Prescott Film Festival Celebrates Its “Sweet Sixteen”: Yavapai College event highlights independent films & local filmmakers July 13 to 18

The Prescott Film Festival (PFF) proudly announces its 16th annual season, Sweet 16: Homecoming, Heritage & Hometown Pride. Packed with two world premieres, an Arizona premiere, a local screen legend, a rising cinematic star, behind-the-scenes workshops and a host of unique musical and culinary events, the 2026 Festival runs Monday, July 13 through Saturday, July 18, at the Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center on Yavapai College’s Prescott Campus.

“For sixteen years, the Prescott Film Festival has been about more than movies,” PFF Founder and Executive Director Helen Stephenson said. “It’s about celebrating independent film, preserving stories, supporting filmmakers, and creating meaningful connections between local audiences and the wider world of cinema.”

Festival highlights and special screenings will include:

• Beyond Godolphin: The Hank Jones Story (Friday, July 17 at 1 p.m.): The Prescott Film Festival hosts the world premiere of this featured documentary on the legendary Disney actor and beloved Prescott resident. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with Jones and filmmaker/animator Kevin Maclean (Frozen, Big Hero 6, Moana).
  
• We Met at Grossinger’s (Tuesday, July 14 at 1 p.m.): Take an immersive journey through the Jewish Catskills – once hailed as the Borscht Belt — in this heartfelt documentary on the resort that inspired Dirty Dancing and defined an era of Jewish American life. Prescott residents Sanford and Terry Cohen, executives at Arizona’s Hometown Radio Group and one of the final couples to be married at Grossinger’s, will participate in a post-screening Q&A.
• Arizona Film & Student Showcases (Monday, July 13 & Tuesday, July 14): PFF continues its advocacy of emerging talent by hosting an Arizona Film forum on Monday and its AZ Student Film Showcase on Tuesday. Works will include selections from Yavapai College’s Film & Media Arts Program, featuring a short documentary by student Milton Cannon, founder of the Prescott Jazz Society.
• Jacob’s Lane (Wednesday, July 15, at 1 p.m.): The PFF proudly hosts the world premiere of this feature-length Western, written and directed by Barry Tolli — a Prescott High School media teacher and YC Dual Enrollment instructor.
  
• Silent Symphony: Go West! (Friday, July 17, at 7 p.m.): The Silent Symphony – where a live, multi-piece orchestra brings classic silent films back to life – returns to anchor the Festival’s Friday night. This year, the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra provides the soundtrack for the Kingman-filmed classic, Go West! (1925) at The Elks Theatre and Performing Arts Center.
• Outriding the Devil (Saturday, July 18, 4 p.m.): On Saturday, the PFF presents the Arizona Premiere of this inspirational docudrama about Texas Rodeo Hall of Famer Angela Ganter. Filmed partially at Benson’s historic Mescal movie set, Outriding the Devil is narrated by Forrie J. Smith (Yellowstone) and features Mo Brings Plenty, and Eddie Spears.
• YMAX 360-Degree Cinema (Monday, July 13, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.): The Prescott Film Festival unites with Yavapai College’s Center for Learning & Innovation (CLI) to present a day of immersive, free workshops and special screenings of AZ films in their exclusive, wraparound YMAX theater. Featured films will include Imagine a Cave, a 360-degree film created by Prescott resident Jesse Ickler.

Tickets and ticket packages are already on sale. Individual Prescott Film Festival events are $14 general admission, and $7 for students, including Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) students. Packages include:

The Platinum Pass ($345) – The ultimate Festival experience, providing access to all PFF screenings, including the Silent Symphony, as well as the VIP Directors Loft, where audience members can mingle with filmmakers and fellow cinephiles while enjoying meals and snacks from Barry Barbe: El Gato Azul, Shirley’s Urban Eats and Torme!

The All-Film Pass ($187) – Includes admission to all PFF films, including the Silent Symphony.

Tickets are available at the Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center Ticket Office, 1100 E. Sheldon Street, Prescott, (928) 776.2000, or online at www.YCPAC.com. Trailers and other film information are available at www.prescottfilmfestival.com.

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Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, six baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit www.yc.edu.