Welcome to the 9th Annual Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival. Our fest takes place in America's largest ghost town which was once coined one of the Wickedest Towns in the West. We were chosen by Moviemaker Magazine in 2017 as one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World. 

We are known for the unique cinematic adventure that we offer but more importantly than that, we are a festival that wholeheartedly supports freedom of speech and storytelling. We do not shy away from controversial topics.

We are edgy, unexpected and are always looking for ways to surprise our guests! Each year we seek high and low throughout Jerome to screen independent films in the most unexpected places. We have screened films on a train, at a haunted gold mine, inside wineries, at surprise hilltop residences, in the basement hallway of a spooky hundred year-old high school, and inside rustic buildings throughout Jerome. With the exception of screening films in the historic Liberty Theatre, we magically create each and every theater from the ground up.

We are Arizona’s most ambitious and impassioned festival and have many new thrills up our sleeve for our 9th installment this year, which include:

- The Wicked Wild Cinema Train where we screen independent films on an inside car and a band on an outside car during a 4 hour trek through the Verde canyons, over rivers and through mountains. 

- Java with the Filmmakers each morning.

- The Prohibition Eve Gala- A 1920’s costumed event with a craft beer and wine tasting, live entertainment and a silent auction.

- The Jerome Craft Beer Experience with a boho flower & art market. 

The founders are filmmakers and they thrive to create a festival that celebrates the filmmakers.  We can’t wait to meet you all on the hill. Guests who arrive immediately become family members and return each year.

Join us for our 9th annual film festival on September 7th-10th, 2023!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH

Filmmaker Meet & Greet

(Filmmakers can start to pick up their passes at this opening event)

6pm-9pm

Bartlett Hotel Ruins

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH

Java with the Filmmakers

10am-11am

Bartlett Hotel Ruins

Films

11am-9pm

Theatre One

Films

5pm-9pm

Theatre Two

Party

9:30pm-12am

Venue:TDB

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH

Java with the Filmmakers

10am-11am

Bartlett Hotel Ruins

Films

11am-6:00pm

Theatre One

Films

11am-7pm

Theatre Two

Wicked Wild West Cinema Train

10:30am-2:30pm (Be at station at 10am)

Verde Valley Railroad

A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed by Shakesbeer

7pm-9pm

Bartlett Hotel Ruins

Jerome Prohibition Eve Gala with Craft Beer, Wine and Spirit Tasting 

9:00pm-12am

Spook Hall

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH

Java with the Filmmakers

10am-11am

Bartlett Hotel Ruins

Films

10am-5pm

Liberty Theatre

Jerome Craft Beer Experience    

CRAFT BEER EXPERIENCE 

September 10, 2023, from 11:30 am to  4:00 pm.

PRESENTED BY EL TOREO MEXICAN RESTAURANT                                                                                

Taking place on the final day of the festival is the 1st Annual Jerome Craft Beer Experience!  Join us  as we celebrate Arizona's finest craft beers on Sunday, 

Guests of this unique event will get the  chance to sample craft beers from some of the best breweries in Arizona.  Several Arizona cideries, distilleries, meaderies and wineries will  also be highlighted.  There will be live music, and very  unique food options available for our Arizona foodies. 

In addition, there will also  be a Boho Flower & Art Market that will be filled with florists and  curated artisans. 

The highlight of the craft beer experience is the Best Beard in Bloom contest  where bearded brewers are teamed up with florists to have their beards  adorned with flowers.

Don’t miss this truly one-of-a-kind event!  

Award Ceremony  

6pm-7pm

Spook Hall

LIVE MUSIC

2 IN THE CHEST

When you experience a live 2 IN THE CHEST performance, you immediately come to the realization that what you are watching and listening to, is way more than just great music, it’s like busting open the swinging doors of some nineteenth century saloon. How about bellying up to the bar, and not only hearing the amazing music, but listening to stories from the old west that they tell during their live performances.  Everything that 2 IN THE CHEST does is part of that story. The characters, the clothes, the set design, custom built guitars, by the Rustic Outlaw Guitar Company, the many props and the vibe…all are pieces to the incredible puzzle that this band has put together.  From beginning to end their set is a pioneering journey through the past, and their shows are always evolving  to the next level of pure entertainment for the whole family.  Everyone from young to not so young leave a 2 IN THE CHEST show with an ear to ear smile and a never ending memory of the fantastic time they had. 

