Join Us by Connecting At Our Events
Our Events bring the community together to celebrate, learn, grow, and make change happen.
We are grateful to the beautiful people who have helped to create these events for us to be unified.
We appreciate the amazing community of support, kindness and love that Sedona has brought together!
We are grateful to the beautiful people who have helped to create these events for us to be unified.
We appreciate the amazing community of support, kindness and love that Sedona has brought together!
EDUCATIONOur events bring together incredible diversity and offer us all an opportunity to learn and grow. We explore and learn together as we discuss and understand how we can create equality.
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COLLABORATIONBy bringing together all voices and individuals who are taking action in our community, we create collaboration. Unify Sedona has a mission of creating change in our communities as a collaborated vision and collective development.
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CELEBRATIONOur events focus on celebrating the lives we live as we overcome. We come together, meet and mingle as we empower. We watch films with a purpose of sharing truth. And we dance to the rhythms of dignity and honor.
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Featured Events
Sedona Film Festival presents ‘I Carry You With Me’ premiere July 30-Aug. 5
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of the acclaimed new drama “I Carry You With Me” showing July 30-Aug. 5 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
“I Carry You With Me” — Academy-Award-nominee Heidi Ewing’s luminous, moving debut as a narrative filmmaker — follows a tender romance spanning decades.
Starting in provincial Mexico and continuing as first Iván, then Gerardo, journey towards sharing a life together in New York City, “I Carry You With Me” is an intimate love story, as well as a soulful rumination on family, sacrifice, regret, and ultimately, hope.
Ewing gracefully traces both men’s lives from their childhoods in Mexico, through the decisions that lead them into adulthood. Iván, an aspiring chef and young father, hopes to secure a spot in
a restaurant’s kitchen while supporting his child. But the discovery of his relationship with Gerardo causes conflict, and in despair, he makes the arduous choice to cross the border into the United States, promising his son and his soulmate Gerardo that he will return.
Textured with small moments of intimacy, “I Carry You With Me” is also richly alive with the breadth of its cross-cultural perspective and broad expanse of time. Though based on a true story, the film is boldly original – an impressionistic, open-hearted take on the American Dream, told by a filmmaker drawing on her years of practice in capturing the human experience.
“I Carry You With Me” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre July 30-Aug. 5. Showtimes will be 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31 and August 1; and 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 4 and 5. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org .
“I Carry You With Me” — Academy-Award-nominee Heidi Ewing’s luminous, moving debut as a narrative filmmaker — follows a tender romance spanning decades.
Starting in provincial Mexico and continuing as first Iván, then Gerardo, journey towards sharing a life together in New York City, “I Carry You With Me” is an intimate love story, as well as a soulful rumination on family, sacrifice, regret, and ultimately, hope.
Ewing gracefully traces both men’s lives from their childhoods in Mexico, through the decisions that lead them into adulthood. Iván, an aspiring chef and young father, hopes to secure a spot in
a restaurant’s kitchen while supporting his child. But the discovery of his relationship with Gerardo causes conflict, and in despair, he makes the arduous choice to cross the border into the United States, promising his son and his soulmate Gerardo that he will return.
Textured with small moments of intimacy, “I Carry You With Me” is also richly alive with the breadth of its cross-cultural perspective and broad expanse of time. Though based on a true story, the film is boldly original – an impressionistic, open-hearted take on the American Dream, told by a filmmaker drawing on her years of practice in capturing the human experience.
“I Carry You With Me” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre July 30-Aug. 5. Showtimes will be 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31 and August 1; and 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 4 and 5. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org .
Past Events
The Sedona International Film Festival and Unify Sedona are proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of the acclaimed new documentary “Against the Current” showing June 26-July 1 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
How far do you have to travel to find yourself? And what sacrifices are you willing to make to get there?
Veiga Grétarsdóttir is the first person in the world to attempt to kayak over 2,000 kilometers (1,300 miles) around Iceland, counter clockwise and “against the current.” This achievement has been said to be comparable to climbing the mountain K2.
Veiga’s personal journey is no less remarkable. She was born 44 years ago as a boy in a fishing village on the far west coast of Iceland. Veigar had a wife and family but decided that she could no longer live as a man, and at the age of 38, decided to undergo gender reassignment.
