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Archives for 2025

Development Systems & Planning Intern

Summary

SFFILM’s Development Department is seeking a motivated intern with a passion for nonprofit capacity-building and film/media. This internship offers the chance to play a vital role in strengthening our fundraising systems, leading to greater long-term sustainability for the organization.

As a Development Intern, you’ll report directly to the Director of Development, assisting in the creation of essential documents like operating plans, individual prospect strategies, and research materials that will expand the department’s capacity in 2025 and beyond. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to reports and analyses of current operations, support the creation of materials for fundraising efforts, and prepare for SFFILM events this summer.

This internship provides valuable exposure to nonprofit management, operational planning, and the film/media industry. The opportunity is based in San Francisco, requires 10-12 hours per week (availability to work out of the SFFILM SOMA offices Tuesdays and/or Thursdays is essential), and runs from June through early September, 2025, with potential extension. This position may occasionally involve attendance at events outside of normal business hours.

Application Review will begin May 19th, 2025

Opportunities and Outcomes

  • Development Operations and Planning: Gain hands-on experience in all aspects of annual and long-term fundraising, including campaign reports, targeted prospect lists, and year-round fundraising proposals.
  • Cultivation and Stewardship: Help design and create a donor-centric funding model, supporting the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of individual donors with documents that make them feel valued by SFFILM.
  • Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Opportunity to work with programming, communications, and events staff to understand how development strategies align with broader organizational goals, gaining insight into how fundraising supports SFFILM’s mission.

Qualifications

  • Energetic, detail-oriented team player with strong organizational and writing skills.
  • Ability to multitask, follow through on tasks, and work under deadlines.
  • Comfort interacting with a diverse range of people, including patrons, filmmakers, sponsors, and event staff.
  • Familiarity with Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
  • Interest in nonprofit management and development, or related fields.
  • Commitment of 10-12 hours per week (generally two days a week).

Benefits

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of event production and nonprofit management.
  • Build a resume and network within the film industry.
  • Enjoy a complimentary 1-year SFFILM membership, with access to screenings and events.
  • Receive class credit (if applicable) and valuable work samples.
  • Unpaid, but with excellent film perks!

Join SFFILM this summer and make a meaningful impact while gaining invaluable experience in the world of film and nonprofit development.

SFFILM, in accordance with federal and state law, is an equal-opportunity employer. SFFILM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth, medical condition, disability, age, ancestry, marital status, citizenship or veteran status. This nondiscrimination policy covers all candidates, staff members, interns, and volunteers.

Youth Filmmakers Camp Internship

Summary

SFFILM is seeking 3-4 seasonal Youth Education Interns for the 2025 Summer SFFILM Youth Filmmakers Camp. This internship includes four weeks of teaching/production assistance at the Youth Filmmakers Camp (July 14th – August 8th, 2025) and 1-2 weeks supporting SFFILM Education’s curriculum and program planning prior to camp. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in filmmaking education, curriculum planning, and teaching. SFFILM’s Youth Filmmakers Camp is designed to educate students interested in the field of visual storytelling, increasing students’ creativity and technical skills through hands-on and classroom instruction. SFFILM Education’s goal is to enrich young filmmakers through exposure to new artforms and to build upon existing skills.

This internship requires a commitment of 2 to 4 days per week (approximately 15 to 25 hours per week) and runs from July 7, 2025 through August 8, 2025. The Interns will not be scheduled for any hours the week of June 30th – July 4th. The internship is based in-person in San Francisco, at SFFILM’s office and USF, and is unpaid. The Youth Education Intern reports to the Education Coordinator, Camp Instructor and additional SFFILM staff.

Application review will begin May 28th, but the position is open and accepting applications while this posting remains up.

Responsibilities

  • Support camp instructors and staff at Youth Filmmakers Camp sessions as a teaching and production assistant.
  • Provide adult supervision and work directly with camp participants (ages 14–18), helping them to produce short film projects.
  • Lead break-out groups throughout pre-production, production, and post-production.
  • Document camp sessions through photos and videos.
  • Assist the instructors with all camp logistics and with the preparation and inventory of materials and resources.
  • Assist with daily loading in, loading out, setup and breakdown of camp equipment.
  • Work on other SFFILM Education projects as needed.

Qualifications

  • Strong desire to work with children and/or teens in a classroom setting.
  • Experience with basic film production, including demonstrated proficiency with digital video cameras and editing software such as Premiere Pro.
  • Experience with Google Workspace.
  • Good research skills.
  • Able to work independently on own initiative and also able to take direction as part of a team in support of the instructors and SFFILM staff.
  • Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing.
  • Professional demeanor combined with an ability to have fun with kids.
  • Previous classroom or teaching experience is preferred but not mandatory.
  • Passion for both film and teaching.
  • Reliable transportation and availability for on-location camp work from July 14 – August 8 at the University of San Francisco and other weeks at the SFFILM office in SOMA.
  • Must be able to pass a LiveScan background check.
  • Minimum 18 years of age.

Benefits

  • SFFILM is an internationally recognized nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.
  • Great introduction and experience in film/media education.
  • Excellent opportunity to learn about the inner workings of a world-class film organization and create personal connections.
  • Complimentary 1-year SFFILM membership.
  • Class credit (if applicable).
  • Resume and network builder.

SFFILM is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) in both its internal management and external programming. Since 2018, the organization has actively been working in collaboration with two Advisory Boards focused on accessibility and inclusivity and officially began work with a DEI consultant in 2019 to further invest in and build on that work. Candidates are invited to discuss their interest and involvement in DEAI practices in their cover letter, and ask us more about our DEAI process in their interview.

SFFILM, in accordance with federal and state law, is an equal-opportunity employer. SFFILM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth, medical condition, disability, age, ancestry, marital status, citizenship or veteran status. This nondiscrimination policy covers all candidates, staff members, interns, and volunteers.