BILL DUTCHER

When Bill Dutcher picks up an acoustic guitar, the music that fills the room cannot be branded with a simple sentence. When you see him play live you’re experiencing an event that shatters the pre-conceived notion of what a solo acoustic can do. You’re witnessing the fusion of six strings, ten fingers, unorthodox instrumentsand various electronics that blend into a unique cocktail of rock, blues, classical, middle-eastern and Celtic flavors.

DENVER WILLIAMS

Denver Williams is a Songwriter and Filmmaker from Fort Worth, Texas.  He is currently supporting the release of his latest EP “Sing Along” and his film “Hood Cream” is currently scheduled to show at film festivals in Arizona, Colorado and in Texas.  His film, Hood Cream, screens at the Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival on Saturday, September 9th at 3:05pm.

LEE ZIMMER (“The Spanish Classical Guitar Experience”)

Lee Zimmer is a virtuoso concert performer that demonstrates elegance, technical proficiency, and a sense of musicality as a soloist and ensemble player.  From Southern California, Lee studied classical guitar extensively with Maestro Seiko Sesoko from 1978 through 1984 and performed in master classes with Manuel Barrueco, Sharon Isben, David Russell, Michael Newman, and Jorge Morel.  Lee recorded and released a CD in 2003 with his guitar duo, Duo Sesoko, which features his arrangement of Le Tombeau de Couperin by Maurice Ravel. In 2007 Lee recorded a solo CD, Encarnacion, which features the music of Augustine Barrios, Manuel Ponce, Federico Moreno-Torroba, and others. Lee was formerly professor of guitar studies at both Cal Baptist and La Sierra Universities from 1990 to 2019. He taught as well at Riverside and Chaffey Community Colleges. Lee currently resides in Cottonwood AZ, and teaches private lessons for guitar and bass as well as performing at many of the local venues in the area.

MUDDY RABBIT

Muddy Rabbit is an indie-pop rock band that hails from Cottonwood, Arizona. Known for their high-energy live performances and catchy sound by infusing elements of pop, rock, country and alternative. Keep your eyes peeled for Muddy Rabbit, coming soon to a small town near you!

SISTER AND THE SUN

The high powered musical duo Sister and the Sun consistently deliver high vibe performances, surprising renditions of classics, and pure entertainment. Their eclectic sound has been described as a fusion of soulful folk, funk, reggae, and RnB. Emily's powerhouse vocals help to craft soulful renditions of both the hits and the classics, while the multi-instrumental master of percussion Mynzah brings the beat that gets the crowd up on their feet. 

TARA LYNN WALRUS

Simultaneously witty and weird, cheeky and charming, Arizona born singer-songwriter Tara Lynn Walrus brings the unsparing strangeness and sometimes-uncomfortable-sweetness of our everyday thoughts and desires into a fresh, thoughtful, searingly endearing light.

VALKYRIE PHOENIX

Valkyrie Phoenix (VKX) is a multi-dimensional ethereal vocal artist heralded for her depth and 'otherworldly,' Celtic or ancient sounding vocals and expansive four-and-a-half octave range.  She is a vocal artist, songwriter, director/producer, and artistic music filmmaker in addition to being a classically trained soprano and retired voice teacher.  She translates her music from soul to finish literally through her own lens as she directs, produces, films and edits her own videos and records and produces her own original music.  Her artistic film and music work have been featured in the Jerome Indie Film and Music Festival and her sophomore album, 'Etherics,' is set to release October 26th, 2023 on all platforms.  To learn more or listen to music online from Valkyrie Phoenix, please visit www.VKXofficial.com.

Two of Valkyrie Phoenix’s music videos, Hungry Ghost and Your Truck screen at the Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival on Sunday, September 10th at 12:25pm in the Music Video Showcase.  Don’t miss it!

Buy Tickets

Date: September 7-10, 2023

Location:  Jerome, AZ

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