By Frank Z. Your name, the place you were born or call home, people that are associated with you that you call friends and family. These are the essential components that complete the person… Read More
Staff Picks
The AFF Staff has great taste. You should take our advice.
During the Festival, check back to the for new Staff Picks and first looks at Festival Films each week!
Staff Pick: The Iron Orchard
By Jamal Knox Growing up in Texas you hear a lot about the oil fields, and all the rich magnates at the top living in the “big houses”, from the poor, wizened oil field… Read More
Staff Pick: Above the Clouds
By Alexandra T. Mitchell Turning 18 years old is truly a turning point into adulthood. In Above the Clouds, Charlie quickly learns that while adulthood comes with legal drinking (in the UK) and freedom,… Read More
Staff Pick: Speaking in Tongues
By Rosie Goodman Speaking in Tongues is the journey of a young man, unsure of himself, his faith and coping with the loss of his Mother. Jake’s quiet mourning speaks volumes when he decides… Read More
Staff Pick: The Interpreters
By Rob Gonzalez Let me open with the fact that I cried tears of joy at my desk in the office while watching “the Interpreters”. This documentary is masterfully constructed. Holds your attention, jerks… Read More
Staff Pick: Delia and Sammy
By Matt Dy Delia & Sammy might as well be called Crazy Rich Asians. The titular characters, though nowhere near as affluent as those Asians, certainly make up for that with plenty of Crazy…. Read More
Staff Pick: The Dark Red
By Rob Gonzalez ‘Distinctive unease’ is a good way to open a discussion on The Dark Red. Because that’s what the film creates from the get-go. And it does not stop. With questionable sanity… Read More
Staff Pick: Last Summer
By Sam Levine The opening of this film is reminiscent of Stand By Me, easing the audience in, following a group of friends as they explore the woods and the area around their rural… Read More
Staff Pick: Beauty and Ruin
By Katy Daly BEAUTY AND RUIN is a great documentary for anyone who holds any opinion of art– which, let’s be honest…literally everyone has some sort of opinion on art. As an Art Historian myself,… Read More