Youth Filmmakers Camp Instructor

Summary

SFFILM is seeking a seasonal Camp Instructor for the 2025 Summer SFFILM Youth Filmmakers Camp. This is an opportunity to apply filmmaking and storytelling, curriculum implementation, youth management and engagement skills in a hands-on workshop environment. SFFILM’s Youth Filmmakers Camp is designed to educate students interested in the field of visual storytelling, increasing students’ creativity and technical skills through hands-on and classroom instruction. The Camp Instructor works closely with our Education Coordinator to support classroom objectives and SFFILM Education’s goals to enrich young filmmakers through exposure to new artforms and to build upon existing skills.
The position of Camp Instructor is a full-time, temporary position working with campers 14-18 years old located in San Francisco. The hourly rate is $21 – $25/hr, based on experience, and the dates of the agreement are mid-June through August 12, 2025. During camp (July 14 – August 8) the typical daily schedule is 8:00am – 4:30pm and will be at USF. The Camp Instructor will not be scheduled for any hours the week of June 30th – July 4th. This is an unpaid week, but will receive holiday pay for July 4th.
Application review will begin May 28th, but the position is open and accepting applications while this posting remains up.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise campers in and out of the classroom setting.
  • Assist in the design and implementation of inquiry-based and project-based lessons on film topics.
  • Work closely with SFFILM Education department to implement the camp curriculum.
  • Assist with accessibility and adapting to campers learning needs.
  • Communicate with parents and guardians of campers.
  • Assist with camp logistics, preparation, and inventory of equipment, materials, and resources.
  • Co-lead lessons and break-out groups throughout pre-production, production, and post-production and daily tasks with our Education Coordinator.
  • Manage filmmaker guest visits and lecturers.
  • Manage a team of interns in assigning roles and tasks.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to adapt and implement camp curricula in creative ways.
  • Assist with camp load in, load out, and management of equipment.

Qualifications

  • Experience in filmmaking, film, arts education, or related; could be current film student, active artist or filmmaker, teaching artist or educator.
  • Proficient knowledge of all steps of the production process and use of professional equipment (camera, lighting, sound, etc).
  • Proficient knowledge of technical aspects of filmmaking and film equipment a plus.
  • Proficiency in using Apple computer software and editing systems, especially professional DSLR cameras and Premiere Pro.
  • Confidence and focus in busy classroom/film production settings.
  • Classroom management, conflict, and communication skills.
  • Experience working in youth education or community-based settings with diverse groups of young people between ages 13 – 18 a plus.
  • Organizational skills and attention to detail with a proven ability to manage tasks and priorities, plan ahead, and communicate effectively.
  • Ability to adjust lesson plans to adapt to different learning abilities and needs.
  • Ability to maintain and nurture professional and positive relationships with campers, instructors, interns, and filmmaker guests.
  • Reliable transportation and availability for on-location camp work at the University of San Francisco and other weeks at the SFFILM office in SOMA. A car is a plus.
  • Minimum 20 years of age.
  • Must be able to pass a LiveScan background check.

SFFILM is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) in both its internal management and external programming. Since 2018, the organization has actively been working in collaboration with two Advisory Boards focused on accessibility and inclusivity and officially began work with a DEI consultant in 2019 to further invest in and build on that work. Candidates are invited to discuss their interest and involvement in DEAI practices in their cover letter, and ask us more about our DEAI process in their interview.

SFFILM, in accordance with federal and state law, is an equal-opportunity employer. SFFILM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth, medical condition, disability, age, ancestry, marital status, citizenship or veteran status. This nondiscrimination policy covers all candidates, staff members, interns, and volunteers.

SFFILM Announces Golden Gate Award and Audience Award Winners at the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival

The legacy juried awards recognize Narrative, Documentary, Mid-Length, and Short films as well as the newly named Kirby Walker Documentary Award and several Academy Awards-qualifying honors
L to R, top row: New Directors Awardee: INK WASH, Global Visions Awardee: ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU. L to R, bottom row: Cine Latino Awardee: BELOVED TROPIC, Kirby Walker Documentary Award Awardee: SEEDS Seeds. Courtesy of SFFILM and rights holders.

San Francisco, CA – April 30, 2025 – Today, SFFILM announced the winners of the juried Golden Gate Awards competition and the Audience Awards at the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival). Since the Festival’s first edition in 1957, the prestigious Golden Gate Awards have served as a launching pad for internationally renowned filmmakers who are early in their careers and have grown to include Audience Awards as well as serving as a qualifier for films under 40 minutes for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). In 2025, Academy Award-qualifying honors presented at the Festival included Narrative Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short.

Golden Gate Awards were given in the feature film categories of New Directors–Ink Wash, Global Visions–All That’s Left of You, Cine Latino–Beloved Tropic, and the newly named Kirby Walker Documentary Award–Seeds.
Honoring the best documentary feature, the Kirby Walker Documentary Award celebrates the legacy of Kirby Walker, beloved Bay Area activist and filmmaker, whose profound curiosity about the lives of others and the world in general sparked a lasting love and respect for documentary filmmaking that allows audiences to develop their own informed viewpoint.
In the Mid-Lengths and Short films categories, Golden Gate Awards were given to Mid-Length Film–Two People Exchanging Saliva, Narrative Short Film–Stomach Bug, Documentary Short Film–The Hemingway, Animated Short Film–My Brother, My Brother, and Bay Area Short Film–A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers.

Golden Gate Awards were also presented to Family Short Film–The Girl with the Occupied Eyes and Youth Works Short Film–Coop.
Audience Awards were given to Documentary Feature–Come See Me in the Good Light and in a tie, two titles were honored in the Narrative category: Narrative Feature–All That’s Left of You and Narrative Feature–Souleymane’s Story.
“We send our deep appreciation to each and every filmmaker who shared their work with our audiences this year,” said Anne Lai, Executive Director of SFFILM. “The Bay Area continues to show up in theaters to be connected, entertained, and inspired. And, nothing is more exciting to see than the warmth of communal experiences spilling out from theaters and into the neighborhoods that help to welcome all of our guests. It’s hard not to be bowled over by the beauty on display on the movie screen as well as throughout our gorgeous city. We congratulate our filmmakers and extend our heartfelt thanks to the audiences, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners who make the SFFILM Festival possible.”

