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Opportunities: International Film Festival Summit
Dec 4, 2011
International Film Festival Summit (December 4–6, 2011), held in Austin, Texas, is the largest international organization representing the film festival industry. The IFFS mission is to promote and strengthen the global film festival industry through education, networking, dissemination of information, and the cultivation of high standards. This year's featured topics include Anatomy of a Festival: South by Southwest, Programming: The Fine Art of Film Selection, Marketing Strategies: Integrating Social Media and Technology, The Festival Mission, Sponsorship Strategy, Box Office Technology Solutions, among others. Notable speakers include Richard Linklater (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset), as well as SFFS' very own Steve Jenkins, Sarah Cathers, and Linda Butler. DEADLINE: Register by September 25, 2011 to receive discounted rate. WEBSITE: filmfestivalsummit.com/iffshome.html.
Home

Essential SF: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
Michael Fox
Nov 3, 2011
With riveting characters, cascading revelations and momentous breakthroughs, Epstein and Friedman’s work paved the way for contemporary documentary practice.
In Depth

Essential SF: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
Michael Fox
Nov 3, 2011
With riveting characters, cascading revelations and momentous breakthroughs, Epstein and Friedman’s work paved the way for contemporary documentary practice.
November 3, 2011

Essential SF: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
Michael Fox
Nov 3, 2011
With riveting characters, cascading revelations and momentous breakthroughs, Epstein and Friedman’s work paved the way for contemporary documentary practice.
Events

'American Teacher'
Oct 7, 2011
The Matt Damon-narrated SFIFF hit 'American Teacher' follows the lives of a few edu-system stars, one based in San Francisco, forced by low wages and crumbling job security to reconsider their chosen profession. Filmmaker Vanessa Roth and producers Dave Eggers and Nînive Calegari will be present for Q&A following Friday's screening; special reception Tuesday, October 11. More info at roxie.com.
October 4 2011

'American Teacher'
Oct 7, 2011
The Matt Damon-narrated SFIFF hit 'American Teacher' follows the lives of a few edu-system stars, one based in San Francisco, forced by low wages and crumbling job security to reconsider their chosen profession. Filmmaker Vanessa Roth and producers Dave Eggers and Nînive Calegari will be present for Q&A following Friday's screening; special reception Tuesday, October 11. More info at roxie.com.
Events

An Evening with John Lithgow
Oct 4, 2011
The Booksmith and Berkeley Arts & Letters join forces to bring celebrated actor John Lithgow to the Sundance Kabuki for an evening in discussion of his new autobiography, 'Drama: An Actor's Education.' More info/tickets at brownpapertickets.com.
October 4 2011

An Evening with John Lithgow
Oct 4, 2011
The Booksmith and Berkeley Arts & Letters join forces to bring celebrated actor John Lithgow to the Sundance Kabuki for an evening in discussion of his new autobiography, 'Drama: An Actor's Education.' More info/tickets at brownpapertickets.com.
September 13 2011

Donizetti's 'Elixir of Love,' the Movie
Sep 17, 2011
The San Francisco Opera & CFI Education co-present a one-hour kid-friendly version of the famous opera at the Smith Rafael Film Center, along with educational take-home materials and an introduction by SF Opera staff. Free this Saturday, more info cafilm.org.
August 25, 2011

PFA Animates with Bay Area Works
Jonathan Kiefer
Aug 24, 2011
SF State professor Karl Cohen’s animation collection investigates the nature of pictorial movement itself.
Home

PFA Animates with Bay Area Works
Jonathan Kiefer
Aug 24, 2011
SF State professor Karl Cohen’s animation collection investigates the nature of pictorial movement itself.
Reviews

PFA Animates with Bay Area Works
Jonathan Kiefer
Aug 24, 2011
SF State professor Karl Cohen’s animation collection investigates the nature of pictorial movement itself.
August 16, 2011

Viva Pedro!
Aug 18, 2011
The luxurious single-screen represents for its Castro neighbors, screening a mini-retrospective of Pedro Almodovar's sensitive and dynamic arthouse crankers. Viva Pedro opens with Gael García Bernal vehicle 'Bad Education' on Wednesday, finishing off with the excellent, underseen 'The Flower of My Secret' and 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' on Friday. More info at castrotheatre.com.
August 18, 2011

