SFFILM Announces Opening Night of the 66th San Francisco International Film Festival

The SFFILM Festival Presents the West Coast and Hometown Premiere of Peter Nicks’ Stephen Curry: Underrated

San Francisco, CA — March 13, 2023 — SFFILM announced today Emmy award-winning filmmaker Peter Nicks’ Stephen Curry: Underrated from Apple Original Films and A24, as the Opening Night program for the 66th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival). Returning to the Festival for the fourth time, Nicks’ latest film is an intimate documentary of the celebrated and iconic NBA superstar Stephen Curry. Premiering to critical acclaim at Sundance, the film traces Curry’s spectacular rise from Davidson College through the thrilling 2021–22 Golden State Warriors championship season, including a wealth of behind the scenes access to a local legend. The film is produced by Peter Nicks, Ryan Coogler, Erick Peyton for Unanimous Media, Sean Havey, Ben Cotner, and Marissa Torres Ericson with Emily Osborne, Sev Ohanian, and Zinzi Coogler as executive producers. Opening Night will be on Thursday, April 13th and include two screenings of the film at 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm at the historic Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland. Guests expected include director Peter Nicks and producer Ryan Coogler.

The 6:30 pm screening will be followed by an Opening Night Party at OMCA, the Oakland Museum of California, with a limited number of public tickets available for purchase. The 9:30 pm screening will feature an introduction by the filmmakers and special guests. The full program for the SFFILM Festival will be announced on Wednesday, March 22.

“I could not be more thrilled to kick off the 2023 SFFILM Festival with this dazzling documentary,” said Jessie Fairbanks, Director of Programming at SFFILM. “Pete is such a talented filmmaker with an established track record of crafting cogent stories on local institutions. His skills have never been sharper than in this new doc that takes us behind the scenes with Steph, who welcomes viewers with his typical humility and charm. Collaborating with Pete, Apple, Steph, and all of their teams is a dream and we are honored to host this film that celebrates local talent behind and infront of the camera.”

Emmy award-winning director and producer Peter Nicks has called Oakland, California home since 1997. He has been part of the SFFILM community as a filmmaker, grantee, honoree, mentor, and valued partner for well over a decade. His Oakland Trilogy has been part of three SFFILM Festival programs respectively: The Waiting Room (SFFILM Festival 2012), The Force (SFFILM Festival 2017), and Homeroom (SFFILM Festival 2021).

“SFFILM has been a supporter of mine from the beginning of my trilogy about Oakland institutions and I’m proud to partner with them on my latest project, which is about another Bay Area institution of sorts,” said Director, Peter Nicks. “Stephen Curry’s story is at once universal and personal, a thrilling expression of the power of pushing beyond expectations and fighting to be seen. These themes are not only woven deeply into Stephen’s story but also that of The Town itself and I’m excited to share the film soon at Oakland’s legendary Grand Lake Theater.”

“The Bay Area is a global cultural force, always pushing the boundaries of creativity, discovery, and innovation, and all the while finding new ways to invite and collaborate right here at home,” said Anne Lai, Executive Director of SFFILM. “The skillful and exciting filmmaking that is coming from local talent found across every bridge always tells Bay Area stories with great care and authenticity. Peter Nicks continues to impress as a stellar storyteller, and we could not be more honored and delighted to open our Festival in his hometown of Oakland surrounded by movie-goers who love and respect the great Steph Curry.”

Stephen Curry: Underrated is the remarkable coming-of-age story of one of the most influential, dynamic, and unexpected players in the history of basketball: Stephen Curry. This feature documentary— which blends intimate cinéma vérité, archival footage, and on-camera interviews—documents Curry’s rise from an undersized college player at a tiny backwater Division I college to a four-time NBA champion, who built one of the most dominant sports dynasties in the world.

The film will stream globally on Apple TV+ later this year.

Tickets to Opening Night: Stephen Curry: Underrated for the Opening Night Film & Party at 6:30 pm are $95 for SFFILM members, and $110 for the general public. Tickets for the second screening at 9:30 pm, which includes an introduction with the filmmakers and special guests, are $25 for SFFILM members, and $30 for the general public. The online box office is open to SFFILM members now at sffilm.org, and will open for the general public on Tuesday, March 14 at 10 am.

The full program for the 2023 SFFILM Festival will be announced Wednesday, March 22. Venues for the Festival include the Grand Lake Theatre, CGV San Francisco, the Dolby Cinema @ 1275 Market, the Castro Theatre, the Premier Theater, and Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). Members of the media may apply for Festival press accreditation here.

SFFILM appreciates the support of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Apple Original Films as Presenting Sponsors of the 2023 SFFILM Festival.

For general information visit sffilm.org
For photos and press materials visit sffilm.org/press
To request screeners and accreditation, please contact the Press Office at press@sffilm.org.
To request interviews, please contact Nicole Kerr of JCPR&C at nicole@jcpr-c.com.

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2023 San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival)

The San Francisco International Film Festival presented by SFFILM makes its 66th return April 13–23 at venues in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland. The official program—curated from over 4,400 submissions—includes premieres, eagerly anticipated award titles, debut work from emerging storytellers, international narrative and documentary, mid-lengths and shorts, a Cine Latino section, and the Golden Gate Award juried competition. Filmmakers and guests can network at industry meetings and talks, and everyone will get to celebrate the magic of cinema with SFFILM’s prestigious Persistence of Vision, Mel Novikoff, Sloan Science in Cinema awards, and a tribute to a special honoree.

The SFFILM Festival always centers the Bay Area with selections by local creators and crews, and serves students, teachers, and families with Youth Works, family friendly workshops, and educational screenings through Schools at the Festival that reaches thousands of students each year.

SFFILM

SFFILM is a nonprofit organization whose mission ensures independent voices in film are welcomed, heard, and given the resources to thrive. SFFILM connects and inspires audiences, students and teachers, and filmmakers through film exhibition, youth education, and artist development programs. Annual public film programs include the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) which is the longest running film festival in the Americas, Doc Stories documentary series, special events with the best and brightest in contemporary film, and family programming. SFFILM Education serves more than 15,000 students and educators with learning opportunities designed to cultivate media literacy, global citizenship, and a lifelong love of movies. SFFILM Makers supports the careers of independent filmmakers from the Bay Area and beyond with grants, residencies, and other creative development services.

This press release is available online at sffilm.org/press/releases