Royale Film Festival
Movies in May at 94 Main
Don't miss the Best of the Fest Closing Night program, Saturday, May 31, 7 PM
Tickets
All shows are FREE ADMISSION.The Royale Film Festival is free and open to the public. No tickets are needed.Doors open one hour before show time. Seating is first come, first served, with room for up to 100 people. No outside food or drink allowed.Screenings will take place in House Royale, inside the Bisbee Royale, at 94 Main Street in Old Bisbee.Tell them Danny Hercules sent you.
How to Submit
Submissions are now closed.
Week One
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four
Week Five
Opening Night
Friday, May 2, 2025
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
The controversial Academy Award winning documentary NO OTHER LANDWitness the devastating destruction of a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank over half a decade as filmed by Palestinian journalists Basel Adra and Hamdam Ballal and Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.Critics Rating on Rotten Tomatoes: 100% FreshDoors open: 6:00 PM
Feature starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
(First come, first served)
Saturday, May 3, 2025
7:00 PM
Shorts
END OF THE LINE
Written and Directed by Donovan Smith
from Chandler, Arizona
Ben is haunted by dreams of a tragic funeral, but who is the ceremony really for?*REJECTED
Written and Directed by Rene Rivas
Filmed in Tucson, Arizona
Three twisted tales of macabre horror, all linked by an antiquated digital camera from 1997.*
World Premiere
FOR SALE BY OWNER: AMITYVILLE
Directed by Paul C. Hemmes
Filmed in Bisbee
A realtor has her work cut out for her when she tries to unload a house still occupied by a disgusting demon.
Feature
MAYA
Written and Directed by Paul C. Hemmes
Filmed in Gold Canyon, Arizona
A shape-shifting soul collector seeks to lead a group of unsuspecting non-believers into the afterlife.Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Sunday, May 4, 2025
4:00 PM (Matinee)
Music Videos
GOVERNMENT CHEESE
Directed by Steve Moramarco of BisbeeWALL GRENADE
Directed by Cassandra VincentHANDS UP
Directed by Cindy Baer from her feature film Odd BrodskyFISHING FOR LOVE
Directed by Jason Ryan, filmed in Tucson and Tempe, Arizona
Feature
WALL OF DREAMERS
Feature documentary directed by Bruce Endres of Douglas, ArizonaThe film will be preceded by a special live performance by its director, Bruce Endres!Examines Arizona-based musicians and the impact of the hit song Riders in the Sky, which was conceived in Cochise County and has been covered by Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, The Blues Brothers, and many more. The film features commentary from Dolan Ellis of The New Christy Minstrels and Al Stewart (Year of the Cat).Program starts at 4:00 PM
Admission is Free
Sunday, May 4, 2025
7:00 PM
Shorts
A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD
Written and Directed by Nate Barlow
The histories of the Hollywood sign and the Hollywood industry visually interwoven in this unique experimental documentary short.*DISCOVERING ELLA
Directed by Kathi Carey
Ella Fitzgerald makes her first hit record in this historical fiction short.
Feature
A TALE OF TWO HOUSES
Directed by Chris Carlone
A returning favorite from last year's Royale Film Festival, A Tale of Two Houses chronicles two party houses in 1980s Tucson that were the epicenter of alternative culture and the DIY underground music scene in the pre-digital era.Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Friday, May 9, 2025
7:00 PM
Shorts
1 IN THE CHAMBER
Written and Directed by Annie Girard and Diana Wright
An assassin is shocked to find her target is pregnant.*YAE: BLIND SAMURAI WOMAN
Directed by Akiko Izumitani
The blind daughter of a dead samurai is not as helpless as she appears.
Feature
BORA
Written and Directed by Tiffany Toney
An Afro-Latina hitchhiker seduces a naïve grad student down a dark path of temptation on a Day of the Dead road trip in this mind-bending crime thriller in the vein of Kalifornia.Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Saturday May 10, 2025
1:00 PM
Shorts
BLACK SHEEP
Written and Directed by Jamie Sage Cotton
A young girl with Tourette's encounters a struggling street performer and an inspirational friendship is formed.*EMPTY
Written and Directed by East Valley Institute of Technology student Rose Steel of Gilbert, Arizona.
A plaintiff tries to litigate a litany of mysterious charges in this unforgettable, haunting courtroom drama.*Four Short Shorts by Bisbee High School Students
The Escape (a student on the run)
The Final Stand: Two Brothers (a silent Western)
The Struggles of Love and Loss (a monologue)
The Maid's Revenge (a silent melodrama)
Feature
WRANGLE TOWN
Written and Directed by Brianna Young, founder of Bisbee High School's new film program.