The inner struggle for Veigar to become Veiga was a journey as difficult if not more so than the solo kayak expedition she undertakes. These two stories of conflict and struggle are intertwined as the film follows her amazing 103-day journey around Iceland, with the magical, rugged coastline of the country a backdrop to the story of Veiga’s transition.
“My vision was to intertwine these two heroic journeys into one film: The journey around Iceland in a kayak and the journey from being a small boy in the westfjords of Iceland, move away to come back 40 years later as a woman,” said director Óskar Páll Sveinsson.
“The film is set against the dramatic coastline of Iceland and while she is battling the elements, we will learn how she fell in love, started a family and then almost lost her life in her personal battle to find her true self.”
How far do you have to travel to find yourself? And what sacrifices are you willing to make to get there?
Veiga Grétarsdóttir is the first person in the world to attempt to kayak over 2,000 kilometers (1,300 miles) around Iceland, counter clockwise and “against the current.” This achievement has been said to be comparable to climbing the mountain K2.
Veiga’s personal journey is no less remarkable. She was born 44 years ago as a boy in a fishing village on the far west coast of Iceland. Veigar had a wife and family but decided that she could no longer live as a man, and at the age of 38, decided to undergo gender reassignment.
The inner struggle for Veigar to become Veiga was a journey as difficult if not more so than the solo kayak expedition she undertakes. These two stories of conflict and struggle are intertwined as the film follows her amazing 103-day journey around Iceland, with the magical, rugged coastline of the country a backdrop to the story of Veiga’s transition.
“My vision was to intertwine these two heroic journeys into one film: The journey around Iceland in a kayak and the journey from being a small boy in the westfjords of Iceland, move away to come back 40 years later as a woman,” said director Óskar Páll Sveinsson.
“The film is set against the dramatic coastline of Iceland and while she is battling the elements, we will learn how she fell in love, started a family and then almost lost her life in her personal battle to find her true self.”
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Mercury: The Story of Queen's Front Man
On Friday, June 11, 2021, Unify Sedona partnered with Sedona International Film Festival to present “Mercury: The Story of Queen’s Front Man” live, on stage at the Sedona Performing Arts Center. “Mercury” celebrates the music of Freddie Mercury and Queen — a band that rocked the world and the fame, decadence, tragedy and triumph that swirled around its leader. "Mercury" stars international opera singer and 6-time Grammy-Nominee Terry Barber, who is considered the world’s best countertenor with a 4 octave range (just like Freddie Mercury!) |
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The Status of LGBTQ+ Rights in Arizona
On Monday, January 11, 2021, from 1:00 - 2:30 pm, Unify Sedona, the League of Women Voters Greater Verde Valley, and OLLI/Yavapai College are proud to co-sponsor a presentation titled "The Status of LGBTQ+ Rights in Arizona." The speaker will be Stanna Slater, Attorney and current LGBTQ Liaison for the City of Scottsdale, as well as former Board member of one.in.ten, an Arizona LGBTQ youth-empowerment non-profit. Click here to register! |
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Join us on Transgender Day of Remembrance for a screening of the film MAJOR! at the Mary D. Fischer Theatre, followed by a candlelight vigil. The film will simultaneously be screened on Zoom. The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with Unify Sedona: A Rainbow Alliance and PFLAG Sedona/Verde Valley to present the premiere of “Danseur” on
Sunday, Jan 12 at 4 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. |
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Sadly, 2019 saw at least 22 transgender or gender-nonconforming people killed violently. We are in a time of great grief. To honor the grieving, Unify Sedona came together with pflag and the International Film Festival to host a transgender day of remembrance.
