Every year for two decades, the Film Arts Festival has presented audiences with the extraordinary works of Northern California’s independent filmmakers. Past screenings haveincluded the premieres of critically acclaimed and diverse films such as Trinh T. Minhha’s Naked Spaces: Living is Round (1984), Marlon Riggs’s Tongues Untied (1989), Lynn Hershman’s First Person Plural (1989), Allie Light and Irving Saraf’s Academy Award winner In the Shadow of the Stars (1990), Jon Jost’s All the Vermeers in New York (1990), and Sam Green and Bill Siegel’s Oscar-nominated The Weather Underground (2002).
This year promises to be the best yet. We have selected 50 titles from more than 360
entries, resulting in a dazzling showcase of the most exciting new works by Northern
California’s truly independent makers.
We launch the festival on November 4 with “In Conversation with Philip Kaufman,” a
tribute to this prolific Bay Area director. A San Franciscan since 1969, Kaufman is another reminder of why filmmaking in this region is celebrated far beyond its borders. A joint presentation of Film Arts Foundation and the Castro Theatre, the evening includes a wealth of clips and a lively discussion led by film critic Michael Sragow.
The festival proper continues, just one week after the presidential election, with “A
ReDeclaration of Independents,” a gala party on Thursday, November 11. Depending on election results, commiserate or celebrate with your film community during an evening of food, drink, a silent art auction, music, and conversation. The gala also features a celebration of three filmmakers who represent the creativity and spirit of independent storytelling: Craig Baldwin, Lourdes Portillo, and Terry Zwigoff. Kaufman joins us again to introduce these unique Bay Area artists.
Film Arts is privileged to support this exciting, diverse film community, and we look forward to engaging the always-opinionated, ready-for-a-challenge San Francisco audiences. Select a day from the menu to the left for a taste of this year’s cinematic feast of lively, controversial, and imaginative works—see them first at the Film Arts Festival of Independent Cinema.
—the Film Arts Festival Team |