A new western filmed in Cochise County.In the shadow of a rancher’s murder, a town's secrets begin to unravel, and the wranglers who knew him best find themselves caught in a deadly game.Program starts at 1:00 PM
Admission is Free
Sunday May 11, 2025
7:00 PM
Shorts
EASY TO SCARE
Written and Directed by Robert Ditillio (who has appeared on such shows as Babylon 5, NYPD Blue, and General Hospital)
A group of women spend Halloween night trying to out-scare each other, until they take things too far.*HAIRBALL
Written and Directed by Nancy O'Brien
A childless cat lady tries online dating. But what has happened to all her dates?*COTTON CUT
Directed by Nick Benas for the 48 Hour Film Project
A pair of blue-lipsticked aliens explore the strange earth custom of shopping in a convenience store.
Feature
ABDUCTION OF SAL BEDFORD
Directed by Erin Ray CastrapelA documentary filmmaker tries to unravel a mysterious and unexplained event that took place 30 years ago in this sci-fi/horror mockumentary.Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Friday May 16, 2025
7:00 PM
Shorts
BACK-UP CAMERA
Directed by Jeffrey Ashkin
Murder. Mayhem. And a trunk that should never be opened!*BLOOD RELATIONS
Written and Directed by Apoorva Choudhary
Shadows slither, walls whisper, and buried horrors claw their way back. She came for closure... but the house has been waiting.*MIDNIGHT AT THE LIMBO LOUNGE
Directed by Raphaello
Somewhere between Heaven and Hell, in a place where lost souls gather, stands the last stop before eternity. Inside this purgatory, two doomed lovers await their salvation.
Feature
DEAD ENDERS
A “torture-porn” horror film from Arizona filmmaker Paul C. Hemmes
A disturbed woman, haunted by the death of her “one true love,” kidnaps and brutalizes those she believes to be his living successor.Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Saturday May 17, 2025
7:00 PM
Shorts
REFLECTIONS
Directed by Vickie Rose Sampson, award winning sound editor of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
A young woman about to get married must decide whether or not to confess a secret that could change everything.*VAL (-E-REE)
Directed by Samantha D. Lavin with a diverse cast and crew including female and non-binary representation.
A first responder suffering from agoraphobia after a sexual assault at work must walk through the flames of a past trauma to step into a new life.
Documentaries
QUEER FIGHTERS OF UKRAINE
Directed by Alex King and genderqueer artist/activist Angelika Ustymenko, the driving force behind the Rebel Queers collective.This documentary reveals the experiences of young LGBTQ+ activists now fighting on the frontlines. Those who did not join the armed resistance found other ways to resist.*THE TRUMP TRANSITIONS
Directed by Debra and Kevin Culbertson
Filmed in Arizona
World Premiere
An exploration of transgender issues, discussed by the transgender community in the metro Phoenix area. Film to be followed by a live Q&A with the filmmakers.Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Sunday May 18, 2025
5:00 PM
Shorts
SOLO
Directed by Jason Ryan
BMX short starring Steven Mueller and filmed in the desert outside Phoenix.
Original music by Threefold Fate.*THE LAND
Directed by Cochise College Digital Media Arts teacher Stephen Crout.
Experimental short shot in the desert outside Bisbee on expired 16mm film with music and narration added over eight years. Starring Tate Rich.
First Public Showing in Bisbee!
Program will include a live Q&A with Crout and Rich*THE BEL LOC DINER
Directed by Raissa Contreras
A black & white, cinéma vérité look at Baltimore's cultural mainstay.*SCREWJOB
Written and Directed by Sam Benjamin
A professional wrestler is about to be crowned world champion, but a script change forces her to lose the match, unless she decides to go off book.*DOLOREM IPSUM
Directed by Luke Guldan (of The Good Place)
A tree trimmer embarks on a new project in this experimental short.*STALKED
Written and Directed by Matthew Irving
A young woman is followed through the streets of New York City by a masked stranger. Will she make it back to her hotel room alive?*[CRASHCAM] VOL. 1
Written and Directed by Mattison Alston Lewis
This irreverent experimental short explores the unseen world of crash test dummies.*TRiP
Written and Directed by Austin Carter Pope
A man suffering from memory loss tries a new drug that has unexpected side effects.*MACHO!