We came together with several members of the faith community including, Pastor Cindy Parker of the Church of the Red Rocks, Rev Arvel Bird of the center for Universal light, and Rev Glen Farley of Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. We gathered to acknowledge the victims of violence with awareness and committed actions towards creating a safer future for every gender non-conforming person. We are a coalition creating non-discrimination and transgender rights. We are doing this by educating and facilitating community events which connect us to the solution. The solution is to Unify. Stay connected with us by filling out our short web form on our home page. Together we will create connections and Unify us all!. |
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WE MOURN THOSE LOST...Dana Martin, 31, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Montgomery, Alabama, January 6...Jazzaline Ware, a black transgender woman, was found dead in her Memphis apartment in March...Ashanti Carmon, 27, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Prince George's County, Maryland, on March 30...Claire Legato, 21, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Cleveland on April 15...Muhlaysia Booker, 23, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Dallas on May 18...Michelle ‘Tamika’ Washington, 40, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Philadelphia on May 19...Paris Cameron, 20, a black transgender woman, was killed in Detroit on May 25...Chynal Lindsey, 26, a black transgender woman, was found dead in White Rock Lake, Dallas, with signs of homicidal violence on June 1...Chanel Scurlock, 23, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Lumberton, North Carolina, on June 6...Zoe Spears, 23, a black transgender woman, was killed in Fairmount Heights, Maryland, on June 13...Brooklyn Lindsay, 32, a black transgender woman, was found dead in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 25...Denali Berries Stuckey, 29, a black transgender woman, was found fatally shot in North Charleston, South Carolina, on July 20...Tracy Single, 22, a black transgender woman, was killed in Houston on July 30...Bubba Walker, 55, a transgender woman, was killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, in Late July...Kiki Fantroy, 21, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Miami on July 31...Jordan Cofer, 22, was killed in Dayton, Ohio, on August 4...Pebbles LaDime ‘Dime’ Doe, 24, a black transgender woman, was killed in Allendale County, South Carolina, on August 4...Bailey Reeves, 17, a black transgender teen, was fatally shot in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 2...Be Love Slater, 23, was killed in Clewiston, Florida, on September 4...Jamagio Jamar Berryman, a black gender-nonconforming person, was killed in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 13...Itali Marlowe, 29, a black transgender woman was found shot in Houston on September 20 ...Brihanna ‘BB’ Hill, 30, was fatally shot in Kansas City on October 14...Johanna Java Medina, 25, died at a hospital in El Paso, Texas just hours after being released from ICE custody...Layleen Polanco, 27, was found dead in a cell at Rikers Island on June 7...Fellie Marie Washlock, non-binary, was killed January 31...Keyiariah Quick, 25, black transgender woman, killed August 15...Cecilia Cranko, 48, transgender woman, killed July 5...
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The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with Unify Sedona: A Rainbow Alliance and PFLAG Sedona/Verde Valley to present the premiere of “Becoming More Visible” on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
This special screening of “Becoming More Visible” is presented in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance. Please join us for a Q&A discussion followed by a vigil and reception after the viewing of the film at Heartline Café to honor our transgender siblings whose voices have been silenced because they had the courage to live by and have died for their truths. |
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Challenged by how to identify since early childhood, four fearless transgender young adults defy societal norms to be their true selves and become more visible.
No transition is easy but some are easier than others. We follow Sean, a transgender male comedian from a small affluent town in upstate NY; Katherine, a Bangladeshi transgender girl from a close-knit Muslim family; Olivia, who had to leave everything behind and enter the shelter system in order to be the woman she knows she is; and the unforgettable Morgin, a fully transitioned woman pursuing her musical ambitions and making her way in the world.
“Becoming More Visible” showcases both male to female, and female to male transgender kids. Each is at different phases in their transition and with different levels of familial support. We follow them and watch them grow into and become their true selves. “Becoming More Visible” also introduces avenues of support for this population.
What does it mean to be transgender? While it is a hot topic, it is still widely misunderstood. “Becoming More Visible” shows what it means. It shows the challenges and joys of being your true self. “Becoming More Visible” hopes to normalize what it means to be transgender, thereby reducing the stigma.
The film follows each of our featured young people as they transition into their authentic identity.
We take an intimate look at the lives of these young adults as they transition. Their stories are taken out of the fringes and placed into everyday, relatable life. We hang out with these kids in their bedrooms, doctor’s offices, support groups, Pride events, as well as at public speaking engagements, in subsidized housing projects, well-to-do homes, and on the streets of New York. They open up about their fears of not being accepted, the difficulties of transitioning, the loss of connection with their families, financial and healthcare issues, discrimination and thoughts of hopelessness and suicide. We see their struggles first hand, and also their delights when their bodies and minds begin to match for the first time.