Teens Tackle Production at SFFS Young Filmmakers Camp
Kim Nunley
Aug 12, 2011
The second year of the Film Society's movie-making summer camp puts youth on location.
Home

Teens Tackle Production at SFFS Young Filmmakers Camp
Kim Nunley
Aug 12, 2011
The second year of the Film Society's movie-making summer camp puts youth on location.
News & Blogs

Teens Tackle Production at SFFS Young Filmmakers Camp
Kim Nunley
Aug 12, 2011
The second year of the Film Society's movie-making summer camp puts youth on location.
Home

Graham Leggat Steps Down as Executive Director of San Francisco Film Society
Jul 5, 2011
Film Society’s leader for more than five years resigns due to health issues.
July 7, 2011

Graham Leggat Steps Down as Executive Director of San Francisco Film Society
Jul 5, 2011
Film Society’s leader for more than five years resigns due to health issues.
News & Blogs

Graham Leggat Steps Down as Executive Director of San Francisco Film Society
Jul 5, 2011
Film Society’s leader for more than five years resigns due to health issues.
Home

SF Film Society Signs Lease on New Theatrical Home
Jun 23, 2011
SFFS to offer daily, year-round programming, classes and events in dedicated state-of-the-art theater for the first time in its 54-year history. The San Francisco Film Society and New People today announced significant news for Bay Area filmgoers: the signing of a lease that brings the Film Society’s exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events to one primary theater on a daily, year-round basis, beginning in September. The San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema opens its doors in September in the state-of-the art...
June 23 2011

SF Film Society Signs Lease on New Theatrical Home
Jun 23, 2011
SFFS to offer daily, year-round programming, classes and events in dedicated state-of-the-art theater for the first time in its 54-year history. The San Francisco Film Society and New People today announced significant news for Bay Area filmgoers: the signing of a lease that brings the Film Society’s exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events to one primary theater on a daily, year-round basis, beginning in September. The San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema opens its doors in September in the state-of-the art...
June 23, 2011

SF Film Society Signs Lease on New Theatrical Home
Jun 23, 2011
SFFS to offer daily, year-round programming, classes and events in dedicated state-of-the-art theater for the first time in its 54-year history. The San Francisco Film Society and New People today announced significant news for Bay Area filmgoers: the signing of a lease that brings the Film Society’s exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events to one primary theater on a daily, year-round basis, beginning in September. The San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema opens its doors in September in the state-of-the art...
Home

Celebrating a Reel Education
Jennifer Preissel
Jun 9, 2011
San Francisco Film Society commemorates 20 years of education programs in 2011. Since 1991, the San Francisco Film Society has been educating youth in film, but it’s not all elementary, or middle, or high school-oriented: What began as a K–12 Schools at the Festival program that brought students and international cinema together has, 20 years later, grown into year-round educational programming that serves not just under-18s, but lifelong learners, professional and novice filmmakers and university students.
June 9, 2011

Celebrating a Reel Education
Jennifer Preissel
Jun 9, 2011
San Francisco Film Society commemorates 20 years of education programs in 2011. Since 1991, the San Francisco Film Society has been educating youth in film, but it’s not all elementary, or middle, or high school-oriented: What began as a K–12 Schools at the Festival program that brought students and international cinema together has, 20 years later, grown into year-round educational programming that serves not just under-18s, but lifelong learners, professional and novice filmmakers and university students.
News & Blogs

Celebrating a Reel Education
Jennifer Preissel
Jun 9, 2011
San Francisco Film Society commemorates 20 years of education programs in 2011. Since 1991, the San Francisco Film Society has been educating youth in film, but it’s not all elementary, or middle, or high school-oriented: What began as a K–12 Schools at the Festival program that brought students and international cinema together has, 20 years later, grown into year-round educational programming that serves not just under-18s, but lifelong learners, professional and novice filmmakers and university students.
Home

Celebrating a Reel Education
Jennifer Preissel
Jun 9, 2011
San Francisco Film Society commemorates 20 years of education programs in 2011. Since 1991, the San Francisco Film Society has been educating youth in film, but it’s not all elementary, or middle, or high school-oriented: What began as a K–12 Schools at the Festival program that brought students and international cinema together has, 20 years later, grown into year-round educational programming that serves not just under-18s, but lifelong learners, professional and novice filmmakers and university students.
June 9, 2011

