I'M TED SIMONS, HOST AND MANAGING EDITOR OF ARIZONA HORIZON.

OUR DAILY BROADCAST IS ACCESSIBLE ON LIVESTREAM ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO MAKE SURE YOU STAY CONNECTED TO ALL THAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE STATE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING ARIZONA PBS, A VIEWER-SUPPORTED COMMUNITY SERVICE OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: WE'LL LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS TO U.S. SUPPLY CHAINS FROM NEW TARIFFS PUT IN PLACE B THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION... ALSO TONIGHT: A NEW EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR UN-HOUSED SENIORS OPENS IN PHOENIX... AND THE 29TH ANNUAL GREATER PHOENIX JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THEATERS ACROSS THE VALLEY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES TODAY JOINED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CUTS TO FUNDIN FOR MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH.

MAYES JOINED 21 OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN CLAIMING THAT THE CUTS ARE UNLAWFUL AND THAT, QUOTE, "LIFESAVING MEDICAL RESEARCH IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS LONG BEEN A LEADER, COULD BE COMPROMISED."

ALSO TODAY: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CASE AGAINST FAKE ELECTORS TOOK A HIT.

THE JUDGE IN THE CASE ALLOWED DEFENSE CLAIMS THAT THE AG'S OFFICE VIOLATED A STATE FREE SPEECH LAW THAT PROHIBITS PROSECUTONS INVOLVING THE LAWFU EXERCISE OF FREE SPEECH.

MAYES SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT SHE WILL APPEAL ADDING THAT DEPRIVING ARIZONA VOTERS OF THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE IS NOT THE LAWFUL EXERCISE OF FREE SPEECH.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ROUND OF TARIFFS.

THIS TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP POSED A 25% TO STEEL IMPORTS, AND IT WOULD APPLY TO EVERYBODY INCLUDING CANADA AND MEXICO.

REACTION FROM MEXICO'S PRESIDENT JUST PRIOR TO THE ORDER.

>> WE FOUND OUT THE SAME DAY THROUGH MEDIA REPORTS, WE WILL WAIT, WE NEED TO KEEP A COOL HEAD ON THIS, LET'S WAIT AND SEE IF THERE'S AN ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AND FROM THERE WE'LL MAKE OUR DECISIONS.

>> AND THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

A SIMILAR MOVE ON STEEL AND ALUMINUM DURING THE FIRST TRUMP PRESIDENCY PLEASED U.S. METAL PRODUCERS BUT WOUND UP HURTING THE BROADER ECONOMY DUE TO INCREASED PRICES FROM MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID HIS PLAN FOR THE U.S. TO TAKE OVER GAZA INCLUDES NOT ALLOWING PALESTINIANS TO RETURN TO THE TERRITORY THE PRESIDENT TOLD FOX NEWS THAT HE PLANS TO BUILD A, QUOTE, PERMANENT PLACE FOR THEM, SUGGESTING THAT HE COULD, QUOTE, MAKE A DEAL WITH JORDAN AND EGYPT TO ASSEMBLE THE DISPLACED POPULATION.

BOTH JORDON AND EGYPT HAVE LOUDLY REJECTED SUCH A PLAN.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS I.R.S AGENTS TO BE DEPUTIZED TO HELP WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NEW YOR TIMES, WHICH REPORTS THAT THE I.R.S.

HAS MORE THAN 2100 TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, WHO HELP INVESTIGATE TAX AND OTHER FINANCIAL CRIMES.

SHIFTING THOSE OFFICERS TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ALIGNS WITH LONGSTANDING REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO WEAKEN TAX ENFORCEMENT ABILITIES AT THE I.R.S.

AND, IMMIGRATION COURTS IN THE U.S. ARE FACING A RECORD-HIGH BACKLOG OF NEARLY 4 MILLION CASES.

AND THAT REFLECTS JUST THE FIRS QUARTER OF 2025.

IMMIGRATION COURTS HAVE BEEN BOGGED DOWN OVER THE YEARS AS MORE CASES HAVE BEEN ADDED.

THE CURRENT BACKLOG HAS DOUBLED SINCE 2021.

