header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
February 10
2013 - Motion picture helicopter provider David Gibbs of Valencia and two others are killed in crash at Acton movie ranch; Hollywood's deadliest on-set incident since triple-fatal "Twilight Zone Movie" helicopter crash in Valencia in 1982 [report]
NTSB report on helicopter crash


It’s December which means the return of the Santa Clarita International Film Festival’s opening night is right around the corner.

The Santa Clarita International Film Festival (SCIFF), will begin on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m., and will continue its four-day run with the awards ceremony on Saturday, and the festival concluding on the night of Sunday, Dec. 12.

SCIFF has obtained over 100 short and feature films that will be screened daily starting at 10am, and 30 films slated to screen virtually for those out of the state or country, as SCIFF is a hybrid film festival.

The virtual program will include online screenings and in studio interviews with filmmakers, musicians, local politicians, and celebrities. The concept of a hybrid style event is for this gathering to serve as a springboard into a new way of showing short and feature-length independent films to the world, and to work as a way to present festivals in the future, post Covid-19 times.

The festival’s submissions run the gamut, from Drama to Theological, with the Theological program wrapping up SCIFF on Sunday.

Opening night of the festival will be held at the Laemmle theater’s recently added Newhall location and hosted by Southern California broadcasting icon and weathercaster, Fritz Coleman. Coleman spent his forty-year career at NBC but is also a well-known comic.

The remainder of the festival, starting Dec. 10 to 12 will be hosted by the multi-screened Regal Edwards Theater a few blocks away in Valencia.

SCIFF is a festival of the arts using film as its centralized showcased medium, the goal is to empower the community of Santa Clarita Valley, the artists, and those in the industry who live there.

Extensive music and comedy programs have been added to the event. 27 musical acts, bands, and individual performers of all genres have committed, and will entertain the SCIFF crowds on the Entertainment Plaza of the Valencia Town Hall Center, on all days from the 10 to 12. The comedy portion of the program will feature 22 comedians performing nightly, at intermittent times on the Entertainment Plaza.

Other noted celebrity talent that will be in attendance are, LA radio and comedy legend Frazer Smith, Johnny Whitaker, who played brother Jody to Buffy in the popular television show Family Affair that ran from 1966 to 1971 on CBS, and Rodney Allen Rippy, the former child actor who proclaimed that the Jumbo Jack hamburger was too big to eat in Jack in the Box commercials that he starred in in the 1970s. Frazer and Whitaker will serve as screening hosts, while Rippy will make attendees laugh as live comedy guest.

While Fritz Coleman will be hosting the opening night, he will also be conducting interviews with several of the celebrity talents in attendance under the guise of his themed, “From Past to Present. Words of Wisdom for a Changing Landscape”. “SCIFF would like its seasoned guests to share their infinite knowledge and years of entertainment wisdom with our talented creators and festival guests”, explains founder Lisa De Souza. “We think that there is a need for reconnection at this moment in time, and these guests bring not only talent, but a familiarity and sense of comfort to this type of space. Many people grew up with or had parents who grew up with these people in their creative spaces, either on film or on television”.

Opening night of the festival will kick off with the feature film viewing of Fireboys. The film focuses on the incarcerated youth at Pine Grove Conservation Camp in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Drew Dickler and Jake Hochendoner co-wrote and co-directed the film. Fireboys is the untold story of young men incarcerated in California who are offered a way out: by fighting wildfires.

Also listed to screen the same night is the 28-minute short film Two Heads are Better Than One. This film follows the life of Benjamin Ferencz, the last living prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials. The Nuremberg trials were a series of thirteen trials that were carried out in Nuremberg, Germany between 1945 and 1949. The defendants included members of the Nazi Party, high ranking military officials, and various high-profile professionals who were indited on charges of crimes against humanity.

The Santa Clarita International Film Festival is also very proud to be participating in a revenue share with the filmmakers who were accepted into the program, and who will have their films shown. SCIFF will be sharing 20% of all box office ticket sales with those lucky festival participants. SCIFFs heavy emphasis of building community is the reason that this offer exists.