Celebrating a Reel Education
Jennifer Preissel
Jun 9, 2011
San Francisco Film Society commemorates 20 years of education programs in 2011. Since 1991, the San Francisco Film Society has been educating youth in film, but it’s not all elementary, or middle, or high school-oriented: What began as a K–12 Schools at the Festival program that brought students and international cinema together has, 20 years later, grown into year-round educational programming that serves not just under-18s, but lifelong learners, professional and novice filmmakers and university students.
News & Blogs

Celebrating a Reel Education
Jennifer Preissel
Jun 9, 2011
San Francisco Film Society commemorates 20 years of education programs in 2011. Since 1991, the San Francisco Film Society has been educating youth in film, but it’s not all elementary, or middle, or high school-oriented: What began as a K–12 Schools at the Festival program that brought students and international cinema together has, 20 years later, grown into year-round educational programming that serves not just under-18s, but lifelong learners, professional and novice filmmakers and university students.
Home

Elizabeth Taylor Tribute Maps Unusual Star Path
Dennis Harvey
May 26, 2011
The Castro's Elizabeth Taylor retrospective brings the actress back to her most devoted fans. The first and last time I attended the now-defunct Taos Film Festival, it gave a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor (who lived in the area), allowing me to spend an hour sitting about ten feet from one of the most famous movie stars ever. Arriving by wheelchair with a little dog on her lap, she was petite and attractive, though infirmity had taken its own toll on her figure. She was also funny, candid, unpretentious, occasionally ribald, passionately serious about her causes (especially AIDS research and education), and a little dotty—occasionally she'd drift off on some strange...
May 26, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor Tribute Maps Unusual Star Path
Dennis Harvey
May 26, 2011
The Castro's Elizabeth Taylor retrospective brings the actress back to her most devoted fans. The first and last time I attended the now-defunct Taos Film Festival, it gave a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor (who lived in the area), allowing me to spend an hour sitting about ten feet from one of the most famous movie stars ever. Arriving by wheelchair with a little dog on her lap, she was petite and attractive, though infirmity had taken its own toll on her figure. She was also funny, candid, unpretentious, occasionally ribald, passionately serious about her causes (especially AIDS research and education), and a little dotty—occasionally she'd drift off on some strange...
Festivals

Film Society Awards Night Shines Light on ’70s, City
Susan Gerhard
Apr 29, 2011
Beginnings, endings and the dazzling cinema in between honored in SFFS's annual awards show.
Home

Film Society Awards Night Shines Light on ’70s, City
Susan Gerhard
Apr 29, 2011
Beginnings, endings and the dazzling cinema in between honored in SFFS's annual awards show.
May 5, 2011

Film Society Awards Night Shines Light on ’70s, City
Susan Gerhard
Apr 29, 2011
Beginnings, endings and the dazzling cinema in between honored in SFFS's annual awards show.
april 22 2011

Looking for the Moral with Bill Nichols
Michael Fox
Apr 20, 2011
Social-justice filmmaking gets discussed in a Bill Nichols'-moderated salon during SFIFF.
Home

Looking for the Moral with Bill Nichols
Michael Fox
Apr 20, 2011
Social-justice filmmaking gets discussed in a Bill Nichols'-moderated salon during SFIFF.
In Production

Looking for the Moral with Bill Nichols
Michael Fox
Apr 20, 2011
Social-justice filmmaking gets discussed in a Bill Nichols'-moderated salon during SFIFF.
April 12, 2011

The Unorthodox Documentary: Lourdes Portillo
Apr 18, 2011
SFFS Education and Lourdes Portillo, director/producer of ‘The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo’ and ‘The Devil Never Sleeps,’ present a Master Class titled ‘The Unorthodox Documentary,’ in which Portillo shares her techniques and reviews students proposals. More at sffs.org.
News & Blogs

54th San Francisco International Film Festival Will Present Founder’s Directing Award to Oliver Stone
Apr 7, 2011
Press release: The San Francisco Film Society announced today that Oliver Stone will be the recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21–May 5). The FDA will be presented to Stone at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 28 at Bimbo’s 365 Club. The Film Society’s Youth Education program will be the beneficiary of the fundraiser honoring Stone. The soon-to-be-announced recipient of the Peter J. Owens Award for excellence in acting and Frank Pierson, recipient of the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting will also be honored. More at sffs.org.
March 29 2011

