The San Francisco International Film Festival (April 17–27, 2025) is just around the corner! We’re proud to partner with incredible sponsors who help make this event possible. Stay tuned for more details on our valued supporters. See you at the movies!
Archives for 2025
2025 Festival Industry Badge
We can’t wait to welcome you to the 68th SFFILM Festival!
This badge provides one ticket per regularly priced 2025 SFFILM Festival screening, up to four per day, subject to availability. This does not include access to Opening and Closing Night films and parties, awards, and tributes. This badge provides access to the 2025 SFFILM Festival Lounge. Please see below for additional information on industry accreditation. This badge will include Jurors and Speakers as well as general Industry.
We have now closed industry badge purchases.
Tech Coordinator
We are no longer accepting applications for this role.
Summary
Under supervision of the Tech and Operations Manager, the Tech Coordinator will support the execution of tech and A/V requirements for the 2025 SFFILM Festival. This includes all Festival venue load-ins and load-outs, equipment installation and breakdown, as well as testing and operation, wherever tech and A/V support is needed.
This position is expected to provide on-site support for the 11-day, in-person SFFILM Festival (April 17 – 27) in venues across the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as be available for any pre-fest events. This position is required to be based in the Bay Area and will need to work in accordance with in-office requirements as determined by organization-wide and department policies. Some night and weekend availability required.
This position is paid hourly at the rate of $24 per hour and is eligible for overtime. Th Coordinator will initially be a part-time role, and then shift to full time closer to April 12, 2025. Full-time hours and overtime likely expected between April 12 – April 30, 2025.
Anticipated start date is March 31, 2025 and end date is May 2, 2025.
Application review begins Feb 26, 2025.
Opportunities and Outcomes
- Support technical needs for all 2025 SFFILM Festival events, as assigned by the Tech and Operations Manager
- Assist in the supervision of technical staff and projectionists across all Festival exhibition venues
- Participate in the execution of load-ins and load-outs for all exhibition venues, as well as event, office, and lounge spaces as needed
- Lead on-site testing of tech and projection equipment, including acting as host for filmmaker tech checks
- Support the execution of enhanced onstage events, as needed
- Active operation of tech and A/V equipment during various events, as needed
- Support delivery and exhibition of non-film media – including Keynotes and Powerpoints – at all Festival venues
- Assist integration of video capture set-ups and team needs into existing venue configurations
- Advise others on proper operation and maintenance of tech equipment, such as lighting, microphones, accessibility devices, and A/V for the duration of the SFFILM Festival
- Support the set-up and execution of virtual Q&As and conversations for exhibition in a theatrical setting, as needed
- Support the triage necessary to transition live events to a virtual format, whenever required
- Support other Operations team members and projects as needed
- Participate in festival wrap conversations and create written wrap materials as needed
Experience and Skills
- Experience setting-up and operating basic audio-visual packages including microphones and PA systems, simple live music amplification, presentation and theatrical lighting, and media playback devices
- Experience managing specialized technical personnel and supporting timely equipment install and removal
- Experience and comfort supporting and trouble-shooting live events and familiarity with the pressures and challenges of onstage production with high-touch constituents
- Familiarity with projection technologies and challenges, especially DCP
- Familiarity with functionality and operation of accessibility devices a plus
- Ability to communicate clearly and consistently with people of all levels of technical sophistication and experience
- Strong time management and personnel management skills
- Comfort working with media presentation and editing tools, including Keynote, Powerpoint, Adobe Creative Suite, and Davinci Resolve a plus
- Familiarity with virtual presentation tools and technology, as well as video conferencing platforms and basic production is a plus
- Able and comfortable performing heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs)
- Must be proactive, communicative, and able to work with minimal supervision
- Ability to learn and apply new technical concepts in a short period of time
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, to prioritize effectively, and to respond to last-minute requests
- Comfort in Google Drive, FileMaker, and Basecamp a plus
Supervision
This position reports to the Tech & Operations Manager
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.