Directed by Courtney Bahr
A man discovers a new cologne that really stinks.*THE BOOK CLUB
Directed by Curtis Bechdolt
A friendly neighborhood book club meeting is disrupted by an odd new member who thinks he's invisible.*HAMSTAR
Directed by Kristen Hansen Brakeman & Leslie Wilson
This short documentary follows the hosts of America's only competitive hamster show as they compare notes with their counterparts across the pond.*Program starts at 5:00 PM
Admission is Free
Friday May 23, 2025
7:00 PM
Feature
PROOF SHEET
Directed by visual effects and matte artist Richard Kilroy (Terminator 2, Rambo 3, Titanic)A young man working at his uncle's photo lab discovers a roll of film marked ‘RUSH’ in the night drop box. The images that appear will change his life forever: 24 black-and-white photos of a beautiful young woman being attacked in her apartment!In the vein of Antonioni's Blowup and Coppola's The Conversation.Featuring Maria Conchita Alonso (Running Man)Producer/Co-Star Alejandro Delgado will be in attendance!Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Saturday, May 24, 2025
1:00 PM (Matinee)
Shorts
THE MIRACLE OF YOU
Directed by Peter Spruyt
A journey toward inner-peace and harmony; in these enlightened times, one can achieve self-forgiveness for just about anything. Writer, star and frequent Bisbee visitor Richard Tanner (General Hospital, Curb Your Enthusiasm) will be in attendance!*TAKING YOUR CRACK AT FILMMAKING
Directed by Arizona filmmaker Kimber Leigh
A short documentary about how to make a no-budget film. Filmed and edited in Arizona!*MAIL ORDER BESTIE
Directed by Paola Angarita
A friendless woman gets a rude awakening when the AI-robot she ordered doesn't turn out to be the pushover she was expecting.*YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY
Directed by Vickie Rose Sampson
A dark comedy about a GPS navigator that takes revenge on its driver - a cheating husband.
Feature
IT'S ALWAYS THAT FEELING
Written and Directed by Saudi-American filmmaker Gigi HozimahA retired actor celebrates his 40th birthday with his wife when a former lover shows up unannounced, and the three of them confront unresolved grief from their individual pasts.Program starts at 1:00 PM
Admission is Free
Sunday May 25, 2025
5:00 PM
Shorts
TABLE TALK
Written and Directed by Austin Carter-Pope
A man struggles with his inner turmoil while cooking dinner.*THE BLUE CAPE
Written and Directed by Alejandra López (Marvel's Wolverine: La Larga Noche)
Filmed in Puerto Rico
In hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, medicine can be hard to come by. A little boy has to grow beyond his limits if he is to help his grandfather.*THIS LAND IS
Written and Directed by Bunnie Rivera
A boy is rescued from a life of squalor and into the loving arms of his grandmother – and then back again, by circumstance, to the harsh reality of neglect with his mother.*42 SECONDS
Directed by Steve Anderson
Filmed in Superior, Arizona
Months after a mass shooting at a small town diner, the only survivors revisit the scene with hopes of healing from their shared trauma.*BROTHERLY BLOOD
Directed by Alejandra López
Stepbrothers seek revenge against the killer accountable for their parents' death.*SHAME
Directed by Kelly Lynn Warren
When a woman is sexually assaulted by a mutual friend, a confrontation with her roommate leads to tragic consequences.*IT'S YOUR FAULT
Written and Directed by Nicholas Campbell
A couple navigates the complexities of their relationship, troubled by deep-seated communication issues.*THE FACE
Directed by Mark W. Gray
Written by and Starring Karen Ann Knotts, author of Tied Up in Knotts, a tribute to her father, Don Knotts.
A small-town schoolteacher learns more than she bargained for about her favorite movie star when she gets to be an extra in his latest film.*GETTING OVER FEBRUARY
Directed by Jacob Waldrop
A young man struggling to get over a recent break-up is met with a bewildering blend of reactions from friends and family.*Program starts at 5:00 PM
Admission is Free
Friday May 30, 2025
7:00 PM
Shorts
UNCONDTIONAL
Directed by Marta Chierego (born and raised in Italy)
Experimental short about the pain and beauty that are intrinsic in a transformation process, celebrating the courage it takes to follow through with rebirth.*THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Directed by Marta Chierego
Futuristic fever dream that attempts to preserve a snapshot of what will be remembered as a unique moment in the history of our times.*FATHER ME
Directed by Sheri Pedigo
Short documentary about the pain of growing up with absent fathers, featuring record producer Harmony Samuels (Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony) and actor Oded Fehr (Star Trek: Discovery).Come early for a special live performance by filmmaker Sheri Pedigo before the films start.*IN THE LIFE OF AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCER
Written and Directed by Allen Valor
Co-produced by Mesa, Arizona resident Daniel Blunck
An indie film producer struggles with shrinking budgets, a menagerie of colorful industry contacts, and his ever-worsening cynicsm about showbiz.*THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITS
Directed by Marta Chierego
A story of oak and water, of passion and craftsmanship, of grit and beauty. The crafting of a single malt whiskey in rural upstate New York is crucial to the local community, from barley farmers to boutique barrel producers and malting facilities.*THE PIRATE CAPTAIN TOLEDANO
Written and Directed by Israeli-American filmmaker Arnon Z. Shorr
When a refugee from the Spanish Inquisition stows away on a pirate ship, the captain must decide whether to make him a pirate, or make him walk the plank. The world's first film set in the little-known world of Jewish piracy in the Caribbean.*THE STRENGTH OF GOD
Written and Directed by Anthony Peznola
A minister finds himself entertaining lustful thoughts about a woman he accidentally sees through a window one day. Based on the 1919 short story by Sherwood Anderson.*IMMORTAL
Written and Directed Carlton Salter
Filmed in Arizona
In this dystopian sci-fi short, immortality has been achieved by uploading brains to cloud servers, available for download to donor bodies sourced from 3rd-strike convicted criminals.*Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Closing Night
Saturday, May 31
7:00 PM
We close out our festival with an evening of encore screenings of six of the best short films shown at this year's Royale Film Festival. Come back to see your favorites one more time, or stop by for a second chance to catch the ones you should not have missed!Plus a special surprise award-winning bonus short!Program starts at 7:00 PM
Admission is Free
Full Schedule
At A Glance
Friday, May 2, 7:00 PM
No Other Land (Oscar-winning documentary)
Saturday, May 3, 7:00 PM
A night of horror films made in Arizona!
