Sep 27, 2011
SFFILM
The San Francisco Film Society in partnership with the Center for Investigative Reporting presents Behind the Story: Under Suspicion, 7:00 pm, October 25 at the San Francisco Film Society’s new theatrical home, San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema (1746 Post Street).
Behind the Story, a new collaborative series by the San Francisco Film Society and the Center for Investigative Reporting, will give audiences an insider’s look at the backstory of some of the major reports undertaken by CIR at a time when the world of journalism is undergoing a period of radical transformation and traditional models are evolving to accommodate multi-platform, multi-partner and trans-media approaches.
Under Suspicion, the first evening of the series, charts the development of a series of stories, interviews, videos and an animation that CIR produced in collaboration with NPR to mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The joint investigation uncovered that Department of Homeland Security programs such as See Something, Say Something and Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting have resulted in suspicious activity reports about innocent citizens, often without their knowledge. The investigation zeroes in on one location, the Mall of America near Minneapolis, where a large private security operation has questioned thousands of people, often passing their information on to police and even the FBI. Most mall visitors interviewed by CIR and NPR say they were unaware that suspicious activity reports describing their encounters with mall security were shared with local police and could remain in law enforcement files for indefinite periods of time. The project raises questions about the price Americans have paid for increased security since the terrorist attacks.
Editors and reporters from CIR will present video, audio and animated content, elucidating the story behind the story and addressing the key issues raised.
The Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation’s oldest nonprofit investigative news organization. CIR reports have reached the public through television, print, radio and the web, appearing in outlets such as 60 Minutes, PBS Frontline, NPR, NewsHour, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Politico and U.S. News & World Report. CIR stories have received numerous journalism awards including the Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University Silver Baton, George Polk Award, Emmy Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, and a National Magazine Award for Reporting Excellence. More importantly, its reports have sparked congressional hearings and legislation, United Nations resolutions, public interest lawsuits and change in corporate policies. For more information, visit cironline.org.
Tickets $9 for SFFS members, $11 general, $10 senior/student/disabled. Box office open online at sffs.org and in person at San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema.
For photos and press materials visit: sffs.org/pressdownloads.
At San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema, the supremely stylish state-of-the art theater located in the ultra-contemporary New People building at 1746 Post Street (Webster/Buchanan) in Japantown, the San Francisco Film Society offers its acclaimed exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events on a daily year-round basis. For complete up-to-date information on all SFFS | NPC programming, including buying tickets, visit sffs.org.
Upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs
September 27: Film Arts Forum: The Sound of Cinema A panel discussion and networking event offering insight and expertise on sound design in film.
September 28-29: Shaolin With a superstar cast including Andy Lau, Jackie Chan and Nicholas Tse and a group of real Shaolin monks, this is an action-packed story of a ruthless warlord’s rehabilitation through Buddhist practice.
Opens September 30: Passione John Turturro’s tuneful exploration of the musical roots and traditions of Naples, Italy, as well as its influence on the rest of the world.
October 1: Film in the Fog Free, family-friendly screening will feature Delmer Daves’s gritty film noir thriller Dark Passage (USA 1947), a musical performance, a classic animated short and free freshly-popped popcorn.
October 9: An Evening with Susan Orlean and Rin Tin Tin Orlean celebrates the publication of her new book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend with an illustrated introduction to Rin Tin Tin’s career and a screening of his greatest silent film, Clash of the Wolves.
October 14-16: Taiwan Film Days A showcase of the best contemporary Taiwanese cinema.
October 17-21: The Sleeping Beauty Catherine Breillat takes on another fairy tale classic, brining her unique exploration of female sexuality to the story of a young princess who is the subject of a tug-of-war among witches.
October 21-23: NY/SF International Children’s Film Festival A celebration of diverse, enlightening, inspiring and entertaining films for kids ages 3-18 and their families.
October 24: Orbit(film) and An Injury to One A program of short films dedicated to the awe and absurdity of the solar system.
October 27-November 2 French Cinema Now The weeklong annual Festival brings the most significant new work from international francophone cinema to discerning Bay Area audiences.
November 3-6: Cinema by the Bay New work produced in or about the San Francisco Bay Area provides a compelling window into Bay Area film culture and practice at its best.