The Syracuse film festival is returning for its 19th annual celebration of movies around the world, including some made right here in Central New York.
The 2022 Syracuse International Film Festival runs from Oct. 12-15 at venues around the city, including the National Grid ExploraDome @ The MOST, the ArtRage Gallery and the Marriott Syracuse Downtown (formerly The Hotel Syracuse). More than a hundred long and short films were submitted from 28 countries; 33 of these will be shown in competition.
The festival kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 12, with the world premiere of “Scarlet Winter” at the ExploraDome, the recently updated digital planetarium and theater at the MOST (Museum of Science and Technology) in Armory Square. The movie, a murder mystery from Syracuse University alumnus Munjal Yagnik, follows a man who finds his girlfriend murdered in bed and covers up her death while trying to piece together events from the previous night to find the killer.
SIFF will also feature American High, the Liverpool-based film production company, and present founders Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps with the Sophia Award, an annual honor for Outstanding Creative Achievement in the world of independent cinema. Past recipients of the Sophia Award include Bobcat Goldthwait, Grace Jones, Giancarlo Esposito, Oren Lyons, Ron Perlman, Rob Reiner, and Jerry Stiller.
Garelick and Phelps have produced 15 movies shot in the Syracuse area over the past five years, including “The Binge” (starring Vince Vaughn), “Big Time Adolescence” (starring Pete Davidson), “I Love My Dad” (starring Patton Oswalt) and an upcoming Kevin James film.
American High’s “Crush” will be shown on the big screen at the ExploraDome @ The MOST on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 5 p.m. The LGBTQ romantic comedy, also produced by Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll,” “OITNB”) and Maya Rudolph (“Saturday Night Live,” “Bridesmaids”), will be followed by a Q&A panel.
Other notable events include the New Filmmakers Showcase on Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown and a celebration of Diversity in Film on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. at the ExploraDome @ The MOST. The 2022 SIFF Awards Ceremony will close the festival on Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
Tickets and festival passes are on sale starting at $10; all-access VIP passes are $100.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit syracusefilmfest.com.