End of the Line (short)
Rejected (short)
For Sale By Owner: Amityville (World Premiere short)
Maya (feature)
Sunday, May 4, 4:00 PM (Matinee)
Government Cheese (music video filmed in Bisbee)
Wall Grenade (music video)
Hands Up (music video)
Fishing for Love (music video filmed in Tempe)
Wall of Dreamers (feature documentary filmed in Arizona)
Bonus: Live Music by Bruce Endres
Sunday, May 4, 7:00 PM
A Brief History of Hollywood (experimental animated documentary short)
Discovering Ella (short)
A Tale of Two Houses (feature documentary filmed in Tucson)
Friday, May 9, 7:00 PM
A night of female-driven action films!
1 in the Chamber (short)
Yae: Blind Samurai Woman (short)
Bora (feature)
Saturday, May 10, 1:00 PM (Matinee)
Black Sheep (short)
Empty (student short)
Four Bonus Shorts by Bisbee High School students
Wrangle Town (Western feature from Bisbee High film teacher)
Sunday, May 11, 7:00 PM
Easy to Scare (horror short)
Hairball (comedy horror short)
Cotton Cut (sci-fi short)
Abduction of Sal Bedford (sci-fi/horror feature)
Friday, May 16, 7:00 PM
Another Night of Horror!
Back-Up Camera (short)
Blood Relations (short)
Midnight at the Limbo Lounge (short)
Dead Enders (feature)
Saturday, May 17, 7:00 PM
LGBTQIA+ Pride Night!
Reflections (short)
Val (-e-ree) (short)
Queer Fighters of Ukraine (short documentary)
The Trump Transitions (World Premiere documentary made in Phoenix)
Sunday, May 18, 5:00 PM
An Eclectic Collection of Shorts
Solo (BMX video filmed in Arizona)
The Land (filmed in Bisbee)
The Bel Loc Diner (from Baltimore)
Screwjob (from the UK)
Dolorem Ipsum
Stalked (from New York)
[CRASHCAM] Vol. 1
TRiP
Macho! (from Florida)
The Book Club
Hamstar (short documentary)
Friday, May 23, 7:00 PM
Proof Sheet (thriller, feature)
Saturday, May 24, 1:00 PM (Matinee)
The Miracle of You (short)
Taking Your Crack at Filmmaking (short documentary)
Mail Order Bestie (short)
You Drive Me Crazy (short)
It's Always That Feeling (feature)
Sunday, May 25, 5:00 PM
A Collection of Short Dramas and Tearjerkers
Table Talk
The Blue Cape (from Puerto Rico)
This Land Is
42 Seconds (from Superior, Arizona)
Brotherly Blood
Shame
It's Your Fault
The Face (starring Karen Ann Knotts)
Getting Over February
Friday, May 30, 7:00 PM
A Collection of Unique Narrative and Documentary Shorts
Unconditional
The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Father Me
In the Life of an Independent Producer (from Arizona)
The Science of Spirits
The Pirate Captain Toledano
The Strength of God
Immortal (from Arizona)Bonus: Live Music by filmmaker Sheri Pedigo before the films start!
Saturday, May 31, 7:00 PM
Closing Night
Six of the festival's best shorts, plus a special award-winning bonus short!
About
The Bisbee Royale is proud to present its 2nd Annual Royale Film Festival!Over 50 independent films, including features and shorts, documentaries and music videos, many shot in Arizona, some made right here in Bisbee!See them projected onto our 18-foot screen at House Royale every weekend in May at the historic Bisbee Royale.Originally built as a church in 1917 - just five years after Arizona became a state - the Royale has hosted live music, theater, movies, and a radio station over its first century in existence.Now serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Cafe Royale, drinks at the Dragon Sports Bar, and comedy, movies, and live music at Club Royale, all under one roof!