“I‘m very proud of this year’s lineup and the incredible craft, artistry, and stories shared by the 2025 Festival filmmakers,” said Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILM’s Director of Programming. “We had an amazing group of dedicated jurors who watched films alongside Festival audiences in San Francisco. Their selected winners for the GGA Awards embody the spirit and legacy of our Festival as well as the innovative style and form we seek as curators. It is an honor to introduce exceptionally talented filmmakers to audiences here in the Bay Area. We can’t wait to see where these films go next.”

The 2025 SFFILM Festival Golden Gate Award Juries included a diverse group of critics, journalists, filmmakers, and industry leaders. Festival jurors were David Canfield, Raven Jackson, and LeAndre Thomas (New Directors Competition); Angelica Jade Bastién, Jannat Gargi, and Kathleen Lingo (Global Visions Competition); Carlos Aguilar, Dawn Valadez, Chloë Walters-Wallace (Cine Latino Competition); Cayla Clements, Theresa Navarro, and Evan Neff (Kirby Walker Documentary Award Competition); Adamu Chan, Julian Brave NoiseCat, Merrill Sterritt (Mid-Length and Shorts); Polly Conway, Elyse Klaidman, and Keika Lee (Family Short Film Competition); and Joe Talbot, Sophia Wilson, and Penelope Dominguez Walton (Youth Works Short Film Competition).
The 2025 SFFILM Festival ran from April 17–27, with events held in theaters across the Bay Area, including the Premier Theater at One Letterman, the Marina Theatre, the Presidio Theatre, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), The Walt Disney Family Museum Theater, the Roxie Theatre, and SFMOMA. With a full slate of in-person programming and events, the 68th iteration of the Festival featured essential stories from both local and international filmmakers, who hailed from over 50 countries.

2025 GOLDEN GATE AWARDS AND AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS

The winners of the 68th Annual SFFILM Golden Gate Awards Competition are as follows:

New Directors Award

Ink Wash
Director: Sarra Tsorakidis, Producers: Nikos Moustakas, Katrine Dolmer (Romania/Greece/Denmark 2024, 90)
A heartbroken mural painter nearing 40 retreats to a remote Romanian hotel, where the surrounding wilderness and solitude force her to confront her past, reassess her future, and rediscover her artistry.

In a statement, the jury said: “The jury awards Sarra Tsorakidis’s stark, assured, and unshakable debut feature, a character study examining a Romanian artist’s days working in a new hotel under construction, coming off of a difficult breakup while exploring new connections. The gorgeous yet lonely setting fits seamlessly with the story, which was brought to life by the brilliant star Ilinca Harnut and an excellent supporting cast. Drenched in the beauty of nature and evoking questions around intimacy and solitude, the film lingers with you long after you’ve watched. Tsorakidis’s exacting compositions reflect the work of its subject, gradually granting us profound access into her interior life—her journey is familiar and quiet, but realized on screen with consistently thorny, nuanced emotional depth. An auspicious introduction to a bold new filmmaker, Ink Wash represents a model winner of the New Directors Award. We can’t wait to see more from Tsorakidis.”

Global Visions Award

All That’s Left of You
Director: Cherien Dabis, Producers: Thanassis Karathanos, Cherien Dabis, Martin Hampel, Karim Amer (Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2025, 145)
An epic drama spanning three generations in the life of a Palestinian family, this dynamic film centers the story in the personal while also depicting the dehumanizing political situation surrounding its characters.

In a statement, the jury said: “Director Cherien Dabis has accomplished quite a feat with her generation-spanning story of Palestinian life that explores the emotional ramifications of the occupation and its horrors upon a single family. Framed by the story of a Palestinian teenager at a West Bank protest who experiences violence that rocks his family and leads to his mother recounting the familial threads, all the way back to the 1948 Nakba and onward toward the present day, that brought her son to that fateful event. Dabis has not only written and directed the film she is amongst its wonderful cast playing the mother whose evocative emotion provides the film its structure. Epic in length, historical dimensions, and emotion, All That’s Left of You is a triumph demonstrating the connective powers of the medium itself. It is brimming with historical detail and minute lived-in moments that imbue the film with emotional complexity. This is embodied by a tremendous cast anchored by a raw-nerved, soulful performance from Saleh Bakri. The film doesn’t argue for Palestinian humanity, it already believes in it, which engenders audiences to think deeply and act more precisely when it comes to the watershed political and humanitarian crisis of our time.”

Cine Latino Award

Beloved Tropic
Director: Ana Endara, Producer: Isabella Gálvez (Panama/Colombia 2024, 108)
US Premiere
A Colombian immigrant woman in Panama cares for a matriarch suffering from dementia in a powerful story about love, motherhood, and aging.

The jury stated: “With a potently insightful touch, writer-director Ana Endara reveals the pain of loss, tied to the complexities of motherhood and life transitions. Two distinct perspectives converge for a nuanced and affecting portrait of an unexpected friendship. Endara’s delicate direction of her two lead actresses creates moments of tenderness and mutual appreciation that always feel organically brought to life. Furthermore, the artist’s portrayal on the Panamanian social strata by focusing on two immigrants with unique experiences broadens our understanding of a country with a particular history and place in Latin America.”

The jury also acknowledged “the extraordinary work of actress Paulina García in both Beloved Tropic and Horizon, whose emotional precision and dramatic range become crucial in both complex narratives.”

Kirby Walker Documentary Award

Seeds
Director: Brittany Shyne, Producers: Danielle Varga, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, Brittany Shyne (USA 2024, 125) SFFILM Supported (Documentary Film Fund)
This visually stunning portrait reflects on identity, legacy, and the cyclical nature of life as it explores a Black family’s century-old farm, capturing its beauty as well as the family’s struggles.

In a statement, the jury said: “For its poetic pace and patient, ever-present lens, Seeds is our unanimous selection for the inaugural Kirby Walker Documentary Award. Brittany Shyne’s stunning directorial debut immerses audiences in the stories of Black farmers in the South, rendered with reverence and deep intention in every frame. An essential film by an exciting new talent, Seeds is an unforgettable portrait of the power of generational love and healing in the face of systemic inequities.”

