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The Chandler International Film Festival Celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary; Driving Audience Connection

(01/27/26 9:16pm)

WARNING: This article contains spoilers and references to trauma. Reader discretion is advised.From Jan. 23 to Feb.1, Pollack Cinemas in Tempe and Chandler Gilbert Community College will host the 10th iteration of the Chandler International Film Festival, with the same decade-long mission: “to bring international films to a local audience.”Showcasing 120 films from 35 countries, the Chandler International Film Festival opened its arms to cinephiles and movie industry professionals, including Vernell Varnado, the father of the well-known artist Snoop Dogg, who made an appearance on the festival’s opening night. The Chandler International Film Festival is one of the many festivals that aredesigned to foster direct interaction between locals and the film industry. Not only are these festivals the perfect way for individuals looking to break into the film industry to network and showcase their work, but it is also a way to walk away with new skills via workshops such as their “How to Stand Out in Casting: A Step-by-Step Framework” workshop, hosted by casting director Bella Hibbs. In the grand scheme of cinema, everything boils down to the audiences and audience reactions. After every screening, the audience is given a chance to ask questions to the representatives from each movie, whether they are actors, filmmakers, cinematographers or other staff. Audience members get a chance to talk directly to the talents behind the movies they watch, which rarely happens with big Hollywood films.This kind of intimacy between audiences and filmmakers is what sets the Chandler International Film Festival and other local festivals apart from the disconnect that large-scale Hollywood films can sometimes foster. While there were many brilliant films, a few stuck out from the masses. Notably, “For One Night Only,” which Blaze Radio’s reporter Angel Garcia discusses extensively here, along with an exclusive interview with the lead actor, Tristian Prawong. One of the festival’s main attractions was the 10th anniversary screening of “Fragile Storm,” directed by Dawn Fields. The film opens up with leading audiences to believe that an old man had kidnapped and tied up a young woman in his house, and forced her to eat, sleep, etc. The young woman try to escape and stab the man with the knife, only to end up locking herself in the bathroom. In an amazingly twisted scene, the young woman sees her reflection in the mirror and realizes she’s older now, maybe 60s or 70s, and she slowly starts realizing that she wasn’t kidnapped, and the man she was running away from was not her captor, but her husband. The audience learns that the woman has Alzheimer's, and made her husband promise her years ago that no matter what he had to do, he would still manage to get her to sleep in the same bed as him, eat with him, and live under the same roof as him. After a flashback, the older woman unlocks the door and embraces her husband, finally remembering him. Just when audiences felt relief and happiness for the couple, the old woman started forgetting again and panicked when she no longer recognized her husband. The film then fades to black with a single message, "Alzheimer's caretakers suffer too.”The tension in the room after the film ended was evident, as no one expected a drama short that started as a kidnapping film to end with such a powerful message.Through films like “Fragile Storm,”the Chandler International Film Festival illustrates the importance of filmmaking and audience connection. As the festival continues to grow, it secures its spot within local and international film communities. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.chandlerfilmfestiv...

https://www.blazeradioonline.com/article/2026/01/the-chandler-international-film-festival-celebrates-its-10-year-anniversary-driving-audience-connection

Chandler International Film Festival Day 3: Hitting Home Globally

(01/27/26 9:15pm)