This special Sedona premiere of “Becoming More Visible” is co-presented by Unify Sedona: A Rainbow Alliance and PFLAG Sedona/Verde Valley and made possible by a grant from The Center for LGBTQ Philanthropy at the Arizona Community Foundation. There will be a community discussion and Q&A following the screening and a vigil and reception at Heartline Cafe.
“Becoming More Visible” will show at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.
No transition is easy but some are easier than others. We follow Sean, a transgender male comedian from a small affluent town in upstate NY; Katherine, a Bangladeshi transgender girl from a close-knit Muslim family; Olivia, who had to leave everything behind and enter the shelter system in order to be the woman she knows she is; and the unforgettable Morgin, a fully transitioned woman pursuing her musical ambitions and making her way in the world.
“Becoming More Visible” showcases both male to female, and female to male transgender kids. Each is at different phases in their transition and with different levels of familial support. We follow them and watch them grow into and become their true selves. “Becoming More Visible” also introduces avenues of support for this population.
What does it mean to be transgender? While it is a hot topic, it is still widely misunderstood. “Becoming More Visible” shows what it means. It shows the challenges and joys of being your true self. “Becoming More Visible” hopes to normalize what it means to be transgender, thereby reducing the stigma.
The film follows each of our featured young people as they transition into their authentic identity.
We take an intimate look at the lives of these young adults as they transition. Their stories are taken out of the fringes and placed into everyday, relatable life. We hang out with these kids in their bedrooms, doctor’s offices, support groups, Pride events, as well as at public speaking engagements, in subsidized housing projects, well-to-do homes, and on the streets of New York. They open up about their fears of not being accepted, the difficulties of transitioning, the loss of connection with their families, financial and healthcare issues, discrimination and thoughts of hopelessness and suicide. We see their struggles first hand, and also their delights when their bodies and minds begin to match for the first time.
This special Sedona premiere of “Becoming More Visible” is co-presented by Unify Sedona: A Rainbow Alliance and PFLAG Sedona/Verde Valley and made possible by a grant from The Center for LGBTQ Philanthropy at the Arizona Community Foundation. There will be a community discussion and Q&A following the screening and a vigil and reception at Heartline Cafe.
“Becoming More Visible” will show at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.
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The Sedona Film Festival is proud to partner with Unify Sedona: A Rainbow Alliance and PFLAG Sedona/Verde Valley to present:
THE LAVENDER SCARE Narrated by Glenn Close and featuring the voices of David Hyde Pierce, Cynthia Nixon, Zachary Quinto and T.R. Knight With a pre-film reception and post-film discussion! One show only: Sunday, Sept. 22 at 7 pm
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With the United States gripped in the panic of the 1950s Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower deemed homosexuals to be “security risks” and vowed to rid the federal government of all employees discovered to be gay or lesbian.
Over the next four decades, the longest witch-hunt in American history, tens of thousands of government workers would lose their jobs for no reason other than their sexual orientation.
But the mass firings have an unintended effect: they stirred outrage in the gay community, helped ignite the gay rights movement, and thrust an unlikely hero into the forefront of the LGBTQ rights movement.
Partly based on the award-winning book by historian David K. Johnson, “The Lavender Scare” illuminates a little-known chapter of American history, and serves as a timely reminder of the value of vigilance and social action when civil liberties are under attack.
Over the next four decades, the longest witch-hunt in American history, tens of thousands of government workers would lose their jobs for no reason other than their sexual orientation.
But the mass firings have an unintended effect: they stirred outrage in the gay community, helped ignite the gay rights movement, and thrust an unlikely hero into the forefront of the LGBTQ rights movement.
Partly based on the award-winning book by historian David K. Johnson, “The Lavender Scare” illuminates a little-known chapter of American history, and serves as a timely reminder of the value of vigilance and social action when civil liberties are under attack.
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“I am grateful to the men and women who shared their personal stories on camera — not just the employees who lost their jobs, but the officials who carried out the government’s policies as well. Without their honest and thoughtful insights, this film could never have been made,” said director Josh Howard.
"A gripping, nimbly assembled documentary … vivid, disturbing and rousing." — Los Angeles Times "Fascinating and horrifying — and timely." — The New York Times “An essential and absorbing documentary." — Variety "A film that should be essential viewing." — The Hollywood Reporter |
