59th San Francisco International Film Festival Program Guide Welcome Note
San Francisco International Film Festival Program Guide
April 21, 2016
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 59th San Francisco International Film Festival—and to our new Festival village. After many wonderful years in the Kabuki Cinemas, the Festival will now be based in the Mission, one of San Francisco’s most storied neighborhoods.
Four theaters join the world-renowned Castro to make up our new center. The Alamo Drafthouse will not only serve as our home base for the Festival but will be a regular location for our year-round activities. Gray Area, among the country’s leading electronic arts facilities, will host alternative and new media programming. They join neighborhood gems the Roxie and Victoria to create a hub within the Mission’s blend of cultures, shops and world-class restaurants. We would like to extend a huge thank you to the community leaders—in particular to Calle 24 Cultural Assets & Arts Committee—who have greeted us so warmly.
We also find ourselves in the beautiful new Berkeley Art Museum and its jewel box Pacific Film Archive Theater, now located close enough to Downtown Berkeley BART to lure filmgoers from all parts of the Bay.
We are once again proud of the exceptional films in this Festival. Director of Programming Rachel Rosen and her team have balanced undiscovered international gems and high-profile American titles; we encourage our guests to sample a bit of everything and get a taste of the global moment in cinema.
But the Film Society’s offerings do not end on May 5. Join us as a member and take advantage of free screenings, many with special guests, all year long. In particular, we urge you to look out for exciting collaborations with new partners the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, SFMOMA and The New York Times.
At this year’s Festival, we are pleased to feature nine films produced by Film Society grantees and residents. In partnership with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and the Jenerosity Foundation, we channel over $1 million annually to fund stories from around the world and support the film artists of tomorrow.
We will also once again present our Schools at the Festival program and expand the in-depth screening opportunities we provide to local classes during SFIFF and throughout the year.
This Festival would not be possible without the support of many incredible people: Our Board, and especially our President David Winton; our loyal members and donors; and our staff, volunteers and interns who champion great film each and every day.
Enjoy the program,
Noah Cowan
Executive Director
San Francisco Film Society