Mar 29, 2011
Festival
The 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21-May 5) is proud to announce its Live & Onstage lineup. Special Festival guests feature in programs that incorporate film, music and performance to present remarkable, one-of-a-kind offerings to festivalgoers interested in a unique live experience.
“The Live & Onstage program is one of the most exciting parts of the Festival,” said Rachel Rosen, director of programming at the San Francisco Film Society. “The live element of these programs allow us to expand the Festival experience beyond the screen and to create events that will never happen again in exactly the same way.”
State of Cinema Address: Christine Vachon
9:00 pm, Sunday, April 24, Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
Acclaimed producer and author Christine Vachon will deliver the annual State of Cinema address, reflecting on independent cinema and its continuing evolution. Vachon will explore the current state of independent films and the role of producers of provocative cinema going forward.
From A to Zellner
9:45 pm, Sunday, April 24, Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
Meet the inimitable Zellner Bros.! The Austin-based filmmaking duo (Fiddlestixx, SFIFF 2010) will present selections from their considerable oeuvre of short films, the newest of which is a look at the mysteries of nature entitled Sasquatch Birth Journal 2. The Zellners’ films run the gamut from heartfelt and touching to raucous and absurd, usually moment by moment.
New Skin for the Old Ceremony
9:00 pm, Tuesday, April 26, Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
The influence of Leonard Cohen’s writing and music over half a century gives rise to a range of beautiful work in this three-part tribute: a new series of short films that visualize the 1974 album New Skin for the Old Ceremony, the classic documentary Ladies and Gentlemen . . . Mr. Leonard Cohen and live music featuring covers of Cohen’s music by Kelly Stoltz and Pale Hoarse.
Tindersticks: Claire Denis Film Scores 1996-2009
8:30 pm, Monday, May 2, Castro Theatre
Tindersticks, the groundbreaking British chamber rock band known for its distinctive orchestral sound and the baritone of lead vocalist Stuart Staples, will perform the scores that they have created for six films of French director Claire Denis. Viewed-and heard-anew, Denis’s singular images will soar as the band’s live music envelops the majestic Castro Theatre.
Porchlight
9:30 pm, Tuesday, May 3, Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
Arline Klatte and Beth Lisick host the beloved nonfiction storytelling series, making another highly anticipated appearance at the Festival for a special night of film industry-themed stories. The rules are deceptively simple. Tell a true ten-minute tale to an audience of strangers as if you were telling it to a good friend. Results vary wildly but are uniformly unforgettable.
State of Cinema Address is presented with support from Luna.
New Skin for the Old Ceremony is presented with support from the Consulate General of Canada, San Francisco and the Québec Government Office, Los Angeles.
Tindersticks: Claire Denis Film Scores 1996-2009 is presented with support from TV5 Monde, Bank of the West, French-American Cultural Society and the French Consulate, San Francisco.
For more information visit fest11.sffs.org.
For photos and press materials visit sffs.org/pressdownloads.
54th San Francisco International Film Festival
The 54th San Francisco International Film Festival runs April 21-May 5, 2011 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the Castro Theatre, New People and SFMOMA in San Francisco and the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley. Held each spring for 15 days, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring 15 juried awards, 200 films and live events with upwards of 100 participating filmmakers and diverse audiences of 75,000+ people.