San Francisco International Film Festival
| San Francisco International Film Festival | |
|---|---|
| Location | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Language | International |
| Official website | |
San Francisco International Film Festival (abbreviated as SFIFF) is the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas. Organized by the San Francisco Film Society, the International is held each spring for two weeks, presenting an average of 150 films from over 50 countries. The Festival highlights current trends in international film and video production with an emphasis on work that has not yet secured U.S. distribution.
Since its inception, the International has grown to serve over 80,000 patrons, with screenings held in San Francisco, Berkeley, and the Peninsula.[1] Graham Leggat became the executive director of the festival on October 17, 2005. The Scottish-born Leggat died on August 25, 2011 from cancer, aged 51.[2]
The 54th annual festival took place April 21 to May 5, 2011 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the Castro Theatre, New People and SFMOMA in San Francisco and the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley.[3]
Contents |
[edit] History
Founded in 1957 by film exhibitor Irving "Bud" Levin, the SFIFF began as a philanthropic effort to secure San Francisco's place in the international arts scene as well as expose locals to cinema as an art form.[4] The Festival played a major role in introducing foreign films to American audiences. Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood and Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali were among the films that screened at the first festival.
One obstacle in the early years was the lack of support from the major Hollywood studios, suggested reasons being the growing threat of international films' appeal and a fear that the festival would draw commercial attention away from the Oscars.[5] It wasn't until 1959 that a major American film, Henry King's Beloved Infidel, starring Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr, played at SFIFF.
[edit] Honors and Tributes
[edit] Founder’s Directing Award
This award is given each year to one of the masters of world cinema, in memory of SFIFF's founder, Irving Levin.[6] Recent recipients include:
- Oliver Stone, 2011[7]
- Walter Salles, 2010[8]
- Francis Ford Coppola, 2009
- Mike Leigh, 2008
- Spike Lee, 2007
- Werner Herzog, 2006
- Taylor Hackford, 2005
- Milos Forman, 2004
- Robert Altman, 2003
[edit] Peter J. Owens Award
Named for the longtime San Francisco benefactor of arts and charitable organizations Peter J. Owens (1936–91), this award honors an actor whose work exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity.[9] Recent recipients include:
- Terence Stamp, 2011
- Robert Duvall, 2010
- Robert Redford, 2009
- Maria Bello, 2008
- Robin Williams, 2007
- Ed Harris, 2006
- Joan Allen, 2005
- Chris Cooper, 2004
- Dustin Hoffman, 2003
[edit] Kanbar Award
The Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting acknowledges the crucial role that strong screenwriting plays in the creation of great films.[10] Recent recipients include:
- Frank Pierson, 2011
- James Schamus, 2010
- James Toback, 2009
- Peter Morgan, 2008
- Robert Towne, 2007
- Jean-Claude Carrière, 2006
- Paul Haggis, 2005
[edit] Mel Novikoff Award
Named in honor of legendary San Francisco film exhibitor Mel Novikoff (1922–87), this award is given to an individual or organization notable for making significant contributions to the Bay Area's richly diverse film community.[11] Recent recipients include:
- Serge Bromberg, 2011
- Roger Ebert, 2010
- Bruce Goldstein, 2009
- James Lewis Hoberman, 2008
- Kevin Brownlow, 2007
- Anita Monga, 2005
- Paolo Cherchi Usai, 2004
- Manny Farber, 2003
[edit] Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award
The POV Award honors the lifetime achievement of a filmmaker whose work is crafting documentaries, short films, animation or work for television.[12] Recent recipients include:
- Matthew Barney, 2011[13]
- Don Hertzfeldt, 2010
- Lourdes Portillo, 2009
- Errol Morris, 2008
- Heddy Honigmann, 2007
- Guy Maddin, 2006
- Adam Curtis, 2005
- Jon Else, 2004
- Pat O'Neill, 2003
- Fernando Birri, 2002
- Kenneth Anger, 2001
- Faith Hubley, 2000
- Johan van der Keuken, 1999
- Robert Frank, 1998
- Jan Švankmajer, 1997
[edit] Midnight Awards
The Film Festival's Midnight Awards have been created to honor a dynamic young American actor and actress who have made outstanding contributions to independent and Hollywood cinema, and who bring striking intelligence, talent and depth of character to their roles.[14] Recent recipients include:
- Clifton Collins, Jr. and Zoe Saldana, 2011
- Evan Rachel Wood and Elijah Wood, 2009
- Rose McGowan and Jason Lee, 2008
- Rosario Dawson and Sam Rockwell, 2007
[edit] Awards and Prizes
[edit] New Directors Award
This $15,000 cash award supports innovative thinking by independent filmmakers and shines the spotlight on an emerging director.[15] Films in this juried competition must be the director's first narrative feature and are selected for their unique artistic sensibility or vision.