Operations Coordinator
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
Summary
Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Operations Coordinator will assist the Operations department in daily administrative activities leading up to and during our 2025 SFFILM Festival. This position will work closely with the Director of Operations and the Office & Production Manager on the goals and execution of office and building management. During the Festival, this role will serve as a lead Office Assistant and will be a primary point person in the office.
This position is required to be based in the Bay Area leading up to and during the 2025 SFFILM Festival (April 17 – 27), as well as to be available during several pre-fest launch events, and will need to work in accordance with in-office requirements as determined by organization-wide and department policies. The start date for this position is March 3, 2025 and the end date is May 8, 2025. This position is salaried at the rate of $20 an hour and is eligible for a limited amount of overtime.
Application review begins February 10th, 2025.
Opportunities and Outcomes
- Assisting with day-to-day administrative operations, such as physical and electronic filing of mail, and maintaining and replenishing office supplies.
- Assisting with day-to-day financial tasks, including check filing and depositing, filling out purchase orders, sending out invoices, and completing credit card reconciliations.
- Assisting with onboarding seasonal staff, overseeing their onboarding tasks, setting up their workstations, and setting up their laptops in advance with the IT Manager.
- Supporting the creation and updating of onboarding and HR materials and resources.
- Assisting the Office & Production Manager with daily requests from staff and serving as a liaison for internal staff communications, including basic IT troubleshooting, meeting scheduling, basic facilities troubleshooting, and fulfilling supply requests.
- Managing communication with subletters around in-office events and SFFILM meeting room scheduling.
- Serving as a liaison for administrative and facilities communications, such as with IT, janitorial, repair technicians, and the Building Manager.
- Serving as an Office Assistant during the Festival and a primary point person for office responsibilities and communications.
- Supporting other Operations team members pre-festival with projects as needed, including administrative support.
- Supporting other Operations team members during the festival, with a focus on supporting the Production teams, including acting as a Production Assistant during festival events as needed.
- Creating a written wrap-report and summary of all necessary timeline info.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated administrative experience
- Experience as an Office Coordinator is a plus
- Be friendly, welcoming and comfortable interacting with people with vastly different backgrounds and roles
- Ability to multitask, exhibit consistent follow-through and work under time constraints
- Experience working in a non-profit professional environment or film festival is a plus
- Possess great energy and efficiency and a cooperative spirit
- Flexible, energetic, detail-oriented team player
- Good organizational skills
- Must be proactive, communicative, and able to work with minimal supervision and a limited budget
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, to prioritize effectively, and to respond to last-minute requests
- Comfort with the heavy lifting and labor inherent in loading in and out festival sites
- Comfort in Google Drive, FileMaker, and Basecamp a plus
Supervision
This position reports to the Director of Operations
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.
Meet the 2025 SFFILM FilmHouse Residents
Help us give a warm welcome to 2025’s group of Bay Area–based storytellers who will take up residence at FilmHouse, SFFILM’s dynamic shared workspace for independent filmmakers.
The FilmHouse Residency is managed by SFFILM Makers, the artist development program at SFFILM and is made possible in partnership with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and additional funding from the San Francisco Film Commission and the San Francisco Foundation. The program supports both narrative and documentary projects (including features, shorts, and series) by providing 12-month residencies to local filmmakers actively engaged in various stages of production.
FilmHouse Residents receive a variety of benefits including special access to established industry professionals offering artistic guidance and support from their various areas of expertise as well as a robust guest speaker series featuring lectures and presentations by leading industry professionals; workshops led by prominent filmmakers and other members of the independent film industry; peer-to-peer support; work-in-progress screenings; bi-weekly production meetings; access to meaningful networking opportunities; and numerous other community-building programs.
The selection committee for the 2025 FilmHouse Residents were:
Masashi Niwano, Director of Artist Development, SFFILM
Joshua Moore, Artist Development Manager of Documentary, SFFILM
Rosa Morales, Artist Development Manager of Narrative, SFFILM
Erika Arnold, Artist Development Associate Manager, SFFILM
Sofia Alicastro, Deputy Director, Film SF
Ines Pedrosa e Melo, Filmmaker
Let’s meet the residents that will be taking their projects to the next stage at FilmHouse in 2025!
