Mesa International Film Festival brings indie film showcase downtown

The Mesa International Film Festival kicks off Wednesday in downtown Mesa, bringing more than 130 independent films to the Mesa Convention Center through Sunday.

The festival, presented by Visit Mesa, features a lineup of shorts, documentaries and music videos from around the world, along with networking opportunities connecting filmmakers with industry professionals.

It runs Wednesday through Sunday with dozens of showings each day.

The festival also features speaker sessions on the craft and business of filmmaking, with keynote speaker Matthew Earl Jones, director of the Arizona Commerce Authority’s Film & Digital Media Program. Other speakers include Emmy-winning documentary producer Kelly Sallaway and actor Wes Martinez, whose credits include Modern Family and Yellowjackets.

“Our mission is to create a platform where filmmakers at every stage of their career can showcase their work and engage with an audience that genuinely cares about the craft,” festival producer Indian Antao said in a statement.

The festival is free to service professionals. That includes police officers, firefighters, medical workers, military members and teachers with a valid ID.

Marc Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Mesa, said the annual event highlights the city’s growing reputation in the arts.

“Every year, the Mesa International Film Festival reminds us why Mesa is a destination for creative talent,” Garcia said in a statement.

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