IMMIGRATION JUDGES ARE NOW SCHEDULING HEARINGS YEARS IN ADVANCE, WITH SOME SAYING THAT THEIR NEXT AVAILABILITY ISN'T UNTIL 2027.

TARIFFS AND THREATS OF TARIFFS ARE MAKING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN MANY ECONOMIC SECTORS.

IS THAT UNCERTAINTY IMPACTING U.S. SUPPLY CHAINS?

AND IF SO, HOW SO?

JOINING US NOW IS DALE ROGERS FROM ASU'S W. P. CAREY SCHOOL O BUSINESS, AND OUR GO-TO GUY WHE IT COMES TO SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPLY CHAINS, LET'S TAKE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY, STEEL AND ALUMINUM FROM THE WORLD COMING IN.

WHAT DOES THAT DO TO SUPPLY CHAINS?

>> WELL, IF YOU WERE -- WELL, THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH CAPACITY IN THE U.S. YOU KNOW, STEEL USED TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMODITY IN THE U.S. PEOPLE THOUGHT IT DROVE THE ECONOMY BACK IN THE 40s AND ITS 50s, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT TRADITIONAL BIG STEEL PLANTS HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY INEFFICIENT FOR A LONG TIME, AND WHAT HAPPENED IS THE STEEL HAS MY GREAT OUT OF THE U.S.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND THE OTHER THING IS, IS THAT ARE WE GOING TO PROTECT THE STEEL INDUSTRY SO THAT THE STEEL GETS PUT INTO COMPONENTS THAT ARE DONE OVERSEAS AND THEN COMES BACK?

THAT'S JUST INEFFICIENT, AND A HUGE THING IS THE BUILDING SECTOR, WHERE WE ALREADY SAW WITH CANADIAN LUMBER TARIFFS BACK IN 2018 AND STEEL, THOSE PRICES OF HOUSING GO UP.

AND THEN YOUR NEXT GUEST IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE UNHOUSED AND SO ON.

THIS IS GONNA MAKE THE PROBLEM EVEN WORSE.

IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE, BUT IN CERTAIN AREAS, POLITICALLY, PENNSYLVANIA, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, STEEL TARIFFS PROBABLY HELP THOSE WORKERS AND THOSE PEOPLE VOTE.

>> TARIFFS IN GENERAL, OVERALL THE TARIFFS, THE THREAT OF TARIFFS.

FIRST OF ALL, DOES BUSINESS FULLY UNDERSTAND THE RULES?

DOES ANYONE REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL, THINGS ARE MOVING TOO QUICKLY.

I MEAN, JUST REALLY FAST.

SO EVERY DAY THERE'S A NEW SORT OF CRISIS NEWS STORY.

YOU KNOW, WE KNOW FROM MORE THAN 150 YEARS THAT TARIFFS ARE BAD.

TRUTHFULLY, NO ONE EVER WINS A TRADE WAR.

THIS IS NOT NEW YORK REAL ESTATE WHERE YOU CAN LIKE SUBDUE SOMEBODY.

A TRADE WAR NEVER WORKS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE WORLD AT ECONOMIES THAT ARE BASICALLY CLOSED, THEY HAVE HIGH TARIFFS, BRAZIL, VENEZUELA, THERE'S A BUNCH OF THEM.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO TRADE PLACES WITH THEM.

AND SO FOR SUPPLY CHAIN FOLKS, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, I THINK.

>> I KNOW THAT THINGS LIKE UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM ARE BIG TERMS AND BIG THINGS TO LOOK AT WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPLY CHAIN.

WHAT DO THOSE TERMS MEAN, AND HOW WOULD TARIFFS AFFECT THEM?

>> WELL, DOWNSTREAM IS LIKE IN FRONT, SO YOUR CUSTOMER AND YOUR CUSTOMER'S CUSTOMER, SO ON.

UPSTREAM IS THE OTHER DIRECTION WHERE YOU'RE KIND OF GOING BACK IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO EVENTUALLY DIRT AND WATER AND RAW MATERIALS.

