Why September Is Prime Time for Mesa Video Production Pros
Mesa video production enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate this month as the city rolls out a festival-grade screening lineup, an interactive art installation, fresh casting calls and permit resources that smooth the path for commercial shoots. Whether you crew up, cast up or cue up a screening, the next two weeks are packed with opportunity.
Japanese Film Festival Arizona (Sept 12–13)
- Venue: ASU MIX Center, 50 N. Centennial Way
- Features 12 contemporary Japanese titles, from award-winning dramas to anime crowd-pleasers.
- Industry panels led by faculty from the New American Film School.
Impact: The festival draws distributors to downtown Mesa, giving local producers a shot at festival circuit exposure without leaving home.
Immersive Art Meets Live-Cinema
PASSAGE – Open Exhibition
Kevin Peter He’s responsive installation runs noon–5 p.m. daily through Sept 12 at the MIX Center, blending real-time projections, spatial sound and scent to demonstrate cutting-edge media server workflows.
Moonlight Movie Nights: Mirai
On Sept 12 at 7 p.m., the MIX Center lawn hosts a free outdoor screening of Mamoru Hosoda’s time-skipping anime, complete with open-air projection and 5.1 audio—perfect for students to observe pop-up cinema logistics.
Open Casting Opportunities
- LIMBO indie feature (Mesa) — accepting video auditions for lead & supporting roles until Sept 11; shoots locally this fall.
- Multiple Phoenix-area shorts and commercials expiring Sept 13–18 also invite Mesa talent.
Why it matters: Keeping casts local trims travel costs and lets productions tap Mesa’s growing talent pool cultivated by nearby film programs.
Permits & Production Resources
Mesa continues to waive all permit fees, but filmmakers must file 15 working days in advance—especially if drone flights, weapons props, or street closures are planned. The Film Mesa portal now consolidates barricade plans, police off-duty requests and insurance uploads, markedly reducing paperwork loops that once pushed shoots into Phoenix.
Quick-Hit Calendar (Sept 10 – 24)
- Sept 10-12: PASSAGE immersive installation, MIX Center
- Sept 11: Last day to submit for LIMBO casting
- Sept 12: Mirai outdoor screening, 7 p.m., MIX Center lawn
- Sept 12-13: Japanese Film Festival Arizona, MIX Center
- Rolling: Film Mesa permit applications open year-round
Takeaway for Creators
With a festival bringing buyers to town, an installation showcasing next-gen projection, and a feature film sourcing local talent, Mesa is proving it can rival Phoenix for high-value shoots. Lock in permits early, pack your reels for the festival, and leverage these next two weeks to push your Mesa video production projects from concept to camera.