Meet the 2025 Residents
Andres Gallegos
The Darkest Night—Narrative Short
Stage: Pre-Production
Diego, a 16-year-old from a low socioeconomic background, starts working as a construction assistant in an wealthy neighborhood thanks to the help of Sergio, a father figure he never had. There, he falls for Marta, but everything changes when Sergio’s life-changing accident threatens their future, Diego must make a dangerous choice and use stolen money to save him. As the thief comes back for the loot, Diego plans a robbery to set a trap, only to find that his own involvement in the crime may cost him everything, including his relationship with Marta.
Che ’Chichi’ Castillo
Be Here Now (working title)
Celeste, an underpaid artist and disinterested sugar baby, travels to their hometown for a short visit, but when their ride’s car is stolen, they must embark on a journey that reconnects them to the intimacy and magic of queer life.
Henry Kinder
The Gathering—Narrative Feature
Stage: Screenwriting
Aimless, Evan returns home to Berkeley to sort through his late mother’s house, finding himself with a new roommate: his estranged, ornery uncle Eugene.
The unlikely pair work through the collected baggage of their shared past as Evan’s sister quietly works to sell the house and a newcomer, Alice, inadvertently helps both Evan and Eugene— each in their own way— embrace the ineluctability of change.
Kat Gorospe Cole
Don’t Tell Mom—Narrative Feature
Stage: Screenwriting
Quirky Filipinx kid Ray can’t wait to leave their youth and family in Hawai’i to pursue college in the mainland. When Ray’s outgoing single mother faces the consequences of her own rebellion, the duo embarks on an adventurous summer that includes keeping secrets from grandma.
Kyle Casey Chu
After What Happened at the Library—Narrative Feature
Stage: Screenwriting
A drag queen goes viral after extremists storm her Story Hour at a local library. Reality bends under the weight of public attention as she loses her grip of her own narrative.
Linda Mai Green
Jane (working title) Narrative Feature
Stage: Screenwriting
In this Gothic thriller set in 1880s California, a vulnerable young Chinese American woman is taken in by a charismatic scientist and her mute companion. Enamored with her new friends, the young woman must choose between adopting the scientist’s worldview or forging her own sense of self.
Meera Angelica Joshi
The Sale—Narrative Short
Stage: Pre-Production
In 1993, California, a young immigrant mother has a dream to start a new life for herself and her family. The first step is to make her first encyclopedia sale.
Octavian Kelly
Tattletale—Narrative Feature
Stage: Screenwriting
Daniel, a locksmith and single father in San Francisco, confronts his wealthy sister after his seven-year-old son is molested by his nephew.
Sahand Nikoukar
Abracadabra TV Repair—Narrative Feature
Stage: Pre-Production
A father and son search for a stolen big screen television in 1995 San Francisco.
Sepi Mashiahof
Tell Me About The Fairies—Narrative Feature
Stage: Development
Alienated by the sexual wonderland of college life, a sheltered queer Iranian “boy” has an encounter with fairies who curse with an aroma that makes men hopelessly attracted to him as his body rots away like spoiled fruit.
Tenzin Phuntsog
Sentient Beings—Narrative Feature
Stage: Screenwriting
In a near-future America dominated by autonomous self-driving vehicles, a group of Tibetan refugees go on an existential road trip across the American landscape in their manually driven car.
Yvette Solis
Untitled 3PD Project—Hybrid Short
Stage: Screenwriting
A self-reflective narrator embarks on a chaotic journey navigating a mysterious neurological disorder, forcing them to confront the fragmented nature of their new reality.
Adamu T. Chan
Babylon by the Bay (working title)—Documentary Feature
Stage: Development
Babylon by the Bay (working title) tells the stories of the pioneers and tastemakers from San Francisco’s youth street fashion and counterculture scene in the 1990s and early 2000s. It serves as a love letter to “the city by the bay,” capturing a bygone era when the city’s character was profoundly influenced by the art and culture of young people pushing back against conservatism and rising wealth concentration.
