Archives for 2025

If I Could Stay / Si Pudiera Quedarme (2024)

Help students to deepen their understanding and empathy toward immigration issues as they apply these themes: Identity, Belonging, Resilience, Empathy, and Sacrifice.

From our 2024 Schools at Doc Stories program: If I Could Stay / Si Pudiera Quedarme is a heart-wrenching and inspiring story of two undocumented Latinx mothers, Jeanette and Ingrid, who courageously enter local churches to evade deportation and protect their families. Over five years, they must face the constant threat of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids while fighting for their legal status and inspiring allies in the predominantly white faith communities. Through an intimate and raw lens, the film showcases the unwavering strength, love, and sacrifice of these mothers, who risk everything to keep their families together in the country they call home. If I Could Stay / Si Pudiera Quedarme is a call to action and a powerful reminder that providing Sanctuary is not just an act of charity, but a crucial act of social justice.

Blink (2024)

Blink highlights the themes of love, resilience, and the importance of cherishing life’s moments.

From our 2024 Schools at Doc Stories program: Blink highlights the themes of love, resilience, and the importance of cherishing life’s moments. This documentary not only teaches us about a rare disease but also inspires us to live life fully, appreciate the present, and find strength in family and love. The Pelletier family’s journey shows that even when facing life-changing challenges, it is possible to find beauty and joy in the world. By the end of the film, students will have a deeper understanding of how to cope with adversity, the importance of family support, and the value of living in the moment. A screening of this film will complement curriculum and educational experiences around social-emotional learning, disability justice, and global awareness. Central themes also exhibit empathy, adventure, and self-reflection.

Behind the Lens: In Conversation with the Roxie Theater

For over 30 years, the SFFILM Mel Novikoff Award has honored individuals or institutions whose work has enhanced the film-going public’s appreciation of world cinema. This year, we honored the Roxie Theater, a local gem, cultural landmark, and steadfast champion of independent cinema.

During the 2025 SFFILM Festival, we presented the Mel Novikoff Award to the Roxie Theater. The Roxie Theater is home to more than 100 years of cinematic memories for movie lovers across the Bay Area and SFFILM Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks joined Roxie Theater Executive Director Lex Sloan and Director of Programming Isabel Fondevila on stage to talk more about their importance as San Francisco institution.

“It’s the people. [You all] are the north star. What we do here is more than just movies. Whether it’s a drag show or a filmmaker here in conversation… It’s [about] being a space to bring people together… There’s nothing like watching movies in a cinema with strangers. It’s just one of the most magical feelings in the world,” said Roxie Executive Director Lex Sloan.

Watch the full conversation to hear more about the past, present, and future of the Roxie Theater.

SFFILM Mel Novikoff Award—In Conversation with the Roxie Theater

Stay In Touch With SFFILM

SFFILM is a nonprofit organization whose mission ensures independent voices in film are welcomed, heard, and given the resources to thrive. SFFILM brings the most exciting films and filmmakers to Bay Area movie lovers all year long. To be the first to know what’s coming, sign up for our email alerts and watch your inbox.

SFFILM Festival Volunteer Screening Committee

We are no longer accepting applications for this position.

Overview

Be the first to see what’s submitted to the 69th San Francisco International Film Festival and help us select titles for the festival in 2026.

Our Screening Committees assist with viewing titles submitted to SFFILM Festival on an annual basis. SFFILM screeners support the careful curation of a robust, inclusive, and bold festival program. Whether you have a background in film, are a dedicated cinephile, or are simply curious, we’re always looking for fresh eyes and new voices to join us as we assess the thousands of thought-provoking festival submissions from around the world.

Evaluation training and guidelines will be provided. Benefits and compensation offered.

Film Screener Expectations & Responsibilities:

Must have reliable internet access to stream submissions
Should expect to watch a minimum of 40 hours of content over a five-month period (August – December 2025)
All screeners are required to watch assignments in full
An open mind is essential
Strong written communication skills needed
Commitment to screening films on weekly basis

Benefits of becoming a pre-screener include:

The opportunity to view festival selections before anyone else
The opportunity to learn more about inner workings of festival production
The opportunity to earn Festival passes & tickets for friends and family
Opportunity to earn paid honorariums and yearly SFFILM membership for viewings

High School: 2nd Runner-Up – Tanaya Safi

Part of: 2025 Nellie Wong Magic of Movies Essay Contest

The Art & Science of Lucasfilm: James Tooley – ILM Creature Supervisor

As the screen lit up with a montage of galaxies, animals, and some of my favorite characters and movies. I sat in admiration of the visuals that brought me back to my childhood and transported me to my couch curled in a blanket watching my television intently. I came to a realization that behind every sizzle reel of film lies a mix of not only art and creativity, but science, math, and technology. Attending the SF FILM screening and listening to ILM’s James Tooley, opened my eyes to a world where math and science met arts and creativity. That adaptation is key to the success of any industry, reshaping how I see the professional world.

Before this event I had no idea how much science, technology, and research went into developing a creature for film. Watching how these artists used anatomy, mapping of joints, and simulating movement to make something that appears believable on screen, was way beyond simply drawing. He gave demonstrations of how they use kinesiology to analyze real life creatures that they then apply to their CGI. Using technology to create a skeleton, muscles, and skin to resemble a creature. Then rigging and painting the model to simulate movement. It shows an intricate process that uses biology, math, and evolving software. Learning through a film and speaker made it much more memorable than reading an article or textbook.

As someone who never viewed math or science as creative, this experience changed my perspective. I suddenly valued physics in animation and biology in movement. The idea that different fields can combine to create a real world-impact has inspired me to explore my classes into more depth, especially with tools like AI now changing the game. Meeting James Tooley after the presentation gave me the opportunity to ask meaningful questions that sparked insightful discussions and thoughts in the students present. I got the chance to delve deeper into his experiences in adapting from traditional animation to computer science, especially with the rise of AI shifting the film industry. His advice was to always evolve, adapt, and put in the work, which stuck with me. I thought about how as I go down my path I can stay open to change, just like he did.

This event showed what is possible and the amazing things I can be a part of as I enter the workforce. Whether I am going into film and animation, the lessons I learned from James Tooley apply everywhere, to be bold, be flexible, and never stop learning. Something that was sparked by a simple screening that can change my viewpoint on my future trajectory. In the words of James Tooley, “If someone had told me that my current job would rely so much on what I would be learning in school, I would have studied a little harder.” and I think this is something every student should hear, and something he left me to ponder on for the remainder of my high school career.