[edit] Golden Gate Awards
The Golden Gate Awards is the competitive section for documentaries, animation, shorts, experimental film and video, youth works and works for television. Eligibility requires that entries have a San Francisco Bay Area premiere and be exempt from a previous multiday commercial theatrical run or media broadcast of any kind. At the SFIFF52, three juries awarded cash prizes in eleven of the fifteen categories:[16]
- Documentary Feature
- Investigative Documentary Feature - prize: $25,000
- Documentary Feature - prize: $20,000
- Bay Area Documentary Feature - prize: $15,000
- Documentary Short - prize: $5,000
- Narrative Short - prize: $5,000
- Animated Short - prize: $2,000
- New Visions - prize: $1,500
- Youth Works - prize: $1,500
- Adobe Youth Film for Change Award - prize: $1,500
- Works for Kids and Families - prize: $1,500
- Television Narrative Long Form - no cash award
- Television Narrative Short Form - no cash award
- Television Documentary Long Form - no cash award
- Television Documentary Short Form - no cash award
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes the San Francisco International Film Festival as a qualifying festival for the short films (live action and animated) competitions of the 81st annual Academy Awards.[17]
[edit] FIPRESCI Prize
Selected by the International Federation of Film Critics, the FIPRESCI Prize aims to promote film art, to encourage new and young cinema and to help films get better distribution and win greater public attention.[18]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ "San Francisco Film Festival Bucks Economic Trends to Set New Records for Revenue and Attendance." sffs.org. 7 May 2009. San Francisco Film Society. 29 June 2009 <http://www.sffs.org/content.aspx?catid=22,37&pageid=1077>
- ^ Notice of death of Graham Leggat
- ^ Release San Francisco Film Society 7 May 2011 sffs.org
- ^ Amazonas, Lee. "The Festival that Wouldn't Die." history.sffs.org. 31 July 2009 <http://history.sffs.org/our_history/the_festival.php>.
- ^ Knickerbocker, Paine. "After Triumphs and Minor Disasters, the 20th Anniversary." San Francisco Chronicle. 1977. history.sffs.org. 31 July 2009 <http://history.sffs.org/our_history/1977_20th.php>.
- ^ Fardooq, Sajid. "The Godfather Takes Center Stage at SF Film Fest." nbcbayarea.com. 1 April 2009. 24 July 2009 <http://www.nbcbayarea.com/around_town/nightlife/The-Godfather-Takes-Center-Stage-at-SF-Film-Fest.html>.
- ^ Awards 54rd SFIFF fest11.sffs.org
- ^ Awards 53rd SFIFF fest10.sffs.org
- ^ Brooks, Brian. "Redford to Receive San Francisco Film Festival Honors." indiewire.com. 10 March 2009. 24 July 2009 <http://www.indiewire.com/article/redford_to_receive_san_francisco_film_festival_honors/>.
- ^ Bigelow, Catherine. "Big Screen: SF Film Society Awards Gala." 7x7.com. 5 May 2009. 24 July <http://www.7x7.com/blogs/bigelow-report/big-screen-sf-film-society-awards-gala>.
- ^ Pine, Dan. "S.F. film fest honors famed Jewish film restorer." jweekly.com. 30 April 2009. 24 July 2009 <http://www.jweekly.com/includes/print/37950/article/s.f.-%EF%AC%81lm-fest>.
- ^ Guillen, Michael. "SFiFF52: Al Mas Alla-On-Stage Conversation With Lourdes Portillo & John Anderson." 28 April 2009. 24 July 2009 <http://theeveningclass.blogspot.com/search?q=lourdes>.
- ^ http://fest11.sffs.org/awards/
- ^ "Midnight Awards for Evan and Elijah." entertainment.uk.msn.com. 25 March 2009. 24 July 2009 <http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/celebrity/news/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=15371546>.
- ^ Hawley, Michael. "SFIFF52--Michael Hawley Anticipates Line-up." twitchfilm.net. 24 July 2009 <http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/sfiff52michael-hawley-anticipates-the-line-up/>.
- ^ Gerhard, Susan. "SFIFF52: Golden Gate Awards uncorked, SFFS/KRF grant winner announced." sf360.org. 24 July 2009 <http://www.sf360.org/features/sfiff52-golden-gate-awards-uncorked-sffs-krf-grant-winner-announced>
- ^ "Short Films Awards Festivals List." oscars.org. 24 July 2009. <http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/rules/shortsfestivals.html>.
- ^ Eder, Klaus. "The Purpose of FIPRESCI Is to Support Cinema as Art." fest09.sffs.org. 24 July 2009 <http://fest09.sffs.org/awards/fipresci_09.php>