Mid-Length Film Award

Two People Exchanging Saliva
Natalie Musteata, Alexandre Singh (France/USA 2024, 36)
In a repressive society where kissing means death and currency is measured in slaps, an unhappy woman’s growing bond with a salesgirl sparks desire, jealousy, and dangerous consequences.

In a statement, the jury said: “Two People Exchanging Saliva is a wonderfully creative and sneakily clever film about power, jealousy, and forbidden love told amidst an imaginatively dystopic economy of pain. Beautifully acted, artfully shot, deftly produced, and sure-handed in its writing, directors Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh have made a film I will be telling cinephiles to find and watch for some time.”

Narrative Short Film Award

Stomach Bug
Matty Crawford (UK 2024, 15)
While struggling to maintain a connection with his absent daughter, a lonely empty-nester allows his inner turmoil and grief to grow into something gruesome.

The jury stated:: “The Narrative Short category was quite competitive this year with nineteen films, but we all felt drawn to the same standout work of Stomach Bug. Matty Crawford’s film so viscerally depicts the ‘too real’ horror of aging as an immigrant single parent contending with an escalating and overwhelming level of loneliness and discomfort. Crawford accomplishes the near-impossible balancing act of depicting repulsive body horror side by side with emotionally vulnerable exchanges in such a succinct film. The intentionality of how and when to employ language is exemplary.”

Documentary Short Film Award

The Hemingway
Patrick Sean O’Brien, Evan Mathis (USA 2024, 10)
Filmmaker Patrick Sean O’Brien brings forth a dose of levity, magical realism, and the undeniable truths of his experience living with ALS.

In a statement, the jury said: “All three jurors agreed instantly about awarding Best Documentary Short to the wildly creative The Hemingway. Patrick Sean O’Brien, the film’s writer, main participant and co-director, very generously walks the audience through his colorful internal life, as well as his gratitude for producing the titular Hemingway. After seeing the amount of focus and labor that Patrick has to put into writing just the opening sentence of the film, we were blown away by the range of emotions and scale of world that Patrick and Evan were able to build and squeeze into an eight minute short. This is truly a one of a kind work.”

Animated Short Film Award

My Brother, My Brother
Saad Dnewar, Abdelrahman Dnewar (Egypt/France/Germany 2025, 15)
North American Premiere
This mesmerizing synthesis of live action and animation tells the story of twin brothers Omar and Wesam, beginning with their time in the womb.

The jury stated: “For its beautifully crafted and imaginatively rendered exploration of memory and family dynamics, seen through the mirrored eyes of identical twins, the jury honors My Brother, My Brother as the Best Animated Short. Its hybrid style and deeply nuanced storytelling set it apart in a remarkably rich field of animated works.”

Bay Area Short Film Award

A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers
Birdy Wei-Ting Hung (Taiwan/USA 2024, 12)
A girl’s senses are aroused amidst the sweltering heat of a Taipei summer when she enters a cinema with a bag of crushed watermelon juice.

In a statement, the jury said: “The jury awards the Bay Area Shorts Award to Birdy Wei-Ting Hung for her film A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers. With a fiercely exquisite hand, Hung interlaces the rich tapestry of Taiwanese cinema with haunting meditations on gender and state violence. Created during Hung’s time at San Francisco State University, this poignant work of art pulses with the spirit of resistance and dreams that define the Bay Area ethos.”

Family Short Film Award

The Girl with the Occupied Eyes
André Carrilho (Portugal, 2024, 8)
California Premiere
With her eyes constantly glued to her screen, a little girl misses vibrant landscapes, a splashy group of circus animals, a mysterious UFO, and all else that passes before her.

In a statement, the jury said: “The Girl with the Occupied Eyes captivates with its appealing character designs, stunning visuals, and a beautifully matched musical score that enhances the film’s universal message. Its use of expressive colors and engaging animation resonates warmly with audiences of all ages.”

Youth Works Short Film Award

Coop
Mujtaba Alhejji (Saudi Arabia 2024, 12 min)
North American Premiere
After accidentally popping a soccer ball, young Adam sparks a creative solution at the market to get enough money to buy a new ball and win over his teammates.

The jury stated: “We selected a film that we thought had incredible performances from child actors, offers complete character arcs for multiple characters in little time, an understanding of all film components, and transported us to a part of the world we do not know but felt connected to. We chose Coop as the winner.”

Audience Award: Narrative Feature

All That’s Left of You
Director: Cherien Dabis, Producers: Thanassis Karathanos, Cherien Dabis, Martin Hampel, Karim Amer (Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2025, 145)
An epic drama spanning three generations in the life of a Palestinian family, this dynamic film centers the story in the personal while also depicting the dehumanizing political situation surrounding its characters.

Audience Award: Narrative Feature

Souleymane’s Story
Director: Boris Lojkine, Producer: Bruno Nahon (France 2024, 92)
Boris Lojkine’s moody and propulsive film plays like a thriller, steadily laying out the obstacles confronting undocumented immigrant Souleymane as he desperately tries to make the right choices.

Audience Award: Documentary Feature

Come See Me in the Good Light
Director: Ryan White, Producers: Jessica Hargrave, Ryan White, Tig Notaro, Stef Willen (USA 2025, 104)
Spoken word icon and poet laureate Andrea Gibson navigates her final tour amid a devastating cancer diagnosis. She and her partner Megan Falley bring a vibrant accessibility to the cycles of treatment with grace, poignancy, and bawdy humor.

SPECIAL JURY RECOGNITION AND HONORABLE MENTIONS

Global Visions

Cactus Pears
Director: Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, Producers: Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki, Kaushik Ray, Naren Chandavarkar, Sidharth Meer, Hareesh Reddypalli, Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, Jim Sarbh, Rajesh Parwatkar, Deepthi Pendurty, Parag Pradhan (India/UK/Canada 2025, 112)
A tender tale of queer love and friendship that blossoms amidst one man’s grief over the death of his father and the strict social mores of a rugged western Indian town.