SO, YOU KNOW, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGERS ARE USED TO DEALING WITH DISRUPTIONS AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY, BUT THESE TARIFFS ARE UNNECESSARY DISRUPTIONS.

AND THERE'S NOBODY RUNNING THESE THINGS -- RUNNING SUPPLY CHAINS THAT THINK, YOU KNOW, TARIFFS ARE A GOOD IDEA.

NOBODY DOES.

>> WILL WE SEE MORE SHIPPING IN BULK, TRANSPORTATION IN BULK AS OPPOSED TO SINGLE ITEMS?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SEE?

>> WELL, THE DE-MINIMIST TARIFFS -- THE WAY -- TEMU AND SHIEN WHO GAIN A BIG FOOTHOLD IN THE U.S.

SHIPPING DIRECTLY FROM CHINA AND ALSO A LOT OF LIKE SMALL BUSINESS FOLKS ARE SHIPPING FROM CHINA TO THE U.S., SOME ARE USING, YOU KNOW, U.P.S.

OR FED EX OR SOMETHING, AND THAT'S MADE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN STOPPING SOME OF THAT VERY LOW-COST STUFF, AND SO WE'RE CLOSING THAT DE-MINIMIST LOOPHOLE, WHICH IS A BIG CHANGE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THINGS ARE GONNA COME A LOT SLOWER IF IT'S COMING DIRECTLY FROM CHINA.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT REDUCE SPEED TO MARKET, AND IF WE SEE, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT, MORE AIR CARGO RATES, MORE AIR CARGO, LESS AIR CARGO?

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE DISASTROUS FOR AIR CARGO, ACTUALLY.

BECAUSE THERE'S SORT OF -- IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HOLD, BUT THE RATIO BETWEEN OCEAN AND AIR IS ABOUT 10 TO ONE.

SO IT COST 10 TIMES AS MUCH TO SHIP IT ON AN AIRPLANE.

WELL, WHAT ARE YOU SHIPPING ON AN AIRPLANE?

SMALL PACKAGES, AVOIDING TARIFFS, AND THIS IS GONNA BE REALLY IF YOU OWN STOCK IN AIR CARGO COMPANY, THESE ARE NOT GOOD DAYS.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR INVENTORY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>>.

>> WELL, WE SAW A MOVEMENT OF INVENTORY IN BEFORE TRUMP GOT INAUGURATED, TRYING TO EXPEDITE STUFF IN, BUT THAT STUFF'S ONLY GOING TO LAST FOR SO LONG.

WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE EAST COAST DOCK WORK STRIKES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE SORT OF PREPARED FOR THAT.

BUT WITH THIS, IT'S KIND OF UP IN THE AIR, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S COMING.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR CONSUME CENTERS WHAT DO WE WATCH FOR HERE?

>> WELL, STUFF GOING TO COST MORE.

WE SAW IT BEFORE WITH THE TARIFFS BACK IN 2018.

THE PRESIDENT BACK THEN SAID THEY WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY THINKS THEY WERE, HONESTLY.

BUT WE'RE GONNA SEE COSTS GO UP AND IT'S UNPREDICTABLE WHAT COSTS ARE GOING TO GO UP.

>> COSTS GO UP BECAUSE OF SHORTAGES AND THESE KINDS OF THINGS?

>> NO.

IT'S MORE -- IF INPUTS COST MORE -- AND THERE'S AN AMPLIFIER EFFECT.

IF YOU PUT A 25% TARIFF ON STEEL, THAT 25% GETS INCREASED AS IT ROLLS DOWNSTREAM IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

SO THERE'S LIKE AN AMPLIFIER EFFECT.

SO IT DOESN'T SAY 25%, 25%, 25% UNLESS SOMEBODY EATS IT SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, EATS THE COST OF IT.

BUT YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT COST GET LARGER AS IT MOVES AND, YOU KNOW, GOSH, IN SOME CASE IT IS MIGHT BE 50% INCREASE IN PRICE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CONSUMER.

HOPEFULLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS JUST MESSING AROUND AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE THEM OFF LIKE WE DID THE CANADIAN AND MEXICO TARIFFS.

BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, INTRODUCING UNCERTAINTY, IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> LAST QUESTION REAL QUICKLY, THIS UNPRECEDENTED?

HAVE WE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, IN THE MODERN ERA, YES, BECAUSE WE'VE ALL KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME SINCE THE SMOOT-HAWLEY TARIFFS THAT ACTUALLY HELPED BRING ON THE DEPRESSION.

GO BLACK TO 1929, STOCK MARKET CRASHES, AND THEN SMOOT-HAWLEY TARIFFS MADE EVERYTHING MUCH WORSE AND THEN THAT REALLY PRECIPITATED THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

SO NOBODY'S WANTED TO REPLICATE THAT.

>> DALE ROGERS, WP CAREY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, TED.

CENTRAL ARIZONA SHELTER SERVICE OR "CASS," IS USING A FORMER "PHOENIX INN" AS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR SENIORS IN NEED OF HOUSING.

WE LEARN MORE FROM NATHAN SMITH, CEO OF CASS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> IT'S CALLED THE HAVEN.

WHAT IS THE NARRATIVE.

>> IT REALLY IS EXACTLY THAT.

IT'S AN EMERGENCY SHELTER COMPROMISED OF INDIVIDUAL UNITS.

THERE'S 130 INDIVIDUAL UNITS, AND WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE WHO ARE 55 AND OLDER AND EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS OFTEN STREETS AND INTO THIS FACILITY FOR TEMPORARY STAYS, 90 DAYS OR GIVE OR TAKE, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO RESOLVE SOME ISSUES.

>> THESE ARE 55 PLUS MEDICALLY AT RISK IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM?

>> OFTEN 55 OR OLDER AND HAVING BEEN UNSHELTERED IN HOMELESSNESS FOR QUITE A WHILE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ARE MEDICALLY VULNERABLE COGNITIVELY VULNERABLE AND THE LIKE.

>> IS THIS CONSIDERED A TEMPORARY SHELTER ABSOLUTELY IS TEMPORARY.

THE STARTING 90 DAYS.

WE ALWAYS SAY THE EXTENSIONS AREN'T VERY HARD TO COME BY.

A LOT TO GO THROUGH TO EXIT HOMELESSNESS WHEN YOU'VE BEEN LIVING ON THE STREETS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS MAKE IT SO THAT FOLKS COMING TO THE SHELTER HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO RESOLVE WHATEVER ISSUES ARE KEEPING THEM HOMELESS.

SOMETIMES IT WILL GO LONGER THAN 90 DAYS AND AS AS LONG AS THAT WORK IS HAPPENING, WE HAPPILY HELP.

>> WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

ARE THERE REQUIREMENTS?

DO OTHER SERVICES BRING THEM TO YOU?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> WELL, THE ISSUE WITH HOMELESSNESS IN THE VALLEY IS EVER SINCE 2020 THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE 55 AND OLDER EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAVE MORE THAN TRIPLED.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT COME INTO OUR SHELTER WHETHER FROM OTHER PROVIDERS, WE ALSO OPERATE A 600 BED SINGLE ADULT SHELTER IN THE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX AREA.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE MOSTLY TAKING PEOPLE FROM THAT CONGREGATE STYLE AND LIKE A COUPLE OF BIG ROOMS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS MEDICALLY AND COGNITIVELY AND A LITTLE BIT OLDER POPULATION.

THAT'S OUR MAIN POOL IS PEOPLE WILL REFER FOLKS THERE, AND WE TAKE THEM FROM THERE AND TRANSFER THEM OVER.

>> OKAY.

AND SERVICES OFFER CASE MANAGEMENT.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU GOT GOING HERE >> ABSOLUTELY.

CASE MANAGEMENT IS A CORE SERVICE.

WE PROVIDE THAT DIRECTLY.

WE HAVE A 1 TO 15 CASE MANAGEMENT RATIO, WHICH IS A FAIRLY LOW RATIO, SO WE COULD REALLY LEAN IN ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON WITH PEOPLE THERE.

BUT WE SURROUND WITH MUCH MORE THAN WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY PROVIDE OURSELVES.

