The Glendale International Film Festival (GIFF) will host the 6th International Film Festival in a span of eight days with a schedule of over 60 films and documentaries to showcase the works of many local, national and international filmmakers. The festival will screen films from Armenia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom and USA.

Velvet Rhodes, a local film producer, director, actress and artist, and her team have brought local and international independent movies to Glendale since 2014 and the 2019 festival promises to be a very exciting year, showcasing more than 60 films. Glendale International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and proceeds from ticket sales will go to GUSD students to advance their filmmaking and screenwriting skills. A special screening of their works is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Laemmle Glendale from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with intermission.

The theme for 2019 is Bringing the World Together As One in Glendale! Family-friendly genres include women’s health, women leaders, women’s empowerment, veterans’ stories and health, homelessness, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, cancer success stories, environmental issues, pets, animals, mammals, sports, comedies, sci-fi, thriller and action with a message.

On July 9, Rhodes, the GIFF executive director, with advisory board director Joycelyne Lew and marketing director John Zargarian attended the Glendale City Council meeting and received a commendation from Mayor Ara Najarian for GIFF’s outstanding and prominent work in the film industry.

Artsakh Paseo will be the home of the filmmakers’/screenwriters’ lounge and where ticketholders can mix and mingle with sponsors, filmmakers screenwriters and the VIPs of Glendale.

The festival will also have screenplay reading contests for short and full length screenplays read by professional actors. Winners will be presented with awards at the Awards Show on Oct. 17 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Brandview Ballroom, 111 E. Harvard St., Glendale.

An opening night party will be held at Pierre Garden Restaurant, 145 N. Artsakh Ave., Glendale on Oct. 10 with live music by Zingarella. Film screenings take place at the Laemmle Glendale, 207 N. Maryland Ave., Glendale from Oct. 11-17 (time to be announced).

GIFF is open to all filmmakers, movie lovers, filmgoers and patrons of the arts. The program schedules and tickets will be available at www.glendaleinternationalfilmfestival.com and Film Freeway https://filmfreeway.com/GlendaleInternationalFilmFestival/tickets.