature films, music videos, commercials and reality television. Each has benefited from working together in the Alaska Film Community, and look forward to sharing their knowledge with attendees of this year’s Anchorage International Film Festival.

For More Information on our panelist, you can visit the following sites.

D.K. Johnston – trisevenpictures.com

Levi Taylor – crookedpictures.com

April Frame – framebyframeproductions.com

Quinton Oliver Smith – www.facebook.com/landsickfilms/

Logan Dellinger - nomadcinematics.com

If you are interested in filmmaking in Alaska be sure to register, for free, with the alaskafilmmakers.com Crew Directory.

For more information on panelists and AK Filmmakers

 


Sunday December 10, 2017 4:15pm - 5:30pm AKST
Port View Room 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501

6:00pm AKST

Awards Celebration
Limited Capacity seats available

A fitting capstone on an full festival, this awards gathering is a celebration of filmmakers and their hard work!

The "Golden Oosik"  award is given to top jury award winners in categories of: 
Features, Documentaries, Documentary Shorts, Shorts, Super Shorts, Animation,  Made in Alaska and Screenplay. Top finalists will be recognized as well. 

The Walter Kaitz Foundation and GCI will recognize one Native Alaskan filmmaker recipient of their national prize. 

Light food provided, and full cash bar on site.
$20, or $20 for AIFF Passholders. Audience Choice Award winner will screen directly following awards celebration. Included in ticket.  

Sunday December 10, 2017 6:00pm - 7:30pm AKST
Williwaw 601 F Street, Anchorage, AK 99501

8:00pm AKST

Audience Award Winner - What if it Works
Limited Capacity seats available

Directed by Romi Trower
Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Min
Country of Origin: Australia

Adrian, an irrepressibly chirpy tech nerd, has OCD. Grace, a beautiful street artist, has Multiple Personality Disorder. It's a love story that seems impossible. But what if it works?

Sunday December 10, 2017 8:00pm - 9:30pm AKST
Williwaw 601 F Street, Anchorage, AK 99501

8:00pm AKST

Award Winner - Drawer Boy
Directed by Arturo Perez Torres
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Min
Country of Origin: Canada 

*Producer Aviva Armour-Ostroff in attendance*

Miles, a naive actor from Toronto, turns up at a remote farm run by two men: the ruggedly practical Morgan and the simple-minded Angus. Along with his fellow actors, Miles is collecting stories about rural life in order to make a play. 

Through patient research, and a good deal of eavesdropping, Miles uncovers the true story of the two farmer’s lives: as school and wartime buddies, Morgan and Angus were stationed in Britain in the 1940s, where they met their future brides. Angus suffered brain damage during the Blitz, and the foursome returned to Ontario to live out their rural dream. When the farmers let the city-boy into their home, Miles’ search for a story gradually unearths a devastating truth that threatens to destroy the tranquil lives of his hosts forever. 

Beautifully written, funny and moving, The Drawer Boy is a multi-award-winning bitter sweet tale of the power of storytelling, friendship, and the very thin line between truth and fiction.

Sunday December 10, 2017 8:00pm - 9:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Large

8:00pm AKST

Award Winner - The Last Animals
Directed by Kate Brooks
Runtime: 1:31:50
Country of Origin: USA

The Last Animals is a story about an extraordinary group of people who go to all lengths to save the planet's last animals. The documentary follows the conservationists, scientists and activists battling poachers and transnational trafficking syndicates to protect elephants and rhinos from extinction. From Africa's front lines to behind the scenes of Asian markets to the United States, the film takes an intense look at the global response to this slaughter and the desperate measures to genetically rescue the Northern White rhinos who are on the edge of extinction.

Sunday December 10, 2017 8:00pm - 9:30pm AKST
Alaska Experience Theater Small 333 W 4th Ave # 207, Anchorage, AK 99501
 
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