WARNING: This article contains spoilers and references to trauma, violence and death. Reader discretion is advised.On Jan. 25, day three of the Chandler International Film Festival officially started. The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary with over 120 shorts and films from 35 different countries being presented.The Best Drama Short Films featured five dramatic shorts ranging from honest depictions of trauma to bombshell storytelling. Out of these five films, one in particular caught fans feeling remorseful.“For One Night Only” follows a young man named Quinn (Tristian Prawong) who lost his childhood best friend, Alex (Vanessa Howard), in a car accident. However, at a Christmas party, Quinn meets a girl who looks extremely similar to Alex. In this chain of events, Quinn is forced to look into his undying grief face-to-face.The short challenges one of the stages of grief that many people struggle to overcome — acceptance. Once Quinn finally accepts that Alex is gone, the girl he met in his eyes changes and he finally comes to terms with reality.Tristian Prawong, the lead actor in the short, expressed his insight on what he believed was the most profound scene of the film.“I think the opening scene is really, in my opinion, the strongest,” Prawong said. “We’ve all experienced loss to some extent…everyone’s going to get there at some point in time.”Even without experiencing that level of grief himself going into the film, Prawong still felt that knowing that day would soon come assisted in his performance.Following right after the Best Drama selection was the Best Short Films selection. Similarly, five shorts were showcased, stretching from emotional meltdowns to intense decisions. This was especially present in one particular film depicting a screenwriting professor.“Inciting Incident” follows a screenwriting professor who breaks down in front of his students while being recorded. Afterward, he attempts to still live through the rules he teaches.Aside from Fred Arsenault portraying the professor exquisitely in the film, Prof. Banner emphasizes on how opportunities will always be missed. This changes once his students help him seize his opportunity to earn back his ex-wife. In order to continue adapting and improving, there must be structure. With a steady mindset, the right opportunities will be met.William Pace, the director of the short, shared the conflicts he faced and overcame while searching for the right audience.“When I read the script, it said a lot of insight about screenwriting, and I don’t know if there’s an audience for it,” Pace said. “So, we changed the title.”Originally named “Screenwriting 101”, Pace felt that “Inciting Incident” would be a more fitting title for viewers to dig into more easily.“I think it resonates with people,” Pace said. “I think they can see, they can understand it’s not as screenplay heavy as it was when it went through a lot of editing.”The final shorts that were showcased was Best Suspense/Thriller Short Films. Out of the five selected shorts, a specific film turned out to have one of the most intriguing plots.“Tonight, I Believe You” follows a struggling actor named Jimmi Sparrow (Vlad Jebran) who meets billionaire H. Stanley Greenleigh after completing a one night performance. After having a private dinner together, Jimmi’s career starts taking off. However, Jimmi continues to feel the unrelenting pressure from the presence of Mr. Greenleigh over his shoulders.The short questioned the importance of the lengths people go towards pursuing their dreams and aspirations. Jimmi felt uncertain in his own efforts to accomplish his goal with the lingering fear of Mr. Greenleigh’s powerful position.Tanner J. Perry, the director of the short, stated how he wanted Jimmi’s stakes to be small in retrospect, but high for Jimmi.“The thing that resonates the most is just that want to progress, even if, to most people, it’s small, but to you, it’s major,” Perry said.With a budget of around $3500, “Tonight, I Believe You” was shot in seven days, spread out across three months. With a small budget, Perry reached beyond the expenses, using his own apartment as Jimmi’s apartment.“I think everyone, whether you’re creative or not, has gotten to that point where maybe you think about going to those extremes,” Perry said. “Just the want to self-progress.”In the subject of self progress, the final film of the night was introduced – a feature length documentary on a truly inspiring woman with a story that pulled at the audience’s heartstrings.“My Life Between The Reins” follows the story of Paige Baylis, a young woman born with cerebral palsy. While doctors claimed that she might never do everyday functions, Paige battled the odds. She entered into the competitive equestrian world, training under the guidance of Kevin Dukes. Marilyn Swick, the director of the film, tearfully displayed her empathy in Paige’s compelling journey and gratefulness in the ability to share it.“Paige and Susie are the most inspirational people I’ve ever met in my life,” Swick said. “For so many people out there that think, ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘I can’t do this’... Just stay inspired.”Although the film was showcased at the end of the night, audiences were still captivated by the emotional story of Paige Baylis.“Never give up. Follow your own destiny,” Swick said. “You never know where it’ll take you.”This documentary truly stands as a beacon of hope, establishing the courage and resilience within everyday people regardless of obstacles. As Paige puts it herself, “I am not disabled, just inconvenienced."These films not only place themselves as immersive cinema, but serve as a catalyst in inspiring the next generation of filmmakers to come.

https://www.blazeradioonline.com/article/2026/01/chandler-international-film-festival-day-3-hitting-home-globally

The Chandler International Film Festival Opening Night: “Lo Que Dice El Corazón”

(01/27/26 2:41am)