In a statement, the jury said: “Cactus Pears is a profoundly tender film about a thirty-year old living in Mumbai returning to his rural hometown in Western India for the funeral rituals occuring in the wake of his father’s death. Director-writer Rohan Kanawade utilizes this premise as a portal into deep love, queer longing, and connection as the lead character navigates his extended family’s questioning about his unmarried stature, the genuine care of his mother, and the gentle beginnings of a relationship with a local farmer. It is a film that lovingly portrays complex connections and cultural ideas — about death, sexuality, familial loyalty — in a minor key. The film charmed each jury member with its carefully embodied performances and meditative pacing that we wanted to highlight it for the festival with a special mention.”

Kirby Walker Documentary Honorable Mention

How to Build a Library
Directors: Chris King, Maia Lekow, Producers: Chris King, Maia Lekow (Kenya 2025, 101)
Two determined women in Nairobi take on the daunting task of decolonizing a former whites-only library, navigating bureaucracy, fundraising, and colonial legacies to transform it into a vibrant cultural hub for modern Kenya.

The jury stated: “We honorably recognize How to Build a Library for its powerful and instructive exploration of the unfinished work of decolonization in Kenya. Directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King document the courage and resilience of Shiro and Angela as they reclaim a colonial institution for their community. With evocative storytelling, deft archival use, and remarkable access, How to Build a Library reminds us that meaningful change is possible through collective action.”

Youth Works Short Film Honorable Mention

Why Can’t We Just Be Ghosts?
Patrick Jang (USA 2025, 9 min)
World Premiere
After a teen ghost confesses his depression to his human best friend, the two search for a path toward acceptance and happiness in this thought-provoking satire.

In a statement, the jury said: “Our honorable mention is Why Can’t We Just Be Ghosts?, we felt a connection to the topic and it balanced a lighthearted style and serious commentary.”

ACCESSIBILITY

SFFILM is committed to providing accessible experiences at all events whether in-person or online. Event pages will be updated with accessibility information as it becomes available, which may be after tickets go on sale.

All venues are ADA accessible. All public screening venues are equipped with individual closed captioning, audio description, and assisted listening devices. To request a closed caption or assisted listening device, contact ada@sffilm.org.

For more information about accessibility at specific venues or programs, please visit sffilm.org/accessibility or contact ada@sffilm.org.
SPONSORS + PARTNERS
The 2025 SFFILM Festival is made possible with generous support from our corporate and media sponsors and partners.

Our Presenting Sponsor is One Letterman. Our Major Sponsors are Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Lucasfilm. Our Signature Sponsors are Citizens Private Bank, Dolby Laboratories, Prime Group, and the Walt Disney Family Museum.

Our media sponsors are The Hollywood Reporter, KQED, and 48 Hills.

Special thanks to our programs and venue partners at the Premier Theater at One Letterman, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), Lee Neighborhood Theatres, San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), the San Francisco Parks Alliance (SF Parks Alliance), and the Walt Disney Family Museum.

68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival)

The San Francisco International Film Festival presented by SFFILM runs April 17–27 at venues in San Francisco and Berkeley. The official program—curated from nearly 4,500 submissions and invitations—includes premieres, eagerly anticipated award titles, debut work from emerging storytellers, international narrative and documentary films, mid-lengths, shorts, and the Golden Gate Award juried competition. Filmmakers will be networking at industry meetings and talks, and everyone will get to celebrate the magic of cinema with SFFILM’s prestigious Persistence of Vision, Mel Novikoff, Sloan Science in Cinema initiative honors, and tributes to special honorees.

The SFFILM Festival always centers the Bay Area with selections by local creators and crews, and serves students, teachers, and families with Youth Works, family friendly workshops, and educational screenings through Schools at the Festival that reaches thousands of students each year.

SFFILM

SFFILM is a nonprofit organization whose mission ensures independent voices in film are welcomed, heard, and given the resources to thrive. SFFILM inspires and connects audiences, students and teachers, and filmmakers through film exhibition, youth education, and artist development programs. Annual public film programs presented by SFFILM include the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) which is the longest running film festival in the Americas, Doc Stories documentary series, special events with the best and brightest in contemporary film, and family programming. SFFILM Education serves more than 15,000 students and educators with learning opportunities designed to cultivate media literacy, global citizenship, and a lifelong love of movies. SFFILM Makers supports the careers of independent filmmakers from the Bay Area and beyond with grants, residencies, and other creative development services.

For more information visit sffilm.org
This press release is available online at sffilm.org/press/releases

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Jessie Cohen
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+1 706 577 3287

SFFILM Celebrates Scientific Excellence in Lee Isaac Chung’s TWISTERS with $20,000 Sloan Science in Cinema Prize

Cyprien Vial’s volcano thriller MAGMA will be honored with the $5,000 Sloan Science on Screen Award; Cristina Costantini’s documentary SALLY named as the 2025 SFFILM Festival Sloan Science on Screen Selection.

From L to R. Marina Foïs in Magma, Anthony Ramos, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Glen Powell in Twisters, Dr. Sally Ride in Sally.

San Francisco, CA – April 16, 2025 – Today, SFFILM announced the program slate of the Sloan Science in Cinema Initiative at the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival), which runs April 17–27. Presented in partnership between the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and SFFILM, this year’s program includes three public events. Screening as part of the Festival lineup are Cyprien Vial’s volcano thriller Magma, recipient of the Sloan Science on Screen Award, and Cristina Costantini’s documentary Sally, which is the Sloan Science on Screen Selection. A Festival Talk, free to the public, will feature director Lee Isaac Chung accepting the Sloan Science in Cinema Prize for his latest film, Twisters, followed by a special onstage conversation on the integration of science and cinematic tools to depict extreme weather. Lee Isaac Chung (Minari, The Mandalorian) will be joined onstage by Director of the Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), Kevin Kelleher, who spent 26 years at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and served as technical consultant on both Twister (1996) and Twisters (2024); Tapio Schneider, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences; Twisters’ supervising sound editor and sound designer Al Nelson (Jurassic World, Top Gun: Maverick) and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) visual effects supervisor Florian Witzel (Avengers, The Mandalorian).