SFFS Film Arts Forum: Beyond Film School
Apr 4, 2011
Tiffany Shlain keynotes a discussion of education and opportunity, while panelists Mark Decena, Rob Epstein, Barry Jenkins, Lexi Leban and Jenni Olson share their experiences and stories of how they’ve sustained their careers over time. It begins at 7:30 pm at the Lab. More at sffs.org.
March 29 2011

‘Daddy I Do’
Mar 30, 2011
Director Cassie Jaye and producer Nena Jaye are in person for a discussion following their documentary, ‘Daddy I Do,’ which explores the need to provide youth and young adults with sexual education. More at cafilm.org.
Home

Wolos’s ‘Trattoria’ Serves Up Spicy Comedy
Michael Fox
Mar 9, 2011
Jason Wolos builds a drama about family and food with a few key ingredients.
In Production

Wolos’s ‘Trattoria’ Serves Up Spicy Comedy
Michael Fox
Mar 9, 2011
Jason Wolos builds a drama about family and food with a few key ingredients.
March 10, 2011

Wolos’s ‘Trattoria’ Serves Up Spicy Comedy
Michael Fox
Mar 9, 2011
Jason Wolos builds a drama about family and food with a few key ingredients.
Festivals

Hope Springs Eternal at Green Film Festival
Michael Fox
Mar 3, 2011
An environmental film festival with exceptional flair enters the San Francisco scene.
Home

Hope Springs Eternal at Green Film Festival
Michael Fox
Mar 3, 2011
An environmental film festival with exceptional flair enters the San Francisco scene.
March 3, 2011

Hope Springs Eternal at Green Film Festival
Michael Fox
Mar 3, 2011
An environmental film festival with exceptional flair enters the San Francisco scene.
Home

Ido Haar Seeks Justice, Searches Soul
Judy Stone
Feb 26, 2011
SFFS Artist in Residence speaks on cities, Siberia, family and life in the Middle East.
March 3, 2011

Ido Haar Seeks Justice, Searches Soul
Judy Stone
Feb 26, 2011
SFFS Artist in Residence speaks on cities, Siberia, family and life in the Middle East.
Q & A

Ido Haar Seeks Justice, Searches Soul
Judy Stone
Feb 26, 2011
SFFS Artist in Residence speaks on cities, Siberia, family and life in the Middle East.
News & Blogs

Ro*co Films Lands Educational Distribution of Jennifer Siebel Newsom's 'Miss Representation'
Feb 11, 2011
Press Release: Bay Area-based ro*co films announced that they will be distributing Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s documentary film, 'Miss Representation' in the North American educational market. ro*co will distribute the film to academic institutions, universities, and libraries for both classroom use and educational screenings. More at rocofilms.com.
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Alexander Excavates Educational Film Treasures
Michael Fox
Jan 18, 2011
Geoff Alexander opens a window into the 20th century with a book about films for/from the classroom.
January 20, 2011

Alexander Excavates Educational Film Treasures
Michael Fox
Jan 18, 2011
Geoff Alexander opens a window into the 20th century with a book about films for/from the classroom.
Q & A

Alexander Excavates Educational Film Treasures
Michael Fox
Jan 18, 2011
Geoff Alexander opens a window into the 20th century with a book about films for/from the classroom.
December 9, 2010

Stanford's MFA Doc Program Teaches Cardinal Rules, and How to Break Them
Sara Dosa
Dec 9, 2010
A night with Stanford’s Doc Film MFAs offers insight into a storied program.
Home

Stanford's MFA Doc Program Teaches Cardinal Rules, and How to Break Them
Sara Dosa
Dec 9, 2010
A night with Stanford’s Doc Film MFAs offers insight into a storied program.
Reviews

Stanford's MFA Doc Program Teaches Cardinal Rules, and How to Break Them
Sara Dosa
Dec 9, 2010
A night with Stanford’s Doc Film MFAs offers insight into a storied program.
December 2, 2010

De Michiel and Constantinou Offer Food for Thought
Michael Fox
Dec 1, 2010
Filmmakers with deep roots in Bay Area cinema enter the brave new world of Web broadcasting with a series on food education for children.
Home

De Michiel and Constantinou Offer Food for Thought
Michael Fox
Dec 1, 2010
Filmmakers with deep roots in Bay Area cinema enter the brave new world of Web broadcasting with a series on food education for children.
In Production