For full event info and bios on talent visit the festivals website.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Feb 10, 2025
Feb. 21: Sulphur Spring School District Job Fair
Sulphur Springs Union School District is hosting a job fair, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at 27000 Weyerhaeuser Way, Santa Clarita, CA, 91351.
Sunday, Feb 9, 2025
LASD Seeks Public’s Help Locating Missing Santa Clarita Man
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit is asking for the public’s help locating an at-risk missing person.
Friday, Feb 7, 2025
Ross Fundraiser Benefits SCV Boys & Girls Club
Beginning Saturday, Feb. 8 through Sunday, March 2, customers in Santa Clarita Valley can donate to Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clarita Valley during checkout at their local Ross Dress for Less store.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
College of the Canyons softball was quick in claiming a pair of non-conference wins on Saturday, Feb. 8, sweeping its doubleheader vs. Imperial Valley College in commanding fashion.
Canyons Sweeps Doubleheader from Imperial Valley in Home Opener
The Open Book will host a local author fair, 2-6 p.m., Saturday, March 1. The Open Book is now accepting applications from authors to participate in the event.
March 1: The Open Book Hosting Local Author Fair
College of the Canyons track and field teams combined for 11 first-place finishes at the annual season-opening Battle of the Regions meet hosted by Bakersfield College on Friday, Feb. 7.
Canyons Track & Field Opens Strong at Battle of the Regions
In today’s fast-paced world, finding the time to stay informed and learn about new subjects can be a challenge; which is why I have always been a huge fan of the ease and flexibility of podcasts whether I’m using my AirPods to listen while exercising, playing through the car while driving or tuning in when relaxing at home.
Ken Striplin | Santa Clarita Voices is On Air
ARTree Community Arts Studio has been awarded a city of Santa Clarita Community Services and Arts Grant for 2025, which will allow it to offer its popular Nest: Healing Art Studio program an additional day each month for a year.
ARTree Receives Grant, Facilitating Nest Program
Junior Chamber International of Santa Clarita has announced the return of Get Real: Adulting 101, a fun and interactive financial education simulation for high school juniors and seniors.
March 29: JCI Get Real: Adulting 101 Seeks Sponsors
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office has released the list of nine productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Feb. 10 to Sunday, Feb. 16.
Feb. 10-16: Nine Productions Filming in Santa Clarita
Sulphur Springs Union School District is hosting a job fair, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at 27000 Weyerhaeuser Way, Santa Clarita, CA, 91351.
Feb. 21: Sulphur Spring School District Job Fair
2013 - Motion picture helicopter provider David Gibbs of Valencia and two others are killed in crash at Acton movie ranch; Hollywood's deadliest on-set incident since triple-fatal "Twilight Zone Movie" helicopter crash in Valencia in 1982 [report]
NTSB report on helicopter crash
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit is asking for the public’s help locating an at-risk missing person.
LASD Seeks Public’s Help Locating Missing Santa Clarita Man
1971, 6:01 a.m. - Sylmar/San Fernando Earthquake centered in Iron Canyon/Sand Canyon [WATCH FILM]
1971 earthquake film
1990 - Rock 'n' Roller Del Shannon, whose hit "Runaway" topped the charts in April 1961, found dead at home in Sand Canyon [story]
Del Shannon
Beginning Saturday, Feb. 8 through Sunday, March 2, customers in Santa Clarita Valley can donate to Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clarita Valley during checkout at their local Ross Dress for Less store.
Ross Fundraiser Benefits SCV Boys & Girls Club
The Saugus Union School District Asset Management Committee will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Feb. 12: Saugus School District Asset Management Committee Meeting
The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
Feb. 13: Castaic School Board to Receive Chiquita Canyon Landfill Update
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale, led by Artistic Director Allan Robert Petker, is currently in its 25th anniversary season celebrating its mission to bring fine choral music to the Santa Clarita Valley community.
March 9: Santa Clarita Master Chorale Presents ‘Silver Serenade’
The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a special meeting in closed session to negotiate the purchase of parcels of land at 5:30 p.m. in the Carl Boyer Room at City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Feb. 11: City Council to Negotiate Land Purchases
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Feb. 12, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 4 p.m.
Jan. 12: COC Board Considers 2025 Goals, Affordable Student Housing
The Cube Ice and Entertainment Center in Valencia will offer a special Valentine’s Day Sweet Hearts Skate on Friday, Feb. 14.
Feb. 14: Sweet Hearts Skate Event at The Cube
Broken Leg Theatre has announced its upcoming production of the critically-acclaimed play, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," written by Christopher Durang. Durang is a master of comedy and winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play.
Feb. 14-16: ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ at The MAIN
Join the Valley Industry Association for a special Cocktails & Conversation event hosting Director of Economic Development of city of Santa Clarita, Tom Cole, Thursday, Feb. 27, from 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Feb. 27: VIA Cocktails & Conversation With Tom Cole
The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation has announced that Natalie Vowell will assume the new Vice President of Business Development position for the Santa Clarita Valley.
SCVEDC Names Natalie Vowell New VP of Business
The Child & Family Center’s Pathways to Recovery Program, in partnership with the city of Santa Clarita, will host a special SCORE Scholarship Program sign-up event on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 3-6 p.m. in the Child & Family lobby.
Feb. 11: SCORE Scholarship Sign-Up Event
The city of Santa Clarita has announced a recap of the stats for another successful Holiday Light Tour, which brought joy and holiday cheer to residents and visitors alike.
Holiday Light Tour Recap, Golden Ticket Giveaway Winner
SCVNews.com