“We are thrilled to award this year’s Sloan Science in Cinema Prize to Lee Isaac Chung’s hit film Twisters and this year’s Sloan Science on Screen Award to Cyprien Vial’s thought-provoking film Magma,” said Doron Weber, Vice President and Program Director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “While taking some liberties with the science, these two disaster films feature credible scientists as major protagonists and are based on the latest scientific research. They join a nationwide program that has supported over 850 science and film projects with 20 partners and, in addition to supporting screenwriters at SFFILM, has honored outstanding films such as Oppenheimer, Don’t Look Up, and Hidden Figures.”

“This year’s slate of Sloan supported titles highlights a diverse set of stories that explore the intersection of scientific achievement and the human experience. We are proud to present this timely and powerful group of films with our partners,” stated SFFILM’s Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks. “From high-stakes challenges to personal triumphs, these films explore complex scientific themes while offering fresh, emotional insights into the human condition.”

SFFILM will honor the film Twisters, starring Glen Powell (Hit Man, Top Gun: Maverick), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People, War of the Worlds) and Anthony Ramos (Hamilton, Blindspotting), with the prestigious Sloan Science in Cinema Prize, which celebrates the compelling depiction of scientific themes or characters in a narrative feature film, accompanied by a $20,000 cash prize. Along with the award presentation, the special event will include an onstage panel discussion featuring director Lee Isaac Chung (Minari, The Mandalorian) in conversation with highly-regarded science and film craft experts who will delve into the technology and science behind the extreme storms depicted on screen. Panel participants include Kevin Kelleher, Director of the Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), who was also a technical consultant on the film; Tapio Schneider, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences; Twister’s supervising sound editor and sound designer Al Nelson (Jurassic World, Top Gun: Maverick) and the film’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) visual effects supervisor Florian Witzel (Avengers, The Mandalorian). This event is free and open to the public with RSVP.

As part of the initiative, which supports the compelling depiction of science on screen, the Sloan Science on Screen Award—a recognition that celebrates narrative feature films—will be presented to Cyprien Vial for his dramatic thriller Magma. The award also includes a $5,000 cash prize. The SFFILM Festival will host the film’s international premiere with a post-screening Q&A and conversation between the director and Michael Manga, Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California Berkeley. In the film, starring Marina Foïs (Polisse, The Beasts) and Théo Christine (Gran Turismo, How I Became a Super Hero), the struggles between scientists, community members, and local politicians spill over like the titular substance that threatens the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.

Also highlighted as part of the initiative, the Sloan Science on Screen Selection for the 2025 SFFILM Festival is Cristina Costantini’s documentary Sally, about the extraordinary life of Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space in 1983. In Sally, Costantini (Science Fair, Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado) crafts an exhilarating, full-bodied portrait of a trailblazer and hero. The director, joined by producer Alfie Koetter (The Originals), will participate in the post-screening Q&A.

“We are so inspired by and proud of our ongoing collaboration with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, providing critical support to film artists working at the intersection of science and storytelling,” said SFFILM Executive Director Anne Lai. “Science and film share a core practice of deepening human understanding across complexities and differences, and this comprehensive initiative allows us to meaningfully support filmmakers’ efforts to bring their visions to life and connect their stories to a global audience. Never was there a more urgent time to invest in and amplify artists and scientists to keep our cultures flourishing.”

The SFFILM Sloan Science in Cinema Initiative also encompasses two comprehensive screenwriting grant programs. The SFFILM Sloan Science in Cinema Fellowship and the SFFILM Sloan Stories of Science Development Fund provide additional opportunities for SFFILM to offer tailored resources to filmmakers in earlier stages of developing screenplays that explore science through the cinematic language of storytelling. The 2024 Sloan Science in Cinema Fellows were Sara Crow and David Rafailedes for Satoshi and Lara Palmqvist for The Garden. In addition to receiving $35,000 each, for a total of $70,000 in cash grants, the 2024 fellows are provided with advisory feedback from scientists matched to their films’ topics, as well as dedicated professional support from SFFILM’s artist development team, which is led by Masashi Niwano, the organization’s Director of Artist Development. Both grants are now open for applications through May 30, 2025 at sffilm.org/makers.

68TH SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: SLOAN SCIENCE ON SCREEN PROGRAMS

SLOAN SCIENCE IN CINEMA PRIZE

Festival Talk: SFFILM Sloan Science in Cinema Prize: Talking About Twisters
Lee Isaac Chung (USA 2024, 60)
Sunday, April 20 at 3:30 PM at Walt Disney Family Museum
Talks + Workshops

Event Description
In partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, SFFILM is thrilled to award the Sloan Science in Cinema Prize to last summer’s blockbuster Twisters. Join director Lee Isaac Chung, for a special onstage conversation with Director of the Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), Kevin Kelleher, who spent 26 years at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and was also a technical consultant on the film; Tapio Schneider, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences; Twister’s supervising sound editor and sound designer Al Nelson (Jurassic World, Top Gun: Maverick) and the film’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) visual effects supervisor Florian Witzel (Avengers, The Mandalorian). The discussion will explore whether a tornado can actually be “tamed,” the world of tornado chasers, and how the team embraced science to depict the awesome power of nature through cinematic craft and create the vastly entertaining world of Twisters. This talk is free and open to the public, RSVP is required.

Program
The Sloan Science in Cinema Prize celebrates the compelling depiction of scientific themes or characters in a narrative feature film. The program celebrates and highlights cinema that brings together science and the art of storytelling, showing how these two seemingly disparate areas can combine to enhance the power of one another. The selections are meant to immerse a broad public audience in the challenges and rewards of scientific discovery, as well as to engage members of the scientific community. The 2025 prize of $20,000 is awarded to Lee Isaac Chung’s Twisters.

About Lee Isaac Chung (Director)
Lee Isaac Chung grew up in rural Arkansas, the son of Korean immigrants. His first feature, Munyurangabo (2007), the first film made in Rwanda’s Kinyarwanda language, won AFI Fest’s Grand Jury Award and Chung received a Film Independent Spirit Awards Someone to Watch nomination. He received Best Director and Original Screenplay Oscar® nominations for Minari (2020), which also counts the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Dramatic and Audience Awards among its many accolades. His latest film, Twisters, was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure Film.

