Nov 1, 2018
SFFILM
San Francisco, CA – SFFILM announced today that beloved actor Viggo Mortensen will be presented with a special onstage tribute featuring an advance screening of Green Book, the upcoming film in which he stars alongside Mahershala Ali, Tuesday, November 20, 7:00 pm at the Castro Theatre (429 Castro Street). Known the world over for his wide-ranging talent, including acclaimed roles in films by David Cronenberg and Peter Jackson, among many others, Mortensen will share insights about his career and this new film with Bay Area audiences at this well-deserved tribute.
“Viggo Mortensen is among the most ambitious and surprising artists at work today,” said SFFILM Executive Director Noah Cowan. “His versatility and longevity are only matched by the intensity and consistency of his performances. Green Book represents a buoyant, joyous high point for his career and makes a substantive case for serious awards attention.”
Viggo Mortensen has consistently earned acclaim for his work in a wide range of films. Some of these include Captain Fantastic, A Dangerous Method, Eastern Promises, A History of Violence, The Road, Appaloosa, Far from Men, The Two Faces of January, Jauja, Captain Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Mortensen is also a poet, photographer and painter. He is the editor of Perceval Press, an independent publishing house, which he founded in 2002.
About Green Book:
When Frank Anthony Vallelonga, aka Tony Lip (Mortensen), a New York City bouncer from an Italian American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive and protect Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on the Green Book-a travel guide to safe lodging, dining, and business options for African Americans during the era of segregation and Jim Crow laws-to steer them to places where Shirley will not be refused service, humiliated, or threatened with violence. Set against the backdrop of a country grappling with the valor and volatility of the Civil Rights Movement, two men will be confronted with racism and danger, and be comforted by generosity, kindness and humor. Together, they will challenge long-held assumptions, push past their seemingly insurmountable differences, and embrace their shared humanity. What begins as two-month journey of necessity will establish a friendship that will endure for the rest of their lives.
Tickets to A Tribute to Viggo Mortensen: Green Book are $15 for SFFILM members, $20 for the general public. Box office is open to SFFILM members now online at sffilm.org and opens for the general public 10:00 am Friday, November 2.
For general information visit sffilm.org To request interviews or screeners, contact bproctor@sffilm.org.
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SFFILM Presents
SFFILM produces a robust slate of public programs throughout the year, including red carpet premiere events, advance member screenings, and in-depth film series. With diverse offerings and a commitment to excellence in world cinema, SFFILM is the home of great film in the Bay Area all year long. For more information visit sffilm.org/presents.
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 (April 10-23, 2019), SFFILM is a year-round nonprofit organization delivering screenings and events to nearly 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.
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