The 10th annual Chandler International Film Festival is taking place at Pollack Tempe Cinemas from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1, and will feature over 100 films by international filmmakers.The festival opened Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. with a red carpet. Throughout the duration of two hours, filmmakers and actors showcased their outfits to guests and the press. When not on the red carpet, guests, filmmakers and actors mingled in Pollack Cinemas main entrance, and the press recorded interviews to get insight on the film. The red carpet was followed by its first screening, the film “Lo Que Dice El Corazón,” directed by Rene Bueno, at 8 p.m. The film stars Jaime Aymerich as Tomás, a single dad struggling to find a community for his autistic son, Kevin, played by Sergio Valenzuela Carrillo. Lorena E. González plays Marilyn, an escort that Tomás meets as an answer to his loneliness, and Veronica Montes plays Sarah, Kevin’s absent mother who abandoned him when he was young. Bueno has been in the filmmaking industry since 2004, directing and writing his first film, “7 mujeres, 1 homosexual y Carlos.” In “Lo Que Dice El Corazón,” actors Aymerich and González also worked as producers alongside Bueno. Tomás is a single dad who has dedicated his entire life to his autistic son, Kevin. With his ex-wife out of the picture, Tomás relentlessly searches an escort service for companionship. He eventually meets Marilyn and invites her over. Only wanting to cure his isolation, they spend the night in conversation. Later that night, Kevin meets Marilyn and tells his father “she has a good soul.” As the film progresses, Tomás is diagnosed with Leukemia and only has 6 months to live. Tomás realizes no one wants to care for Kevin because he’s autistic and struggles to find him a caring guardian. Tomás goes to his brother, Nicolas, for help; however, Nicolas was vehement on not being able to “properly” care for Kevin as he’s “too much” and needs attention that the brother is not willing to give. After an epiphany, Tomás realizes Kevin needs a maternal figure in his life, especially since his biological mother has been absent since birth. The distressed father pursues Marilyn to take on that motherly role. As he takes Marilyn in, he also begins to develop a sense of protectiveness over Marilyn and wants to provide a better life for her. The movie deals with a parent's nightmare: leaving this earth with no one to adequately take care of their child. Many parents of autistic kids fear dying before their children and leaving them in a world that is not accommodating to them. Aymerich and Montes were in attendance at the festival and watched the film with the audience before partaking in a Q&A after the showing. During the Q&A, Aymerich said it was José Bastón who changed his mind about the selection of Kevin’s actor and whether the actor should be neurodivergent. Aymerich said Bastón told him that “you have to have an autistic actor; you have to be authentic” at a dinner in New York City. After discussing that enlightenment with the other producers, they decided to hire a child actor with autism for authenticity. In several castings before, Aymerich had worked with a child actor he thought was perfect for the role, but who was not autistic. However, when acting out an intense scene where Kevin has a breakdown, Aymerich said Carrillo reacted differently from the other child actor. Aymerich said Carrillo was able to handle the scene and continue, while the other child actor was not, which secured Carrillo the role.When Aymerich was shocked by Carrillo’s ability to continue on, Carrillo responded by telling him, “Jaime, I’m an actor.”Over the course of filming, Aymerich developed a strong bond with Carrillo, which later turned into a close relationship, in which Carrillo confessed that since he was fatherless, he wished Aymerich were his real dad. Aymerich told Carrillo that he could not be his father, but he could be his friend, which led them to spend the holidays together. “I learned a lot about him, more than anything,” expressed Aymerich. Aymerich said that he and Carrillo hold a strong relationship to this day, while bringing awareness to the struggles a single parent goes through while having an autistic child.Towards the end of the Q&A segment, a teacher of a neurodivergent class and two mothers of autistic children shared their stories and expressed their appreciation for the film, as well as commenting on how Marilyn's character resonated with them. One mother even said, “I really appreciate [people] for being accepting and just so empathetic to him, because all it takes is someone just to see him.” For them, Marilyn's empathy and care for Kevin were heartwarming to watch, especially as the film highlighted how easily people dismiss children with autism as “too difficult to handle,” rather than giving them grace. “Lo Que Dice El Corazón” leaves audiences with the message that children with autism should be given the opportunity to dream like any other child.

https://www.blazeradioonline.com/article/2026/01/the-chandler-international-film-festival-opening-night-lo-que-dice-el-corazon

OPINION: Anaconda Hits More than it Misses

(01/27/26 2:39am)

Spoiler WarningSony’s new movie, “Anaconda,” is a reboot of the 1997 cult classic starring Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton as a group of friends trying to remake the original movie. The story is a very unique set-up for a reboot, and allows for the film to do its own thing.While filming in the Amazon Rainforest, they hire a snake handler named Santiago (Selton Mello) and are joined by Ana (Daniela Melchior) who’s on the run from some men for initially unknown reasons. Black is the standout out of the cast in terms of both acting and comedy. Things are constantly going wrong during production and Black plays his character, Doug, like he’s always on the edge of losing it. Rudd is surprisingly unfunny in this movie. He plays a struggling actor named Griff, who’s sole claim to fame is being in four episodes of “S.W.A.T.” The character screws up at almost every turn, from killing Santiago’s snake to shooting a cop who was in the process of saving the cast from the main non-snake villain. However, Rudd does a bad job playing off these moments, and comes off as kind of annoying.Despite this, Rudd and the rest of the cast have great chemistry with each other. They all feel like friends that are making the movie just for the fun of it.Doug and Riff joke with each other that their movie should be about more than just a big snake and should have “themes.” They throw out some ideas like intergenerational trauma and how gold mining destroys the Amazon Rainforest, eventually settling on the snake representing them and their friendship. The whole movie is about friendship, but it’s also about a giant snake hunting down those friends.The anaconda this film is named after is in this movie much less than the trailers would have you believe. The snake only starts hunting the cast around the halfway point, and a good amount of the deaths happen offscreen.When the snake does appear on-screen, it does a pretty bad job at killing our main cast. The anaconda has Doug in its mouth at one point, but seemingly doesn’t chew or digest him at all when the audience sees him on the ground soon after.Santiago mentions early in the film that an anaconda’s victims who die are the lucky ones, as they aren’t alive for when the snake comes back to finish them off.This never comes up again, and the main cast are very much the lucky ones since none of them die. They even get a selfie with Ice Cube.While the snake is underwhelming, the cast is fun to watch throughout the movie and Black provides some great comedy. Anaconda is a decent way to spend 99 minutes.

https://www.blazeradioonline.com/article/2026/01/opinion-anaconda-hits-more-than-it-misses