About Kevin Kelleher (Director of the Global Systems Laboratory)
Kevin Kelleher was the Technical Consultant on Twister (1996) and the Tornado Consultant on Twisters (2024). He holds graduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma in meteorology and computer science and was a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellow Program. Kevin spent 13 years at the University of Oklahoma and 26 years at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in various capacities at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, OK, before becoming the Director of the Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) in Boulder, CO.

About Al Nelson (Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer)
After graduating with a degree in music composition and film music studies from Florida State University, Al Nelson moved to Northern California to pursue a career in “New Media.” Shortly after his arrival to San Francisco, Al was holding the original source recordings for Star Wars and working amongst legends of sound design. This unexpected journey has taken him from machine rooms and mag to aircraft carriers and wild animal preserves in an almost 30-year career at Skywalker Sound.

About Tapio Schneider (Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences)
Tapio Schneider’s research focuses on understanding climate formation and potential changes in the Earth and other planets. To improve climate predictions, he leads the Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA), developing a next-generation climate model that uses AI to integrate observations with Earth system models. He is the Theodore Y. Wu Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech and Principal Scientist at Google. Recognized for his significant contributions, he is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and is the recipient of an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, among many other honors.

About Florian Witzel (Industrial Light & Magic Visual Effects Supervisor)
Florian Witzel is a two-time VES Awards winner who recently served as the ILM Visual Effects Supervisor on Twisters, overseeing the entire visual effects effort. In addition, Witzel designed and created the water and effects work for season three of The Mandalorian, earning him a VES Award for Outstanding Effects Simulations. Witzel played a pivotal role as a creative innovator and supervisor on some of the most iconic film franchises, including Marvel’s Avengers, Doctor Strange, and Ant-Man. His work on five of these features garnered Academy Award® nominations.

SLOAN SCIENCE ON SCREEN AWARD

Magma
Director: Cyprien Vial, Producer: Isabelle Madelaine (France 2024, 103) — International Premiere
Monday, April 21 at 8:30 PM at Marina Theatre
Narratives: International

Film Note
The struggles between scientists, community members, and local politicians spill over like the titular substance that threatens the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in Cyprien Vial’s dramatic thriller. When a team of scientists led by Katia (Marina Foïs) records the biggest magmatic surge in 50 years on the small island, a struggle ensues among politicians who want to evacuate, locals who can’t afford to stop working or shut down their businesses, and the researchers themselves who are forced to admit the inexactitude of volcanology. Particularly torn is Katia’s assistant Aimé (Théo Christine) who grew up on the island and is well aware of the frustrations stemming from the fact that the mostly Black populace is dictated to by white European officials. Vial keeps a keen eye on all three personal elements of the story while never losing sight of the island’s grand volcano, known as La Soufrière, whose majestic power will always have the last word.

Event Description
Preceding the International Premiere screening of Magma, director Cyprien Vial will be presented with the Sloan Science on Screen Award. The director will be joined by Michael Manga, Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California Berkeley for a special onstage conversation.

Program
Presented through a partnership between SFFILM and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Sloan Science on Screen Award is a recognition that celebrates the compelling depiction of science in a narrative feature film. The 2025 award, which includes a $5,000 prize honors Cyprien Vial’s Magma.

About Cyprien Vial
Cyprien Vial was born in Tulle, France, and studied directing at La Fémis. Among his short films is Dans le rang (2006), winner of the SACD Short Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival. His debut feature, Young Tiger (2014), was nominated for a Lumiere Award for Best First Feature. That was followed by Kiss Me! (2017). Magma is his third feature.

About Michael Manga (Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California Berkeley)
Michael Manga studies the geological processes that shape Earth’s surface. This includes understanding the reasons why planets have volcanoes, why volcanoes erupt in so many different ways, and how volcanic eruptions affect climate and other Earth systems. He also studies similar processes on other planets, including the eruption of water on icy satellites in the outer solar system, and deciphering the coupled history of water and volcanism on Mars. Michael Manga is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California Berkeley, serving as the Gary and Donna Freedman Chair in Undergraduate Education, and Garniss H. Curtis Endowed Chair in Earth and Planetary Science. He graduated from McGill University with a degree in solid Earth geophysics followed by a PhD from Harvard in Earth and Planetary Sciences. He is a Macarthur Fellow, a Sloan Fellow, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

SLOAN SCIENCE ON SCREEN SELECTION

Sally
Director: Cristina Costantini, Producers: Cristina Costantini, Lauren Cioffi, Dan Cogan, Jon Bardin (USA 2025, 103)
Sunday, April 20 at 5:15 PM at Premier Theater at One Letterman
Documentaries: USA

Film Note
For astronaut Sally Ride, stepping into the space shuttle Challenger for her first flight in 1983 was, to paraphrase Neil Armstrong, one small step for women, one giant leap for womankind. Becoming the first American woman in space fulfilled not just Ride’s personal ambition but also symbolized limitless possibilities for girls and women. This intimate, exhilarating documentary offers an evocative portrait of this extraordinary trailblazer. Her professional life was a triumph, even if she was beset by silly questions from a condescending media and resentment from male peers who did not believe women “earned” their shot at space flight. Her personal life was more complicated as she remained closeted even in the midst of a 27-year-long relationship with partner Tam O’Shaughnessy. With the voice of Ride (who died in 2012), archival footage, reenactments, and reminiscences from O’Shaughnessy and Ride’s family and NASA associates, this involving film honors the brilliance and humanity of an American hero.

About Cristina Costantini (Director)
When Cristina Costantini was a little girl in Milwaukee, WI, her contribution to a school mural depicting heroes was a representation of astronaut Sally Ride. Costantini grew up to make Sally, winner of the Sundance Film Festival’s Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. After beginning her career as an investigative journalist, she made her documentary feature debut with Science Fair (2018), winner of audience awards at Sundance and SXSW. Her other features include Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (2020) and Own the Room (2021).