Deann Borshay Liem
Relative Strangers—Documentary Feature
Stage: Production
During and after the Korean War, thousands of mixed-race children were abandoned by their American GI fathers, stigmatized by Korean society, and sent to be adopted by couples in the West. Today many are searching for their original families, initiating unexpected discoveries about self, family, race, and culture. Relative Strangers follows their stories, uncovering the racial and social inequalities of the world’s largest international adoption program, and its impact on individuals and societies.
Felix Uribe Jr.
Melodies of Salvation (working title)—Documentary Short
Stage: Development
Through personal footage and collaborative storytelling, this project delves into the resilience and complexity of San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, sharing the lived experiences and interconnected stories of its residents as they navigate systemic challenges and create meaningful change.
Jessica Jones
Women Who Ride—Documentary Short
Stage: Post-Production
Women Who Ride is the tenacious story of the woman behind Oakland’s first Black women’s motorcycle club, D’Vious Wayz. This character-driven portrait is told through the lens of Tish Edwards, the founder of D’Vious Wayz as she struggles to keep the club afloat. A symbol of sisterhood, D’Vious Wayz highlights the influence of Black matriarchs, female comradery, and women’s battle to continue doing what they love in the face of responsibilities. As Tish balances caring for her disabled son and grapples with her own health conditions, she works to keep the sisterhood alive and start riding again.
Masha Karpoukhina
In Between Worlds—Documentary Feature
Stage: Pre-Production
In the face of impending climate chaos, the Winnemem Wintu Tribe fights to keep a sacred promise to return their ancestral salmon just as the salmon runs across the globe are collapsing.
Guided by Chief Colleen, they must journey to New Zealand where miraculously, the descendants of their salmon survived.
“Whatever happens to the salmon, happens to us” – Caleen Sisk, Chief of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe.
In the beginning, everything came from the sacred spring atop Mt. Shasta. All stars & all beings & among them, little humans who seemed lost and naked and had no voice. The salmon felt compassion for them & gave up their voice, so humans could communicate with all life. But only under 1 condition. That they would forever use it to speak up for the salmon.
Meg Shutzer & Brandon Yadegari Moreno
The Prison Outside—Documentary Feature
Stage: Production
Sentenced to life for crimes he committed as a child, Terrence Graham took his fight for freedom all the way to the Supreme Court and won. After twenty-one years behind bars, he is finally getting out – but is life outside just another prison?
Samantha Berlanga
Pleasure Seekers—Documentary Feature
Stage: Production
In Brooklyn, New York two best friends are determined to embrace their boldest, most unapologetically sexy selves—only to confront the deeply ingrained politics of sex and bodily autonomy. As they navigate their journey toward empowerment, the filmmaker explores how sexuality can flourish beyond the weight of institutionalized guilt and shame.
Susannah Smith
We Belong—Documentary Feature
Stage: Post-Production
For 18 rowdy years, the Lexington Club was the only dyke bar in the “Gay Mecca” of San Francisco (1997–2015). Not just a safe space, the Lexington Club was headquarters for a Queer rebellion that was transforming the world. Now, ten years later, We Belong immerses us in this iconic space to tell the story of its impact on three profound decades of LGBTQ+ history.
Tara Baghdassarian
The Dragon Under Our Feet—Documentary Feature
Stage: Pre-Production
A Bay Area artist and organizer reconnects with her Armenian culture while piecing together stained glass fragments of ancient symbols. Their rich meaning lies within traditionally woven carpets collected by older diasporans struggling to gain interest from younger generations.
Tony Nguyen
Year of the Cat—Documentary Feature
Stage: Pre-Production
Year of the Cat follows filmmaker Tony Nguyen on an extraordinary quest to solve the mystery of his father, lost in the chaos of the Fall of Saigon 50 years ago. Told as an investigative home movie, this powerful documentary weaves together moments of humor and heartache, offering an intimate look at how the children of refugees are shaped by war and loss. As Tony delves into his family’s history, the film reveals the emotional lengths we go to in confronting the ghosts of the past—and the possibility of healing as we reclaim and transform our futures.
Stay In Touch With SFFILM
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