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, CIRCLE THE CITY.

THEY PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE.

WE DO A MONTREAL COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT TO SCREEN FOR THINGS LIKE DEMENTIA AND THE LIKE AND CIRCLE THE CITY WE CAN NAVIGATE PEOPLE TO THE MEDICAL RESOURCES NECESSARY.

IT'S REALLY A LOT OF OTHER WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTS BESIDES WHAT WE PROVIDE.

>> YOU MENTION WRAP AROUND SUPPORTS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IS THIS.

>> IT MEANS ALL OF THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT CAN HELP MOVE WITH YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

PEOPLE WHO COME TO US, AGAIN, VERY MEDICALLY VULNERABLE, OFTEN COPD HEART DISEASE, BEHAVIORALLY VULNERABLE, THINGS LIKE PTSD AND THE LIKE.

THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICE LEGAL PROBLEMS ARE A HUGE ISSUE.

PETS, MEDICATION, HUGE ISSUE.

WRAP-AROUND AS WE WRAP AROUND ALL OF THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT ONE FACES IN THEIR LIFE, AND WE MAKE SURE TO RESOLVE THEM IN THE WAY THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

>> NOW, THE PHOENIX WAS A MOTEL, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOW THE HAVEN.

TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS GOING FROM A MOTEL TO A SHELTER.

>> IT'S WILD, ACTUALLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE POSITION TO CONVERT HOTELS AND MOTELS INTO HOUSING AND SHELTER WAS THAT IT'S COSTLY BOTH IN TIME AND IN MONEY.

WE DEFINITELY LEARNED THAT IT TAKES A LOT MORE THAN WE EXPECTED.

IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS LONGER THAN EXPECTED PROCESS, AND WE FINALLY GOT HERE.

>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES?

>> WE TALKED ABOUT SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE WERE FACED SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE FACILITY THAT WE WERE PURCHASING.

WE REALLY HAD TO LEARN ON THE FLY AND CHANGE THE PLANS FOR THE ARCHITECT THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AS WE WENT SIMPLY BECAUSE SO MUCH WAS UNCOVERED INVOLVING AN OLD SOMEWHAT DILAPIDATED MOTEL.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT.

>> ARE THERE MORE HOTELS OUT THERE ON THE HORIZON?

>> THERE ARE OTHER POSSIBILITIES.

I HOPE THAT OUR INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO EXPLORE.

I THINK WE CAN DO IT IN A WAY MORE EFFICIENT, BUT GLAD TO BE THE GUINEA PIGS.

>> HOW DO YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT CASS, HOW DO YOU LEARN ABOUT HAVEN?

>> GO TO CASSAZ.ORG.

FEET FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME DIRECTLY.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, TED.

THE 29TH ANNUAL GREATER-PHOENIX JEWISH-FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS WEEK, WITH MORE THAN 2 DOZEN FILMS SET TO BE SCREENED IN THEATERS ACROSS THE VALLEY.

WE WELCOME THE FESTIVAL'S ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NYLES GRADUS, TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> I WANT TO SAY, I USED TO BE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BUT I'M NOW THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

>> OH, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, I THINK, RIGHT?

>> THANK YOU.

WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS SO THERE'S NO PAY RAISE HERE.

>> OKAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOAL OF THE FILM FESTIVAL.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE FROM THESE FILMS WHEN THEY GO AND WHEN THEY COME HOME?

>> YOU KNOW, STORYTELLING IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE JEWISH HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE.

AND OUR GOAL IS TO BRING FILMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD INTO THE VALLEY SO PEOPLE CAN EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE, AND THEY ALL HAVE HOLE THATS AND CONNECTIONS TO BEING JEWISH.

DOESN'T MEAN HAVE YOU TO BE JEWISH TO ENJOY THEM, BUT IT WILL -- YOU'LL BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND REACT AND APPRECIATE THE FILMS BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSAL THEMES.

>> ONE OF THE QUOTES I SAW WAS CONNECTING COMMUNITIES THROUGH CINEMA.

EXPLAIN.