SLOAN SCIENCE IN CINEMA FELLOWSHIP

The SFFILM Sloan Science in Cinema Fellowship and the SFFILM Sloan Stories of Science Development Fund provide additional opportunities for SFFILM to offer tailored resources to filmmakers in earlier stages of developing screenplays that explore science through the cinematic language of storytelling. These programs are designed to ensure that compelling narrative feature films about the worlds of science and technology continue to be made and shared with ever-expanding audiences The Fellowship specifically supports the development of original narrative feature screenplays, while the Development Fund offers screenwriters source material from which to begin. Through this program, SFFILM and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation aim to advance the understanding of science and technology through the artform of film.

The 2024 Sloan Science in Cinema Fellows were Sara Crow and David Rafailedes for Satoshi and Lara Palmqvist for The Garden. In addition to receiving $35,000 each, for a total of $70,000 in cash grants, the 2024 fellows are receiving advisory feedback from scientists matched to their films’ topics, as well as dedicated professional support from SFFILM’s artist development team, which is led by Masashi Niwano, the organization’s Director of Artist Development. Both grants are now open for applications through May 30, 2025, at sffilm.org/makers.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a New York based, philanthropic institution that makes grants for research in science, technology, and economics; quality and diversity of scientific institutions; and public engagement with science. Sloan’s program in Public Understanding of Science and Technology, directed by Doron Weber, supports books, radio, film, television, theater, and new media to bridge the two cultures of science and the humanities. The program also supports special initiatives that strengthen science as a social good. The Foundation works with about 20 film school and film festival partners and has supported over 800 film projects, including over 30 feature films. For more information visit sloan.org or follow @SloanPublic on Twitter or Facebook.

SFFILM

SFFILM is a nonprofit organization whose mission ensures independent voices in film are welcomed, heard, and given the resources to thrive. SFFILM inspires and connects audiences, students and teachers, and filmmakers through film exhibition, youth education, and artist development programs. Annual public film programs presented by SFFILM include the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) which is the longest running film festival in the Americas, Doc Stories documentary series, special events with the best and brightest in contemporary film, and family programming. SFFILM Education serves more than 15,000 students and educators with learning opportunities designed to cultivate media literacy, global citizenship, and a lifelong love of movies. SFFILM Makers supports the careers of independent filmmakers from the Bay Area and beyond with grants, residencies, and other creative development services.

68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival)

The San Francisco International Film Festival presented by SFFILM runs April 17–27 at venues in San Francisco and Berkeley. The official program—curated from nearly 4,500 submissions and invitations—includes premieres, eagerly anticipated award titles, debut work from emerging storytellers, international narrative and documentary films, mid-lengths, shorts, and the Golden Gate Award juried competition. Filmmakers will be networking at industry meetings and talks, and everyone will get to celebrate the magic of cinema with SFFILM’s prestigious Persistence of Vision, Mel Novikoff, Sloan Science in Cinema initiative honors, and tributes to special honorees.

The SFFILM Festival always centers the Bay Area with selections by local creators and crews, and serves students, teachers, and families with Youth Works, family friendly workshops, and educational screenings through Schools at the Festival that reaches thousands of students each year.

TICKETS + MEMBER BENEFITS

Tickets will go on sale for SFFILM members on Wednesday, March 26 at 10 am at sffilm.org. The online box office will open to the general public on Friday, March 28 at 10 am. Ticket prices for General Admission programs are $20, and $16 for SFFILM Members. Senior, student, and ADA are $19. For select programs, tickets for Children 14 and under are $11. See specific program listings for premium priced programs and events.

Ticket Packs are the most flexible way to see SFFILM events at a discount, and may be redeemed for any regular, non-rush screening or event priced up to $25. 6-Packs are $120 for General, and $100 for SFFILM Members. 10-Packs are $180 for General, and $150 for SFFILM Members.

An all access Cinevisa is the best way to support SFFILM, and it includes entry to the priority line at all film screenings and access to the Festival Lounge. Cinevisas are $2,300.
VENUES
The 2025 SFFILM Festival is exclusively in theaters and event spaces in San Francisco and Berkeley including the Premier Theater at One Letterman, the Marina Theatre, the Presidio Theatre, The Walt Disney Family Museum, the Roxie Theater, the Phyllis Wattis Theater at SFMOMA (Schools at the Festival), Fort Mason Center Gallery 308 (Opening Night Party), and the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA).

To learn more about their accessibility resources, parking, and transit go to https://sffilm.org/accessibility/

ACCESSIBILITY

SFFILM is committed to providing accessible experiences at all events whether in-person or online. Event pages will be updated with accessibility information as it becomes available, which may be after tickets go on sale.

All venues are ADA accessible. All public screening venues are equipped with individual closed captioning, audio description, and assisted listening devices. To request a closed caption or assisted listening device, contact ada@sffilm.org.

For more information about accessibility at specific venues or programs, please visit sffilm.org/accessibility or contact ada@sffilm.org.
SPONSORS + PARTNERS
The 2025 SFFILM Festival is made possible with generous support from our corporate and media sponsors and partners.

Our Presenting Sponsor is One Letterman. Our Major Sponsors are Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Lucasfilm. Our Signature Sponsors are Citizens Private Bank, Dolby Laboratories, Prime Group, and the Walt Disney Family Museum.

Our media sponsors are The Hollywood Reporter, KQED, and 48 Hills.

Special thanks to our programs and venue partners at the Premier Theater at One Letterman, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), Lee Neighborhood Theatres, San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), the San Francisco Parks Alliance (SF Parks Alliance), and the Walt Disney Family Museum.

For more information visit sffilm.org
This press release is available online at sffilm.org/press/releases

Follow SFFILM
Instagram
Letterboxd
YouTube
TikTok
LinkedIn
Facebook

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For further information and press inquiries, please contact Jessie Cohen PR & Consulting

Jessie Cohen
jessie@jcpr-c.com
+1 415 623 0150

Nicole Kerr
nicole@jcpr-c.com
+1 706 577 3287

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