Nov 1, 2022
Maria Manetti Shrem is an entrepreneurial force whose legacy spans fashion, fine art, film, and so much more. She’s pursued many lives-worth of visions, most recently establishing the Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting as part of a new partnership with us here at SFFILM. This honor recognizes the 360-degree dedication that actors give to their crafts, developing their characters and themselves along the way, all in pursuit of sharing something transformative with the world. Today, Maria and Jan, her husband, continue to bring energy to a number of channels and causes, as founders of the UC Davis Museum of Contemporary Art and supporters of over 30 charities. Maria and Jan currently reside in San Francisco, which makes this following Q&A that much closer to home.
Do you recall when you were introduced to SFFILM? What was your first SFFILM experience?
The first time I attended SFFILM was 20 years ago. I have admired their organization and their devotion to movies. I loved meeting and talking with Jeremy Irons. “The House Of The Spirit” is one of my favorite movies.
SFFILM’s acting award was first established in 1996 and has honed iconic performances from recipients including Glenn Close, Adam Driver, Richard Gere, Oscar Issac, Robin Willliams, and Amy Adams, among many others. What does this particular honor signify to you and your love of film and acting? What do you hope to carry on with this new title?
I love movies. Actors in the end are who make them memorable. No matter if they play evil or good people. We are enchanted by those characters–their words, their faces, their moves, their attitude, their walk, their gazes, their silence. I want to support the festival naming this specific award to raise attention and awareness on such a difficult job. Actors must be resilient dreamers as I am still.
Why did you decide to champion the Award for Acting, specifically, alongside SFFILM? How does it fit alongside your other work?
Last year, during the SFFILM’s Awards Night, I realized that this very specific award didn’t have a supporting name yet. So, I thought I had a chance to contribute to one of the oldest festivals in the Nation, and specifically the film festival of my city, San Francisco, adding my name to such a special job. Actors deliver moods, values and feeling alongside their own glamour. My whole life’s job was in fashion. I have always dealt with elegance and beauty.
How exactly, or in what ways, does the Award “provide support to a vital cinematic arts organization whose work invests in the storytellers of tomorrow”?
I hope to contribute to raise some national and international attention to SFFILM, helping to build long-term brand awareness, and to support the educational values that SFFILM brings to the SF Bay Area community.
You’re building community all over—at Met Opera, at UC Davis, at SF Opera, at KQED, at Festival Napa Valley, at UCSF, at CPMC, at SFFILM to mention a few—what do you hope is your greatest legacy in doing so?
I want to give with my warm hands, and not with cold ones after passing. I have always said that for me there are three stages in life: education; hard work; and if success brings prosperity and wealthy, to eventually give back. I support all three stages by fostering educational programs, talents in science, health, opera, and the arts; and by inspiring other wealthy people to give now to help others, and to motivate the youth to fulfill their own dreams.
How have you personally been impacted by cinema, theatre, acting and the film community?
I love movies, and particularly the old Italian cinema masters such as Fellini, De Sica-Zavattini, Rossellini, Pasolini, Visconti, Zeffirelli, and some of their main actors such as Sophia Loren (a very dear friend of mine), Marcello Mastroianni, Monica Vitti, Claudia Cardinale, Anna Magnani, etc. I love cinema in general and the kind of stories filmmakers tell us sharing knowledge, values and dreams, principles, and ideas to fight for. I was born romantic, but movies made me more passionate. That’s why I love romantic movies.
SFFILM’s Awards Night is one of the most star-studded and important nights in cinema throughout the year. Is there a memory that stands out most to you?
Meeting actors and directors is very exciting and rewarding for me. Recently, I enjoyed so much having dinner and talking with Michelle Yeoh and Sandra Oh. Truly two versatile professionals who inspire us.
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