>> YES.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE REPRESENT CERTAIN AREAS THAT ARE CERTAIN SECTS IN JUDAISM AND THE DIFFERENT FILMS CAN PORTRAY DIFFERENT SECTS OF JUDAISM TO EACH OTHER AND ALSO TO THE WORLD WHO ARE NOT JEWISH.

>> HOW MANY FILMS?

>> WE HAVE 28 FILMS THIS SEASON BUT TO GET TO 28 FILMS, MY SCREENING CAME TO 135 FILMS.

AND WE FILTERED DOWN THE BEST ONES, CREME DE LA CREME TO BE PART OF THE FESTIVAL.

>> HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH FILMS TO FEATURE?

>> IT'S VERY SUBJECTIVE.

THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG.

WE HAVE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE SCREENING THAT TOGETHER, WITH THE 40 SCREENERS, WE REPRESENT PRETTY MUCH THE AUDIENCE IN THE VALLEY AND THAT'S HOW WE CHOOSE THE FILMS.

>> HAVE YOU EVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS AND ONE OF THE FILMS YOU REALLY LIKED JUST DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT?

>> WELL, THERE ARE FILMS THAT I HAVEN'T LIKED THAT MADE THE CUT.

WE ARE LIKE DEPARTMENT STORE BUYERS.

WE HAVE TO BUY FOR THE GENERAL AUDIENCE AND NOT JUST OUR OWN PERSPECTIVE.

>> INTERESTING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THESE FILMS, WE'LL START WITH "SODA."

THIS IS AN ARIZONA PREMIER.

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

>> SODA IS BASED ON A TRUE STORY, 1954 IN ISRAEL.

A GROUP OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND PARTISANS WHO FOUGHT THE NAZIS ARE IN A BOTTLING PLANT MAKING SODA.

IT ATTRACTS WOMEN INTO THE TOWN THERE'S A LOVE INTEREST.

BUT THE MYSTERY, THE SUSPENSE IS, IS THIS PERSON A COPPO.

DID SHE HELP THE JEWS AND HELP IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS, DID SHE GOVERN THEM IN TERMS OF THEIR WORK ASSIGNMENTS?

>> IT LOOKS VERY INTENSE.

ESPECIALLY AS THIS CLIP GOES ON >> IT'S A DRAMA AND A MYSTERY, YES.

>> THERE'S A TALKBACK WITH ISRAELI STARS WITH THIS FESTIVAL.

WHAT DOES THAT SEEN IN.

>> RIGHT.

SO FOR THE FIRST TIME WE ARE HAVING AN OPENING NIGHT IN THE SCOTTSDALE CULTURAL PERFORMING ART CENTER, AND WE'RE HAVING THE STARS OF SODA COME IN TO TALK ABOUT THE FILM-AFTERS, INCLUDING ALIVA ROZ.

HE WAS THE LEAD ACTOR IN A SERIES CALLED "FOUDA" AND HE ALSO HAD A ROLE IN GLADIATOR 2.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASK HIM AND THE FEMALE LEAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FILM.

>> LET'S GET TO ANOTHER FILM.

BAD CHAVAS.

>> YES.

AN INTERFAITH ENGAGED COUPLE WANT THE FAMILIES TO MEET AND HAVE A GOOD IMPRESSION.

THEY HAD A NEW YORK APARTMENT AND SABBATH FRIDAY NIGHT, A MONKEY WRENCH IS THROWN INTO IT BECAUSE THERE'S AN ACCIDENTAL WEIRD KIND OF DEATH.

THERE'S A BODY IN THE BATHROOM, AND THE GOAL IS HOW TO PREVENT THE CATHOLIC FAMILY MEETING THE JEWISH FAMILY, FROM KNOWING THERE'S A BODY IN THE BATHROOM.

>> A LITTLE WOODY ALLEN-ESQUE MAYBE?

>> WOODY ALLEN AND MAYBE A LITTLE WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S, BUT FUNNIER THAN THAT AND LESS SOPHOMORIC THAN "WEEKEND."

>> SOME OF THE BIGGER NAMES I WOULD IMAGINE IN SOME OF THESE FILMS.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND ALSO DAVID POMEER.

