Location | Arlington, MA |
---|---|
Founded | 2010 |
Festival date | Annually, in November |
Language | International |
Website | http://www.aiffest.org/ |
The Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual nonprofit film festival [1] dedicated to promoting and increasing multicultural awareness and showcases world cinema and independent films in their original language with English subtitles. Independent film producers, directors and actors within the US and abroad are invited to participate in engaging panel discussions and Q&A sessions after the screenings. Each year the festival greets more than 2,000 movie aficionados and shows about fifty films from all over the world with an impressive lineup of premieres. The Arlington International Film Festival also includes a year-round events such as poster contest competitions (the AIFF's logo was designed by Marley Jurgensmeyer, winner of the 2012 poster contest competition), pre-festival screenings and art exhibitions with local artists and performances by musicians, singers and dancers.
The Arlington International Film Festival was founded in 2010 by April Ranck and Alberto Guzman, in the aim of exploring and promoting the cultural diversity through the lens of independent films in a wide range of topics and areas. Jumping from 53 submissions the first year to over 142 the following year, the festival has been a significant success and attracts many enthusiast moviegoers. Hundreds of submissions are now watched by AIFF's Selection Committee each year and many of the selected films have been nominated for Academy Awards, while others have been purchased by CNN, POV PBS and Nova. The festival was held during four consecutive years at the historic Regent Theatre in Arlington.
In 2015, the festival took place at the Kendall Square Cinema, [2] Massachusetts.
In 2016, the annual festival returned to his home city in Arlington, and was held at the Capitol Theater, [3] in Arlington, Massachusetts. The number of films submissions continues to increase with a strong participation of filmmakers as well as a growing audience.
For its 10th anniversary, Arlington Int’l Film Festival, like many others, was hit by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. There was no red carpet to walk, but instead an Online Festival was held from November 5 to November 15, 2020, in partnership with the social-media marketing company HappsNow [4] and the streaming platform Xerb.tv. [5] In lieu of in person interviews, filmmakers were invited to make an introduction prior to their film being screened and more than hundred films, documentary and narrative features including shorts plus two programs of animation shorts were screened during the 2020 year's festival. Once again, AIFF welcomed high school students. This program named: “Voices of Our Youth” wrapped up a collection of nearly 60 shorts films.
In 2021, given the Covid 19 situation, with safety in mind, the Festival was still virtual for another year. But yet, AIFF was able to fulfill its mission and offered a good selection of films.
On November 3, 2022, the AIFF was glad to be back at the Capital Theater to host its 12th annual Festival. From November 3, to November 5, 2023, the annual festival showcased more than 40 films, documentaries and shorts at the Capitol Theater. Some of them being chosen for a world-wide tour and nominated for Academy Award.
In 2014, the "Martin Luther King Community" awarded AIFF for spreading diversity and awareness of African-American culture, [6] In 2012, the AIFF received the Year Award from the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, [7] and in 2013, the Mc Clennen Community Arts Award from Arlington Center for the Arts [8] [9] in recognition for building community, as well as the Gold Star Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council [10] for its 2013 poster contest. In January 2014, in conjunction with the Visual Art Department of the Arlington High School, AIFF brought artist Winfred Rembert [11] [12] for a 5-day residency. AIFF has also partnered with the Boston Environmental Film Festival, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Boston Irish Film Festival. In addition, AIFF worked with the filmmaker Alice Rotchild, of documentary Voices Across the Divide, which co-won the Boston Palestine Film Festival's ‘2013 Audience Award for Best Film. Two films: Botso: The Teacher from Tbilisi and Elena that were showcased at the Arlington International Festival in 2014 were among the 134 features nominated in the 'Documentary Feature' category at the 87th Academy Awards. [13] For the 9th annual festival, AIFF launched a new award: "Audience Choice Awards , sponsored by Spy Pond Productions. These awards were named in honor of Fran Ranck Tood, who passed in the spring of 2019. He was a faithful supporter and ambassador of the AIFF.
The screenings include feature length and short films in narrative, documentary and animation categories. Showings emphasize multiculturalism. The Arlington International Film Festival is a juried festival. College and High school students are also included.
STUDENTS AWARDS VOICES OF OUR YOUTH.
Honorable Mentions:
STUDENTS AWARDS- VOICES OF OUR YOUTH.
STUDENTS AWARDS - VOICES of OUR YOUTH
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FILMS AWARDS: "VOICES OF OUR YOUTH"
Her previous documentary Awaken the Dragon for cancer survivors was screened as a finalist of HUA International Short Film festival in Los Angeles, London, Tokyo and China. Shugi Wang's other works also have been featured on channels such as NBC.
Students Division Awards:
The film has received 18 awards from 12 different film festivals.
Students Division Awards:
Local Filmmakers & Next Generation Of Filmmakers Awards:
Microsoft Awards. Special Recognition to:
Students Division Awards:
Best of Festival:
Best Narrative Feature:
Best Documentary Feature:
Best Documentary Short Film:
Best Narrative Short Film:
Best Animation Short Film:
Official Selection at the Seattle International Film Festival and Vancouver International Film Festival.
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION AWARDS: Best of Festival:
Best Documentary Short:
Best Narrative Short:
Best Experimental Short:
Special Presentation from this year's Harvard College Film Festival:
Best of Festival:
Best Narrative Feature:
Best Documentary Short Film:
Best Fiction Short Film':
Best Animated Short Film':
COLLEGE AWARDS 'Best of Festival:
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION AWARDS: Best of Festival:
Best Experimental:
Best Animation:
Best Documentary:
Best Narrative:
Best of Festival:
Best Documentary:
Best Narrative:
Best Narrative Short:
Best Documentary Short:
Best Documentary:
Best Narrative:
Best Short:
Best Documentary - High School Division Awards:
Best Narrative - High School Division Award:
Best of Festival:
Best Documentary:
Best Narrative:
Best of Festival & Best Documentary -High School Division Awards:
Best Narrative - High School Division Award:
High School Division AwardsBest Animation - High School Division Awards:
Best Experimental - High School Division Award:
Best of Festival:
Best Documentary:
Best Narrative:
Best Short Film - High School Division Award:
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