The Chandler International Film Festival closed the curtain on its final night with a red-carpet event and award ceremony Jan. 29.

The ceremony was held at wedding venue, SoHo63 in downtown Chandler, which was transformed into a glamorous stop on the international film-festival circuit.

The festival concluded after eight days of premiering short and feature-length films created by filmmakers from all around the world. This year marked the CIFF’s seventh consecutive year.

The festival’s goal is to bring international films to a local Arizona setting.

Toro De Oro actress Elizabeth Selby said she was glad the festival offered Arizonans something more than what local multi-plexes are showing. When asked about why showcasing these films is so important, she stated, “I think it’s important to have events like this because there are great stories to tell, and in order to tell them, these events help expand the horizon of who can see them.”

This year’s festival included more than 100 films ranging from riveting documentaries, dramatic feature films, and even student-produced short films.

De Vuelta a Casa (The Way Home), directed by Darius Stevens Wilhere, took home the prestigious Best Feature Film award, and feature film The Squad received the award for Best Late Night Feature Film.

The Chandler International Film Festival was founded by President and Festival Director Mitesh Patel, an award-winning filmmaker from India who now resides in Chandler.

The CIFF not only showcased films, but there were also various educational opportunities for aspiring filmmakers, such as a screenwriting workshop and a workshop all about filming in Arizona. The week kicked off with a red-carpet ceremony where filmmakers and film-goers alike got the opportunity to interact with each other. After each day of film showings at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas in Downtown Chandler, there were after parties at different local dining spots in Chandler, such as Black Sheep and The Uncommon.

The judging panel for the awards consisted of eight judges with years of filmmaking experience. Judges such as Emmy Award-winning producer and director Helen Haxton-Stephenson, Ruben Angelo, founder of Rangelo Productions, and even festival organizer Mitesh Patel assessed the films in different categories such as “Best Feature Film,” “Best Arizona Short Film,” and many more. The Awards ceremony had many notable presenters, which included Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, who was brought onto the stage at one point to join in a Bollywood dance.

Two filmmakers who were nominated for awards are LaChelle Hunt and Frank Fazzio. Hunt was a nominee for the “Best Female Filmmaker” category with her period drama short film, The Aftermath.

When asked why she thought local film festivals, like CIFF were important, she said “what I really like about going to festivals is the really independent vibe.

You’re not seeing the same superhero movies or the same ideas over and over again. You’re seeing new ideas; you’re seeing different perspectives and a fresh feel on where the industry is going or what people like right now.”

Fazzio’s film, Common Thread, won Best Documentary Short Film. Fazzio’s film featured interviews with children from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Taiwan, Germany, and The United States about their “common thread,” which is that “they all want a sustainable and livable planet and future for their generation,” as noted in the film’s description.

Fazzio downplayed his win for best Documentary Short Film, saying his film wasn’t about him but the kids he interviewed. He stated, “for me, all the films are equally as good, but I’m going to be thrilled now to, in the seven countries that I worked with, go to those children to say, ‘guess what, I’m sending you an award.’”

Editor’s Note: Sadie Peltz is a student reporter at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications.