Arizona might not be the first state that comes to mind when one thinks of Film Festivals. However, with the emergence of two large film festivals, the Scottsdale International Film Festival and the Sedona International Film Festival, Arizona is primed to take its place as a cinematic heavyweight.

The Scottsdale International Film Festival takes place every year in October. Last year, the Festival featured the Arizona premiers of “Kite Runner,” “Lars and the Real Girl” and “The Diving Bell & The Butterfly.” The 2008 Festival will take place October 3-7 at the Harkins Camelview 5 and Harkins Fashion Square 7 in Scottsdale. Now in it's ninth year, the Scottsdale Festival hosts a combination of outstanding cinema and exciting post-film discussions with various filmmakers and costume designers.

For more information on the Scottsdale International Film Festival, call 602-410-1074 or visit www.scottsdalefilmfestival.com.

The Sedona International Film Festival and Workshop is celebrating its 15th year in 2009. The five-day festival features more than 125 films, including features, documentaries, foreign films, shorts, animation and student films. Filmmakers and audiences from around the world have heralded Sedona's festival as one of their favorites. The Festival Workshop, founded by Academy Award winner Frank Warner, brings award-winning, industry professionals to Sedona to teach, inspire and share their knowledge with the next generation of filmmakers.

For more information, call 928-282-1177 or visit www.sedonafilmfestival.com.