>> OKAY.

NEXT FILM "RUNNING ON SAND."

APPARENTLY COMEDY, A LITTLE BIT OF A DRAMA TOO.

>> YES.

ARA TREEN, ILLEGAL ALIEN AT AN ISRAELI AIRPORT, ABOUT TO BE SENT BACK.

HE'S MISTAKEN BY AN ISRAELI SOCCER TEAM FOR THE SOCCER STAR THAT WANTS TO RESURRECT THEIR TEAM.

HE PLAYS ALONG TO PRETEND HE'S THE STAR BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO BACK.

IT'S A COMEDY, IT'S A DRAMA, AND SHOWS THE ETHNIC DIVERSITY AND CULTURAL AND RACIAL DIVERSITY IN ISRAEL.

>> INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE ONE MORE COMING UP HERE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME FOR THIS.

THIS IS ONE THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD FILM.

I JUST LOVE LOOKING AT FLIPS HERE.

BUT MIDAS MAN, IF YOU'RE A BEATLES FAN, YOU KNOW WHO BRIAN EPSTEIN IS.

AND MADE CASS MAN GOES OVER HIS SHORT, TRAGIC, BUT AT SOME POINT JUST MOMENT US LIFE.

>> I WAS A BEATLE FAN.

I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT BRIAN EPSTEIN.

BUT HE WAS A RECORD STORE OWNER HE RECOGNIZED THE TALENT OF THE BEATLES PERMANENT BASICALLY DISCOVERED THEM, PUT THEM TOGETHER, MANAGED THEM, AND THEN HIS CREATIVE FORCE BUILT THEM INTO THE GREAT BAND THAT THEY WERE, PLUS THE FACT IN THE 1960s HE WAS A GAY MAN LIVING IN THE CLOSET AND IT'S A VERY INTERESTING STORY ABOUT HIS LIFE, SOMETHING THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF.

>> TRAGIC LIFE, HE DIED YOUNG.

>> HE HAD A TRAGIC LIFE.

HE DIED YOUNG, BUT WHAT A CREATIVE AND AMBITIOUS AND -- THE BEATLES WOULD NOT HAVE EXISTED WITHOUT HIM, IN MY OPINION.

>> AS FAR AS A FILM LIKE THIS, AND YOU CAN HAVE GUYS PLAYING JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE AND RINGO HERE, CAN THAT BE A LITTLE OFF-PUTTING?

>> I TELL YA, THESE FOUR GUYS DID A TREMENDOUS JOB AND RESURRECTING THE BEATLES AND HOW THEY SANG AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH ONE ANOTHER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EVERYTHING'S BACK IN THEATERS NOW, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE SHOWED -- WE SHOW OUR FILMS IN THE SHEA, HARKINS AND ALSO CHANDLER AND PEORIA AND WE'RE ALL BACK IN THEATERS, EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> ARE THERE OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO STILL AREN'T COMFORTABLE GOING TO THEATERS?

>> WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THAT BUT RIGHT NOW JUST IN PERSON, IN THEATERS.

WE MAY HAVE SPECIAL VIRTUAL SCREENINGS GOING FORWARD, BUT THAT'S IN THE WORKS, AND NOTHING TO ANNOUNCE AT THIS POINT?

>> OKAY.

SO 29 YEARS, HUH?

>> 29 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE SUCCESS THIS FESTIVAL?

BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GROWN EVERY YEAR.

>> YEAH.

I THINK WE CONTRIBUTE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE 81 RAW -- GENRES THAT PEOPLE RESPOND TO, AND I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR AUDIENCES WANT CERTAIN KINDS OF FILMS, AND I THINK WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPLY THEM IN A WAY THAT THEY APPRECIATE.

>> YOU THINK OVER THE YEARS, YOU CAN DO EVEN BETTER AT GIVING THE AUDIENCES WHAT THEY WANT?

>> WE'LL GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANT IT.

>> THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.

AND WHAT IS YOUR NIGHTS.

>> ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

>> ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ALL RIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE FESTIVAL, AND BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

GREAT.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.