Coming Off Two Wins, Miss Arizona is Slated For Dances With Film

Indie dramedy, Miss Arizona, is leaving its mark on the film festival circuit having recently won the Audience Awardfor “Best Narrative Film” at Bentonville and Award of Excellence Special Mention: Women Filmmakers at IndieFEST. Now, director, Autumn McAlpin, and producing partner, DeAnna Cooper, are preparing their all-female ensemble cast for their west coast premiere on Sunday, June 10that 7:15 p.m. at the Dances With FilmsFestival in Hollywood.

Miss Arizonafollows a former pageant queen turned housewife who is trapped in a less-than-ideal marriage and mourning the independence of her 10-year-old son. But when she accepts an invitation to teach a life skills class at a women’s shelter, an all-night adventure begins with four unlikely friends. They embark on a quest through LA’s darkest streets and wildest drag club, all while discovering their own strength and the power of female friendship.

“More women in film creates more role models for young women and girls,” explains Cooper of Stitch Entertainment. “On Miss Arizona, there was a dynamism and diversity among our cast and crew, and we’re proud to say it translated into fresh ideas and an inspired collaboration.”

The story materialized after the 2016 presidential election and McAlpin’sfrustration around the way women were being portrayed in the media. Additionally motivated by the Women’s March and a personal experience she had while teaching a life skills class at a women’s shelter, McAlpin became focused on making a “pro-women” film. In less than a year, with a 70% female film crew, she succeeded.

“When this story idea came to me, it begged to be told right now. While our actors portray fictional characters, their stories represent the truth of so many real women I’ve worked with who face life-threatening struggles but have been marginalized by society,” explains McAlpin. “To complete this film in the crux of the #MeToo movement, and to see both male and female audiences respond so positively to its message has been immensely encouraging.”

Music for Miss Arizona was especially important to McAlpin and Cooper, who made sure to include songs by female powerhouse voices P!nk, Lorde, Shania Twain, Donna Summer, and Kacey Musgraves, and the especially powerful song “Quiet” by MILCK ( dubbed the unofficial song of the Women’s March).

The all-female ensemble cast features Johanna Braddy (Quantico, Unreal), Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Friday Night Lights, Nashville), Robyn Lively (Teenwitch, Karate Kid3), Otmara Marrero (StartUp, Off the Rails) and Shoniqua Shandai (Bodied, Sing It!). Additional cast members include Steve Guttenberg, Missi Pyle, Kyle Howard, Kevin Heffernan, and alums of RuPaul’s Drag RaceWillam Belli and Ginger Minj.

TheDances With Films festival takes place June 7th-17 at the TCL Chinese Theaters (6801 Hollywood Blvd.) in Hollywood. It is proving itself to be unstoppable after 21 consecutive years and is widely recognized as the premiere showcase of innovative independent cinema in the U.S., presenting amazing, undiscovered talent to an industry audience in Hollywood.

For more information about the Miss Arizona, please visit www.missarizonamovie.com, and for tickets, please visit the festival website at www.danceswithfilms.com.