Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “The Faithful” showing Nov. 17-22 at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre.
Writer/director Annie Berman will be in Sedona to host the first two screenings (Nov. 17 and 18) and conduct a live Q&A after each show.
Elvis, Princess Diana, and Pope John Paul II are undoubtedly still alive today, thanks to their devoted followers who love, admire, and consume them. “The Faithful” — a new film by writer/director Annie Berman, powerfully explores the magnetic appeal of three of the most photographed figures of our time.
A Pope John Paul II lollipop. An Elvis Presley shower curtain. A Princess Diana teacup. These are just some of the countless pieces of memorabilia that these pop culture icons’ most devoted fans collect and cherish – but why?
Director Berman explores the deep veneration and legacies of the Pope, the Princess, and the King. Over the course of 20 years, Berman profiles these figures’ biggest fans and makes numerous pilgrimages to Vatican City, Graceland, and Kensington Palace. As the years go by, the film itself becomes increasingly entwined with Berman’s daily life and identity, much like how the officially licensed knick-knacks define the fans she filmed.
“What began as a voyeuristic encounter slowly enveloped me, the person behind the camera,” said Berman. “I found myself returning year after year to the annual rituals, making my own pilgrimage, obsessively collecting more and more footage.”
“A meditation on art, religion, and commerce becomes a personal transformation as the once cynical woman-with-a-movie-camera finds a deeper sense of purpose. I began to see myself in the faithful, understanding that my pursuit was part of a bigger more universal quest.”
“Ruminative, haunting, and strange.” — The Boston Globe
“A must-see!” — Matthew Meier, USC Cinematic Arts
“The Faithful” will be shown at the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre Nov. 17-22. Showtimes will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17, 18 and 19 at 3:30 p.m.; and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 20, 21 and 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.