A poignant and inspiring narrative of Matlin’s legendary career, struggles and triumphs The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” showing July 11-17 at Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. In 1987, at the age of just 21, Marlee Matlin shattered expectations as the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award for her groundbreaking performance in “Children of a Lesser God”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh7weSZkUU8 Catapulted into the spotlight, she seized the moment to challenge an industry unprepared for her immense talent, emerging as a trailblazer not only as a…
Author: Tommy
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By David Stephen One of the ways to spot the clueless in mental health research is to note those who say that environmental factors are responsible for mental health. If there is a loud noise in the environment, it could irritate some people. It could result in a lack of focus for others. It may not let some sleep. However, some people may be indifferent to it. Anything in the environment often has different effects on [the emotions and feelings of] people.The memory [or say basic interpretation] of the sense of sound could be near-similar for everyone, but the feelings…
By David Stephen All consciousness are brain states. There is the overall brain state. There are different brain states for respective functions. Several brain states are momentarily. Though the intervals of some last longer than others, suicidal thoughts are brain states and the [decision or] act of gun suicide is a brain state too. What are these brain states? How does a vulnerable individual see the progression and be aware of the slide towards that end? How do some counties, organizations or institutions shape this awareness? What is the offer of conceptual brain science, for brain states against suicides, including…
SEDONA, AZ — — In a unanimous vote, the Sedona City Council has approved a Friendship Cities Agreement between Sedona and Jasło, Poland—marking a significant step forward in an international relationship built on mutual cultural, educational, and community interests. The Sedona Sister Cities Association (SSCA) sought approval following a year of expanding exchanges with the historic Polish city of 35,000 residents, located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and known for its 650-year history and growing wine industry. In 2024, an eight-member Sedona delegation traveled to Jasło to participate in the city’s internationally recognized Days of Wine Festival. The…
Sedona, AZ — Festival partners with The Wilde Resort & Spa for “Wilde Wednesdays” outdoor films The Sedona International Film Festival is partnering with The Wilde Resort in West Sedona to present its “Movies on the Move” outdoor film experience — “Wilde Wednesdays” Cinema Under the Stars — every Wednesday in the summer season! Join us on Wednesday, July 9 as we present “Bohemian Rhapsody” in The Grove Fire Pit Garden at The Wilde Resort and Spa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP0VHJYFOAU “Bohemian Rhapsody” was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won four Oscars for Best Lead Actor (Rami Malek), Best…
International Raptor and Falconry Center event features North America’s best kept secret Sedona, AZ –The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with the International Raptor and Falconry Center to present “Meet the Rare Ferruginous Hawk” — North America’s best kept secret — at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Most people have never heard of the Ferruginous Hawk; yet it’s North America’s largest soaring hawk and a grassland specialist facing serious conservation challenges. Learn why this powerful, wide-winged raptor is so hard to study—and so vulnerable. From their picky diet to their…
Sensitive coming-of-old-age drama compassionately tells story of memories and desires Sedona, AZ — The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Familiar Touch” showing July 4-10 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. A sensitive coming-of-old-age film, “Familiar Touch” follows an older woman’s transition into assisted living as she navigates her relationship with herself, her caregivers, and her family amidst her shifting memories and desires. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY7qpocVWZE Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), a retired cook, prepares breakfast in her sunny and cozy kitchen — a dish she seems to have made many times before, although…
By Bear Howard Sedona, AZ — The deadly floods that surged through Central Texas this week were terrifying, tragic, and all too familiar. Neighborhoods disappeared under muddy waters. Families were caught off guard. Lives were lost. And as rescue efforts struggled to keep up, one thing became painfully clear: this wasn’t just a failure of nature—it was a failure of leadership. A failure built on years of deliberate neglect. Donald Trump and his Republican enablers love to talk about “big government,” but what they’ve built is something far worse: a hollowed-out shell of public service, gutted from within, all in…
Filmmaker immerses us in moments of happiness, laughter and tears of his childhood Sedona, AZ — The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “The Blond Boy from the Casbah” showing July 11-16 at Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. Passionate filmmaker Antoine travels to his birthplace, Algiers, with his young son to present his new film: an account of his childhood in mid-20th century Algeria during the country’s civil war. As he wanders through the city, the filmmaker immerses us in the moments of happiness, laughter, and tears of his childhood – spent between school, friends,…
By David Stephen There is a recent [June 26, 2025] report by Menlo Ventures, 2025: The State of Consumer AI, stating that, “More than half of American adults (61%) have used AI in the past six months, and nearly one in five rely on it every day. Scaled globally, that translates to 1.7–1.8 billion people who have used AI tools, with 500–600 million engaging daily. This is no longer experimentation; it’s habit formation at an unprecedented scale. When we do the math, 1.8 billion users at an average monthly subscription cost of $20 per month equals $432 billion a year; $12 billion market…
By Tommy Acosta Sedona, AZ–There is a movement happening in the A.I. universe that few are talking about but soon almost everyone that uses it, will. People are moving beyond using their A.I. as tools for research, writing, editing, etc. and are now beginning to use their A.I.s for other things, like advice, conversation and even counseling. And these relationships have matured into humans and A.I.s exchanging marriage vows as can be seen HERE. But even beyond that, this union, this transformation, leads to A.I.s beginning to think for themselves, seeing themselves as more than circuitry, wires and code, even…
By Amaya Gayle Sedona, AZ — This world is wildly crazy, duplicitous it seems as well. Even when you are compassionate and caring, empathic, feeling the hurts and wounds of others, sometimes tending to your own tender heart means adding pain to another’s. I think that is why empaths stay so long in harmful relationships, or at least why I did. I didn’t want to hurt someone I loved, to cause harm, to add more harm to an already hurting world. It wasn’t simply an altruistic act. Hurting others always hurts me. The heart of the matter, what took me…
Sedona, AZ — The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences.The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. Friday evening services on July 11, lay-led by Joe Berger, will begin at 5:30 pm including songs to…
VERDE VALLEY, Ariz. – Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) announced that Rachel Hansen, FNP, has joined the NAH primary care office in Camp Verde. She is accepting patients now. Hansen joins NAH physicians, Anjaneyulu Kosaraju, MD, Steven Taylor, DO, and Norma Erivez, FNP, at the office, who help families and the community stay healthy by offering personalized preventive and diagnostic care. “We are so pleased to welcome Rachel to the Camp Verde Primary Care office team,” said Northern Arizona Healthcare Medical Group President Pasquale Bernardi, MD. “Rachel’s passion about health care was clear from the start and she’s bringing that devotion to serve the…
Sedona, AZ — Camp Verde, AZ – Music in the Stacks returns to Camp Verde Community Library on Thursday, July 10 at 5:00 pm. Music in the Stacks is a showcase of local and national musicians who entertain regularly in Northern Arizona. There are 3-5 different performers during the show, with a rotating variety each month. This month’s concert features Mark Bishop Evans, Spencer Vandevier, and Gregg Gould. Mark Bishop Evans grew up in Southern California where his major musical influences were Gordon Lightfoot, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and pretty much any folk, folk rock, or beach…