Apr 22, 2013
Festival
In an effort to help festivalgoers make their selections from a dense schedule of films and events, the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 25-May 9) recently invited former Mayor Willie Brown, SF Ballet principal dancer Maria “Masha” Kochetkova, actor Delroy Lindo, restaurateur Alice Waters, film director/actor John Waters, Metallica founder/drummer Lars Ulrich and film fans from the World Champion SF Giants to browse the schedule and choose the films they are anticipating the most. These luminaries from the worlds of film, dance, food, music, sports and politics have sifted through the robust Festival program of more than 150 films and events and highlighted those that they can’t wait to attend during the best two weeks of the year for local cinema lovers.
Visit festival.sffs.org/7×7 for the complete details, including statements from the participants about each of their picks.
“When I tell my friends that they can’t go wrong at The Festival because there is not a bad film in the whole bunch they tell me it is a mixed blessing–they still don’t know where to begin,” said Ted Hope, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society. “Over one hundred excellent movies and they don’t know what to see first! They tell me they want someone who has tastes like theirs but is also some sort of an expert. Filmmakers, rock stars, ballerinas, foodies, politicians and the greatest baseball team in the world have joined together to help solve the problem–not just with their picks but also with a great new tech solution that allows you to sit back and check them out-the SFIFF epoch app. Let these friends of the Film Society be your guide to the best films our world has to offer.”
Mobile users interested in browsing these celebrity picks and watching video clips and trailers from each selected film can download the brand new SFIFF56 app, powered by epoch, a San Francisco-based startup. Epoch, designed to create a new era of effortless entertainment, will launch the beta version of its mobile video app to the public in mid-May with an innovative blend of AI, human curated video and a beautiful user experience. Find out more at watchepoch.com.
Willie Brown, former Mayor of San Francisco
Fatal Assistance
A Hijacking
Inequality for All – Centerpiece film & party
Let the Fire Burn
The Kill Team
Twenty Feet from Stardom
Venus and Serena
Maria Kochetkova, Principal Dancer, San Francisco Ballet
The Act of Killing
The Daughter
In the Fog
The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology
Populaire
Rent a Family Inc.
Thérèse
“A documentary about a Japanese man who rents out fake relatives…Rent A Family Inc. sounds like a great example of truth being stranger than fiction!”
Delroy Lindo, actor
The Act of Killing
After Lucia
After Tiller
Chaika
The Cleaner
Twenty Feet From Stardom
Venus and Serena
“The Williams Sisters have clearly had a monumental impact; culturally, socially and ultimately historically, both in the U.S. and internationally. I’m curious as to how that impact is perceived and presented in Venus and Serena.”
The San Francisco Giants
Big Sur
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay
Frances Ha
Good Ol’ Freda
Invasion of the Body Snatchers – Founder’s Directing Award Tribute to Phil Kaufman
The Kings of Summer
Venus and Serena
“Hard to imagine anyone other than ballplayers could be the “Kings of Summer,” but if the stars of this comedy actually upstage Megan Mulally and Nick Offerman they must be pretty talented.”
Lars Ulrich, drummer, Metallica
The Act of Killing
A Hijacking
Inequality for All – Centerpiece film & party
Let the Fire Burn
Leviathan
Peaches Does Herself
Rent a Family Inc.
About the Act of Killing: “Werner Herzog approved!”
Alice Waters, chef and proprietor, Chez Panisse
The Act of Killing
The Artist and the Model
Invasion of the Body Snatchers – Founder’s Directing Award Tribute to Phil Kaufman
The Mattei Affair
A River Changes Course
Spend It All
Stories We Tell
“I wouldn’t miss this tribute to Philip Kaufman. Film lovers might be surprised to see Tom Luddy’s name in the acting credits!”
John Waters, film director
The Act of Killing
After Tiller
Before Midnight
Blackfish
Eight Deadly Shots
God Loves Uganda
The Kill Team
Let the Fire Burn
Nights With Theodore
Peaches Does Herself
“I know Peaches. I’ve toured with Peaches, and I can’t wait to see what she’s been doing recently, an amazing performer like no other.”
For more information visit festival.sffs.org.
56th San Francisco International Film Festival
The 56th San Francisco International Film Festival runs April 25-May 9 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the Castro Theatre and New People Cinema in San Francisco and the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley. Held each spring for 15 days, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in one of the country’s most beautiful cities, featuring 200 films and live events, 14 juried awards and $70,000 in cash prizes, upwards of 100 participating filmmaker guests and diverse and engaged audiences with more than 70,000 in attendance.