De Michiel and Constantinou Offer Food for Thought
Michael Fox
Dec 1, 2010
Filmmakers with deep roots in Bay Area cinema enter the brave new world of Web broadcasting with a series on food education for children.
Home

Essential SF: 'Berkeley in the Sixties,' 'Brother Outsider,' 'Weather Underground'
Michael Fox
Jul 28, 2010
Three Bay Area documentaries correct the historical record.
In Depth

Essential SF: 'Berkeley in the Sixties,' 'Brother Outsider,' 'Weather Underground'
Michael Fox
Jul 28, 2010
Three Bay Area documentaries correct the historical record.
Festivals

SFIFF53 Reports: California Dreamin' at Film Society Awards Night
Susan Gerhard
Apr 30, 2010
San Francisco itself took a lead role at Film Society Awards Night, the dinner and awards program benefiting the Film Society s year-round Youth Education initiative.
Legal

Do You Pass the Test?
George Rush
Apr 26, 2010
You are awesome. Spectacular, incredible, interesting, accomplished and generally just way awesome. Everyone wants to hear every possible thing there is to know about you.
In Production

Hiler and Brown's Visionary Music
Michael Fox
Mar 17, 2010
The culture war is over, and the reactionaries have won. In this climate, Jerome Hiler and Owsley Brown III s Music Makes a City is a revelation,
In Production

Cohen and Lipman's Recovering Friend in Forest
Michael Fox
Feb 23, 2010
Injured in a crash on the Golden Gate Bridge, Dr. Grace Dammann spent 45 days in a coma and 13 months in the hospital.
Reviews

New Social Issue Dramas from Rainin Grant-Winners
Michael Fox
Nov 24, 2009
The scoop on the projects of the inaugural class for the SFFS/Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grants, which support lively, intelligent social-issue narrative films.
Q & A

Richard Levien, from 'Immersion' to 'La Migra'
Jennifer Preissel
Jun 29, 2009
New Zealand transplant Richard Levien, a longstanding fixture of the San Francisco indie film community, breaks out of the editing room with Immersion.
In Production

Nutritious eating on the cheap for Potash film
Michael Fox
Jun 9, 2009
Like most social-issue documentaries, Food Stamped sprang from an activist impulse for Shira and Yoav Potash.
Story Structure

Crafting an Elegant Essay Documentary
Karen Everett
May 4, 2009
The Edit Room: How do you keep your audience engaged rather than putting them to sleep?
Reviews

Film Society Awards: Ballard, Coppola, Redford and Toback
Susan Gerhard
May 1, 2009
The San Francisco Film Society honored Francis Ford Coppola, Carroll Ballard, Robert Redford and James Toback. Coppola surprised the audience by turning over the Founder's Directing Award he received to longtime colleague Carroll Ballard.
Reviews

SFIFF52: Jarmel and Schneider's "Speaking in Tongues"
Susan Gerhard
Apr 25, 2009
Jarmel and Schneider's Speaking in Tongues follows the stories of four public school children studying Mandarin, Cantonese and Spanish along with their English.
Q & A

Eddie Muller and Noir City
Sura Wood
Jan 18, 2009
SF360.org spoke with Eddie Muller, who launched Noir City, an annual noir festival that has attracted an avid following in the Bay Area and beyond.
In Production

Educational 'Split' Helps Troubled Children of Divorce
Michael Fox
Sep 2, 2008
There is little question that so-called educational films with specific social-welfare goals don’t get much respect as examples of craft or art.
Q & A

SFIFF51: Craig Baldwin Shoots the Moon, and the Desert
Michael Fox
Apr 18, 2008
The Mission filmmaker has slaved in the underground for some three decades, a guide and shaman for other artists working on the fringes.
Reviews

"Hannah Takes the Stairs"
Dennis Harvey
Nov 27, 2007
A perfect example of the emerging genre of improv-based, digitally shot, minimally budgeted seriocomedies about twentysomethings stumbling through, you know, relationship stuff.
Reviews

Phil Chambliss, Arkansas Auteur
Dennis Harvey
Nov 15, 2007
Meet Phil Chambliss, a 54-year-old, recently retired gravel pit nightwatchman who makes what might be termed cinematic folk art.
Q & A

Filmmaker Ham Tran Rights an Historical Wrong
Thomas Logoreci
Mar 21, 2006

Vietnamese American filmmaker Ham Tran rights an historical wrong in his debut feature film on the Vietnam War.

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