Category: Festivals

Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

I caught two movies Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival. B Cameraperson I caught this one at the Victoria Theatre. Cinematographer Kirsten Johnson has been shooting documentaries for decades. The films she's lensed include Citizenfour and Farenheit 911. Now she's gathered much of what she shot, including home movies, into a montage of … Continue reading Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

Janus, Criterion, Coen Brothers, and James Schamus: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

I started the day with Wesley Morris' State of Cinema address. But as I've already written about that presentation, I'll skip it here and go to the two other events I attended. Mel Novikoff Award: An Afternoon with Janus Films & the Criterion Collection Every year, the Festival gives the Mel Novikoff Award to "an … Continue reading Janus, Criterion, Coen Brothers, and James Schamus: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

Wesley Morris, Sidney Poitier, and the San Francisco International Film Festival’s State of the Cinema Address

~ Lincoln Spector

Wesley Morris, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Critic at Large for the New York Times, gave this year's State of the Cinema Address. His theme: The Radicalization of Sidney Poitier. It was in the Victoria Theatre on Saturday afternoon, and it was wonderful. Coming on stage in a snappy red suit, he warned that he would give spoilers … Continue reading Wesley Morris, Sidney Poitier, and the San Francisco International Film Festival’s State of the Cinema Address

Music and exercise: Friday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

I caught two movies Friday, a music documentary at the Roxie and a very unique coming-of-age story at the New Mission's Theater 1. B+ Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music Like The Wrecking Crew, Soundbreaking looks at how music--specifically rock and roll--is created in the studio. But it isn't about session musicians. It's … Continue reading Music and exercise: Friday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

SFIFF: Tom McCarthy, The Station Agent, and this year’s Kanbar Award

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

The San Francisco International Film Festival's Kanbar Award used to go to a screenwriter. Now they've expanded it to "storytellers," which can mean just about anyone who works in film. And so screenwriters remain the least visible people making movies. This year, the award went to Tom McCarthy, who is a screenwriter, as well as … Continue reading SFIFF: Tom McCarthy, The Station Agent, and this year’s Kanbar Award