Mar 19, 2019
Festival
Oakland Rapper, Artist, and Activist Returns to SFFILM to Discuss Breaking Through as an Award-Winning Independent Filmmaker
San Francisco, CA – SFFILM today announced that 2019 Independent Spirit Award winner Boots Riley will deliver the highly anticipated State of Cinema Address at the 2019 San Francisco International Film Festival (April 10-23) on Saturday, April 13 at 2:00 pm at the Victoria Theatre.
Each year, SFFILM invites a visionary thinker to discuss the intersecting worlds of contemporary cinema and visual arts, culture and society, images and ideas. SFFILM is thrilled to welcome local artist and activist Boots Riley back to the Festival for this special program.
An Oakland native who studied at San Francisco State University, Riley had been known as an activist and front man of the musical group The Coup until his feature film debut Sorry to Bother You (Festival 2018) burst upon the scene. After a year presenting the film at festivals, acquiring a distributor, opening the film in theaters nationally, and bringing home a Spirit Award for Best First Feature in January, Riley has a unique perspective on the current film landscape.
In his talk, Riley will discuss the ways in which film is currently answering the call of a variety of social movements and, thus, pushing the boundaries of creativity to reflect the ways these movements are changing the world, including influencing the evolution of a vibrant filmmaking scene in the Bay Area.
“Boots Riley is the activist conscience of Bay Area culture, taking a stand on issues abstract and concrete that affect not only our local communities but how our shared values can be strengthened even while they are threatened by forces online and in the body politic,” said Executive Director Noah Cowan. “I personally look forward to his wisdom, wit and ability to make us all look at the world in a different way in this very special talk.”
Tickets to the State of Cinema Address are $13 for SFFILM members, $16 for the general public. Box office is open online now at sffilm.org.
For general information visit sffilm.org/festival.
For photos and press materials visit sffilm.org/press.
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2019 San Francisco International Film Festival
The longest-running film festival in the Americas, the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in one of the country’s most beautiful cities. The 62nd edition runs April 10–23 at venues across the Bay Area and features nearly 200 films and live events, 14 juried awards with close to $40,000 in cash prizes, and upwards of 100 participating filmmaker guests.
SFFILM
SFFILM is a nonprofit organization with a mission to champion the world’s finest films and filmmakers through programs anchored in and inspired by the spirit and values of the San Francisco Bay Area. Presenter of the San Francisco International Film Festival, SFFILM is a year-round organization delivering screenings and events to more than 75,000 film lovers and media education programs to more than 12,000 students and teachers annually. In addition to its public programs, SFFILM 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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